By Associated Press, 03/31/03

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- A religious activist wants the Harry Potter children's books removed from local schools, saying the series makes witchcraft and wizardry alluring to children.

Antonio Rivera, who said he is a representative of several churches, has asked the New Haven Board of Education to remove the books from city classrooms.

He called the series Satanical, and said that it glorifies the occult. He said the book encourages children to use spells, against Christian teaching.

"Why in the world (would) we want to teach our children witchcraft and sorcery?" he told the school board at a recent meeting.

Elanor Osbourne, associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction for the school system, said the books are not part of the curriculum, although they may be available in school libraries.

Written by Scottish author J.K. Rowling, the best-selling series chronicles the exploits of a young wizard who attends a school of wizadry. He uses spells and incarnations to ward off evil.

Nationwide, some religious activists have opposed the books, saying the series runs counter to Christian morals and glorifies Satan. The series has topped the American Library Association's list of most-challenged books since 1999.

Barbara Lassonde, early childhood librarian at the New Haven Free Public Library, said the series makes children who wouldn't normally read interested in literature.

"Harry Potter has been a huge gift to child literacy," she said. "There's no one in the book who worships the devil. There is a force of evil, and that's realistic because that's the way our world is."