Catholic priests burn Harry Potter books in Poland

Catholic priests in rrn Polish city of Koszalin burned books y say are sacrilegious this weekend, including tomes from British author J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series of fantasy vels.

"We obey Word," priests said in a Facebook post showing photographs of public book burning and quoting Biblical passs from book of Deuteromy in Old Testament.

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One pass exhorting believers to destroy enemies of God includes pass "burn ir idols in fire".

post shows three priests carrying a basket of books and or items including an African-styled face mask through a church to an outside fire pit. Photographs show priests saying prayers over fire pit, where or items including a 'Hello Kitty' umbrella and a Hindu religious figurine, are also burning.

Facebook p belongs to "SMS from Heaven" Catholic evangelical foundation set up to spre Christian mess via mobile phone text messs.

"I'd like to believe this is a joke... Seriously? Are people burning fantasy literature in 21st century in some kind of sick ritual?!" one Facebook user said in a comment underneath.

"It's hard for me to believe that we're so backward!" y ded.

Launched in 1997, Harry Potter series of books spins an epic tale of good and evil focused on ventures of eponymous bespectacled young wizard as he struggles against dark wizard Lord Voldemort.

It has sometimes drawn criticism from religious and conservative circles for what y say is its focus on witchcraft.

In recent months, Poland's influential Roman Catholic church has been struggling to deal with fallout of revelations about paedophilia among priests that are unprecedented in this overwhelmingly Catholic country.

Last month, Polish episcopate mitted for first time that nearly 400 of its clergy h sexually abused children and mirs over last three deces. That reflected findings published in February by a charity focused on sex abuse in church.