Texas Pastor Files Complaint to Remove 'Twilight' Series, 'Demonic' Books From Young Adult Section in Public Library
A pastor who oversees a Messianic Jewish congregation has filed a complaint with a Texas public library over books in the young adult section which he dubs "demonic."
Phillip Missick, pastor at King of Saints Tabernacle of Cleveland, has asked the Austin memorial Library to remove book series including "Twilight" and "Vampire Knight."
In an interview with local media, Missick explained that these books should not be in the young adult section due to their tone.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"I understand they have the right to these books, but I also have a right to complain about them," said Missick to ABC 13 News.
"This is dark. There's a sexual element. You have creatures that aren't human. I think it's dangerous for our kids," asserted Missick, who was not able to provide comment to The Christian Post by press time.
The Austin Memorial Library serves as the public library for King of Saints Tabernacle of Cleveland. They told ABC that the complaint is being processed.
Since filing his complaint and garnering headlines for his actions, Missick has gotten the critical attention of various groups, including Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
On the Americans United Communications Director Rob Boston wrote on the blog "Wall of Separation" that Missick's effort was part of the overall effort by "religious right activists" to censor public libraries.
"I'll admit I haven't read any of these books, but I don't have to in order to defend them on the general grounds that religious zealots shouldn't have the right to determine what other people read," wrote Boston.
"Every time, it's the same tired argument: Young people need to be 'protected' from themes such as 'the occult,' human sexuality, modern science and so on."
Boston also wrote that he felt that Missick "is coming to this a little late" and at least one of his targets for the complaint is ironic.
"The 'Twilight' books are nine years old," wrote Boston, adding that "the woman who authored them is a Mormon, and many people believe the underlying message of the series is conservative."
Missick's complaint comes less than a month before the national observance "Banned Books Week," which was first celebrated in 1982.
"Hundreds of libraries and bookstores around the country draw attention to the problem of censorship by mounting displays of challenged books and hosting a variety of events," reads the event's website.
"More than 11,300 books have been challenged since 1982, according to the American Library Association. There were 307 challenges reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom in 2013, and many more go unreported."
