Recently, fans of the Harry Potter series have been questioning one pastor’s opinion and efforts to remove what he calls, “spiritual harm to children.” In Nashville Tennessee, Father Dan Reehil accuses JK Rowling’s Wizarding World spells of dabbling in both good and evil magic. 

Explaining the outcome and dangers of reading Rowling’s novel’s curses out loud in an interview with CBS News, he said, “The curses and spells used in the books are actual curses and spells,” Rehill proceeded, “which when read by a human being risks conjuring evil spirits into the presence of the person reading the text.”

After consulting with exorcists, evangelicals, and receiving a comment from a parent whose child attends St. Edwards Catholic school, Reehil decided to take initiative and remove the entire series from the school library. 

Although St. Edwards is a Catholic school, two Downey High School students, Sofia Dorado and Mayely Borrayo, oppose this idea. Having different understandings and opinions on the series itself, both girls believe that Reehil’s actions were ludicrous.

Borrayo recounted the journey of the series relating to her life and what it helped her with. She explained how these books taught her to connect with characters, infer, develop better reading and writing skills, along with learning many literary devices. 

Even though the series is a bit dark, Borrayo compares the spells in the story to a fake magician’s spell jokingly repeating, “She made the Avada Kedavra, the killing spell… sound similar to the childish Abracadabra, a magician’s spell.”

Later, after asking if she believed it was appropriate to have this series in a catholic school, senior Sofia Dorado giggled saying, “I find it hilarious that people can take these fictional books so seriously.” 

Just as a newly appointed, young priest, Fabian, and youth minister Juan Carlos Montenegro both from Saint Domminic Savio say, love always beats evil.

“If we believe in God’s love and protection, we shouldn’t be afraid of the evil we create in our heads,” Montenegro stated, explaining his view.  “Only extreme religious people manipulate words of others using fear, usually subconsciously but it is still done.”

“It is the way we interpret the text that messes with our mind and changes others’ minds. I choose to see it in a more joyful, hopeful, and humane way, exemplary to all; those who believe in magic and those who do not can be helped,” Father Fabian continued. “In the book, Harry was shaped as a child because of the mother he lost. This drove him to risk his life to save others from evil. This love is like the love God has for us.” Here, he is explaining his perspective of the two major commandments God has given us; Love one another as I have loved you. If we do so, we can overcome anything with the will of God on our side deemed Fabian. 

These books have been challenged and were on the verge of being put on ALA’s “banned books” list but haven’t quite made the cut since the year of 2003 because of fear of invocation of satanic spirits. What is your take on the matter? Should they have been banned? Vote here. 

For any further information on this topic, visit:

• Washington Post 
• ALA – Book Banned and Challenged
• ALA – Harry Potter Controversy Story