Does anyone have any knowledge of a K-8 Catholic school debating whether to include Philip Pullman's books in its library?

Has any K-8 Catholic school debated the distribution of Scholastic book orders that promote The Golden Compass?

I train radical papists.

I teach 7th and 8th grade religion in a K-8 Catholic school.

To my astonishment, we are having a debate in our school as to the appropriateness of these books. I am curious as to what similar experiences others might have, or be having.

rjfarel, I am sorry to say I have not read the books nor watched the film, however, I have an opinion that is shared by the Catholic Conference of [American] Bishops that the Catechism is memorized at some point in time K-8. It is problematic to study and research inappropriate materials in eductation when the prime goal is to study and research the Catholic faith in it's entirety and to model the behaviors of the true Christian. The problem with giving attention to inappropriate materials is that it is terribly time consuming as the volumes of bad journalism would bury the school and the children in paper.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen

I read that the Catholic League Slams US Catholic Bishops Conference Positive Review of Golden Compass  (http://www.catholicexchange.com/en/node/67797).

I find it very discouraging when Catholic Bishops are attacked by Catholics.

Consider the USCCB and the Catholic League.  

Which would you support? 

I would support the Bishops.   

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USCCB http://www.usccb.org/whoweare.shtml:

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is an assembly of the hierarchy of the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands who jointly exercise certain pastoral functions on behalf of the Christian faithful of the United States. The purpose of the Conference is to promote the greater good which the Church offers humankind, especially through forms and programs of the apostolate fittingly adapted to the circumstances of time and place. This purpose is drawn from the universal law of the Church and applies to the episcopal conferences which are established all over the world for the same purpose.  

The Catholic League http://www.catholicexchange.com/en/node/67797

The Catholic League is the nation's largest Catholic civil rights organization. Founded in 1973 by the late Father Virgil C. Blum, S.J., the Catholic League defends the right of Catholics – lay and clergy alike – to participate in American public life without defamation or discrimination.  Motivated by the letter and the spirit of the First Amendment, the Catholic League works to safeguard both the religious freedom rights and the free speech rights of Catholics whenever and wherever they are threatened.

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God bless,


NoelFitz.
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In necessariis, unitas; in dubiis, libertas; in omnibus, caritas.
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Noelfitz,

The movie reviewer(s) is(are) not a bishop.

I do not support him.

I side with the Catholic League. 

I cannot fathom why the bishops do not do the reviews themselves, except that they do not have the time.  Hence, they seem to delegate this function.  This means they can no longer claim to put their own stamp-of-approval on it. 

Either they need to find a bishop to do the reviews or cease to put these reviews out.

Although we've yet to see it, the editor of our diocese newspaper intends to print only a small part of the USCCB review as well as additional information regarding the books bring to light the intent of the author, etc.

No, I don't trust this office of the USCCB.  Like you lpioch--either have better ovesight or get out of the business of reviewing movies.

Jesus, I Trust in You!

David

You wrote:

thank God for the Catholic League and it's defense of the faith. 

Also, thank God for the bishops and their defence of the faith.

Dancingcranne

You wrote:

 Because of such abuses of position by laymen voicing their own opinions, rather than the mind of the bishops, I myself do not look to the USCCB itself for leadership, but directly to Pope Benedict himself, and those individual bishops who show by word and action that they are in communion with him.

Is it an abuse for  laymen (or laywomen) to voice their own opinions?  If so I regret the abuses I have contributed to this roundtable.

I think it is a good idea to look directly to Pope Benedict himself.  How is it done?  Does he talk to you directly and give you leadership, without bishops or priests.  Anpther option might be to get leadership directly from the Holy Spirit without bishops, priests or other authorities. 

How do I find out if my bishop is in communion with the Pope?

God bless,


NoelFitz.
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In necessariis, unitas; in dubiis, libertas; in omnibus, caritas.
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I read somewhere that the definition of "scandal" is to spread confusion.

A positive movie review in the name of the Catholic bishops recommending a film based on books which aim "to kill God" and present evil as good and good as evil definitely spreads confusion.

Thanks a lot, Mr. Forbes!

In "The Golden Compass" an authority called The Magesterium is the bad guy and is triumphantly destroyed in the end.  The author's use of "The Magesterium" is not a coincidence.

I would choose the Catholic League over the US bishops *every* *single* *time!*