Time for parish leaders to step up about books

Several months after confirmation is unquestionably clear about pornographic books being available to children in our parish libraries, it is time for someone to become a leader in this matter and do the commonsense thing—put the books into a restricted area needing parental approval for minors to access them.
Nobody is trying to ban books. Despite claims to the contrary by those who support the books remaining available for children, those fighting this unbelievable situation are only asking for a restricted section. It is no different than the Parish Council establishing guidelines many years ago for minors to get R-rated movies. That requirement, in itself, makes it clear there are ways to address this.
Yet, months after this situation surfaced, there continue to be those who defend the right of children to have complete access to these materials. And while that goes on, we are still waiting for some public officials with the power to do something to step forward.
There have been some voices for common sense. Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer, District Attorney Warren Montgomery, La. Sen. Sharon Hewitt and Mandeville Mayor Clay Madden have all made it a point to step into the spotlight of this controversy and state very clearly that a restricted section at the libraries is necessary.
Yet, Library Director Kelly LaRocca and the Library Board continue to defend the books and other materials as not being pornographic and clinging to “First Amendment” rights of anyone, of any age, to access the books. Instead, they offer various actions such as new juvenile library cards, or pulling the books while under review, as their answer to the still shocking situation—all of which is simply window dressing to cover up the real problem.
For the vast majority of residents in St. Tammany who have actually seen the pictures and text in these books, the response has been almost unanimous—shock, amazement and an immediate call to restrict the books. But still, nothing has happened.
The Parish Council, the public body that seemingly has the most power to do something, has stated that from their view they do not have the authority to affect the situation. Yet, leaders in the crusade for a restricted section have documented numerous other parishes that have found various ways to put pressure on the board—and in those cities it has happened.
We can argue all day long about who really has the power to make this happen, but the bottom line is that there are ways to settle this very quickly. But we need leaders to step up and take on the fight. In politics, there is always a way to get things done, and at this point we are looking for someone in our parish who will lead the battle to put an end to this stunning situation that is undoubtedly harming children every day it remains.