The Bible makes most challenged books list in US for first time. The American Library Association’s annual list of frequently challenged books places the Bible alongside transgender picture book and erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey.

The Bible made the line-up for 2015 in sixth place, the ALA said, with users objecting to its presence in libraries and schools over its “religious viewpoint”. The text has not previously appeared in the ALA’s annual citation of challenged titles.

James La Rue, director of the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, speculated to Associated Press that its inclusion was down to “people who feel that if a school library buys a copy of the Bible, it’s a violation of church and state”.

“And sometimes there’s a retaliatory action, where a religious group has objected to a book and a parent might respond by objecting to the Bible,” said LaRue.

hat-tip Stephen Neil