Catholic priests in Poland burned 'sacrilegious' books this weekend including books from the Harry Potter and Twilight series.
Photographs posted on the page run by the Catholic 'SMS from Heaven' evangelical group show three priests carrying a basket of books and other items, including an African-styled face mask through a church to an outside fire pit.
'We obey the Word,' priests said in a Facebook post showing photographs of the public book burning and quoting Biblical passages from the book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament.
One passage exhorting believers to destroy the enemies of God includes the command to 'burn their idols in the fire'.
Priests are seen saying prayers over the fire pit where other items, including a book from the Twilight vampire-themed fantasy romance series, a 'Hello Kitty' umbrella and a Hindu religious figurine, are also burning.
'Aside from the books, there were talismans and amulets. Parishioners brought them to put things in order' as part of spring cleaning, added the priest, who is also listed as an exorcist on the Gdansk diocese official website.
Source (DailyMail.co.uk) & Video
As some people already mentioned:
'I'd like to believe this is a joke... Seriously? Are people burning fantasy literature in the 21st century in some kind of sick ritual?!' one Facebook user said in a comment underneath the post.
I am with them, but unfortunately there are many people who have backed this. It's unbelievable that something like this can be happening in the 21st Century's European Union.
I thought we and even Poland is moving forward, not backwards. I mean…It's surprising. Such things can only do us harm! I agree with the freedom of religion and everything, but hopefully rest of the Europe won't follow this…Oh my dear lord. Even if God existed, I think even he'd be surprised, since 'everything is created by God' including "Harry Potter".
I know I can't generalise and there are probably a lot of Polish people that are embarrassed by this, but this is just amazing… I'm speechless.
