Philadelphia, USA - In a county where a courthouse plaque of the Ten Commandments led to a long battle in the federal courts, a new summer reading program is causing a controversy over the role of religion in secular life.
Critics contend that "Missing Heaven," the book chosen for the new Chester County reading program, has faith in God as a central theme. At least two groups have voiced concerns about the choice, and county commissioners - who first endorsed the selection - have apologized, saying they had not read it and were not fully versed on the story line.
Opposition to a "one book" program selection is highly unusual but not unheard of, according to the American Library Association. In Salt Lake City last year, some objected to a book choice that contained profanity; in El Paso, Texas, some readers refused to attend a "meet the author" event because the novelist was gay.
The Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia and the Anti-Defamation League said that "Missing Heaven" and questions posed in an accompanying discussion guide have an inappropriately heavy focus on religion for a public library program.
"The book features religion in a manner that smacks of endorsement," said Margaret Downey, president of the Freethought Society, an atheist group. "The book may entangle (the county and the library) in a philosophical question that is best left in the family and the church."
The county library, which selected the book, said it stands behind its choice.
"I've read the book and I don't understand what the concern was," said James B. Norton, head of the library system's board of directors.
"Missing Heaven," self-published in 2003 by author Caroline Wagner, who lives in the Philadelphia suburb, is the first selection chosen for the new reading group. Book discussion forums are slated for September in most of the 18 county libraries, as well as a "meet the author" event.
The county library formed a book committee last fall that established selection guidelines, which include: the author or story should have a local link and the work should have wide appeal and discussable themes.
The novel's main character is a woman who tries to reconcile her miraculous healing powers and her desire to live a normal life, according to the author's Web site. Wagner did not immediately respond to e-mail and telephone call requests from The Associated Press seeking comment.
"There are three main guiding themes in the book: relationships, healing and faith," said Nancy Baron-Baer, associate regional director of the Anti-Defamation League. "One has to be very careful because any of these (elements) can be very exclusionary if someone's believes in a way that's different."
The One Book One Community initiative was started in 1988 by the Seattle library's Washington Center for the Book. Since then, "one book" reading programs, aimed at fostering reading and community, have sprung up at public libraries nationwide - featuring such works as Mitch Albom's "Tuesdays With Morrie," Ernest Gaines' "A Lesson Before Dying" and "Fahrenheit 451," by Ray Bradbury - as well as Great Britain, Canada and Australia.
"The important thing to remember is every library is looking for a book that will generate discussion, be thought-provoking and discuss the issues brought forward in the book," Carol Brey-Casiano, president of the ALA, said.
The Freethought Society and ADL have not filed official complaints seeking to have the book selection changed, but said they will be keeping a close eye on the county's future picks.
The Freethought Society is the same group that sought the removal of the Ten Commandments plaque from the county courthouse. A federal court ruled in 2003 that keeping the plaque was acceptable because commissioners were motivated by historic preservation of the 85-year-old plaque, not a desire to proselytize.
The plaque remains a touchy subject for many.