Posted on 12/04/2007 6:31:06 AM PST by topher
Source URL:
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/nov/07113001.html LifeSiteNews.com
Friday November 30, 2007
Catholic League Slams US Catholic Bishops Conference Positive Review of Golden Compass
First Brokeback Mountain, Now US Bishops Movie Reviewer Praises Golden Compass
By John-Henry Westen
WASHINGTON, DC, November 30, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Harry Forbes has for many years been the Director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Office for Film and Broadcasting. In 2005, LifeSiteNews.com pointed out that Forbes issued a glowingly positive review of the homosexual propaganda film "Brokeback Mountain". Yesterday, Forbes issued another positive review, this time for the film adaptation of the specifically anti-Catholic novel "The Golden Compass."
"The Golden Compass," is one of Phillip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy, which includes "Northern Lights" (re-titled "The Golden Compass"), "The Subtle Knife" and "The Amber Spyglass." Pullman wrote these books with the intention of indoctrinating children with atheistic values. Pullman told The Washington Post in 2001 that he was deliberately "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief."
The USCCB review approves the film even for adolescents, and dismisses concerns about the radically anti-Catholic nature of the books saying: "Most moviegoers with no foreknowledge of the books or Pullman's personal belief system will scarcely be aware of religious connotations, and can approach the movie as a pure fantasy-adventure. . . . Religious elements, as such, are practically nil."
LifeSiteNews.com spoke with the Catholic League about the review. The League has been one of the most vocal groups in warning about the dangers of the books, which will be given renewed interest from the upcoming film starring Nicole Kidman which is to be released next week.
The League did not take issue with the USCCB review praising the film for its artistic merit, but for its winking at the devastating anti-Catholicism of Pullman's trilogy of books of which "Northern Lights", the first one, is the basis for the Golden Compass movie.
Forbes' review says, "The film has already caused some concern in Catholic circles because of the author's professed atheism, and the more overt issue of the novels' negative portrayal of his (very much fictionalized) church, a stand-in for all organized religion."
The Catholic League told LifeSiteNews.com that the review by Forbes and John Mulderig (a member of Forbes' staff) presents an "inaccurate rendering" of the controversy.
"Philip Pullman's books do not portray a 'very fictionalized church,' one that is 'a stand-in for all organized religion.' They portray the Catholic Church. That is why he uses the term 'Magisterium,' (for the evil empire)," said the League.
The League says that the USCCB reviewers were "wrong" to say that it was 'a bit unfortunate' that Pullman chose this term Magisterium for the evil empire. "He deliberately chose it because his target from the very beginning has been Catholicism, not anything else. It was Pullman who said that 'I'm trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief.' Not to accept what the man says about himself shows no respect for his integrity," said the League.
In what the League calls "mind-boggling", the USCCB review actually congratulates the screenwriter for portraying the characters as demonstrating "free will" for their opposition to the Magisterium and then suggests that this is a reflection "entirely in harmony with Catholic teaching".
"To the extent, moreover, that Lyra (the central character) and her allies are taking a stand on behalf of free will in opposition to the coercive force of the Magisterium, they are of course acting entirely in harmony with Catholic teaching," writes Forbes. "The heroism and self-sacrifice that they demonstrate provide appropriate moral lessons for viewers."
The League countered: "Nazis are portrayed as having free will in movies, too. Should the screenwriters of this film be commended for reflecting Catholic values? Free will is indeed a Catholic value, but it is the object of free will that carries moral weight."
The USCCB review admits "There is, admittedly, a spirit of rebellion and stark individualism pervading the story," but adds that "only by defying the powers that be, can a scientist like Lord Asriel achieve progress." Reflecting, Forbes writes, "Pullman is perhaps drawing parallels to the Catholic Church's restrictive stance towards the early alchemists and, later, Galileo."
Of course, Pullman could also be drawing parallels to the Catholic Church's restrictive stance towards embryonic stem cell research, in vitro fertilization, and cloning.
The USCCB reviewers conclude, by suggesting that parents allow their children to not only view the film but also read the books, and "take the opportunity to talk through any thorny philosophical issues with their teens."
"Leaving the books aside," says the USCCB review, "and focusing on what has ended up on-screen, the script can reasonably be interpreted in the broadest sense as an appeal against the abuse of political power."
The Catholic League countered, "to say that the movie should be judged by "leaving the books aside" is to miss the point: The Catholic League has never objected to the film, per se, but we have objected to it on the grounds that it is bait for the books."
The League warns that The Golden Compass is the least offensive of the three books and is bait for the books with "sell atheism to kids in a stealth fashion." The League has produced a booklet against The Golden Compass film's soft sell for the spiritually dangerous book series. Catholic League President Bill Donohue notes that many Christian groups from all denominations have joined in the effort.
Forbes' 2005 USCCB glowing review of the homosexual film Brokeback Mountain was substantially altered after a LifeSiteNews.com readers issued numerous concerns to the Bishops Conference. (See coverage:
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/dec/05121607.html
) LifeSiteNews.com has retained a copy of the original glowing review for those interested.
See Forbes' USCCB review of The Golden Compass here:
a href="http://www.catholicnews.com/data/movies/07mv242.htm"> http://www.catholicnews.com/data/movies/07mv242.htm
To respectfully contact individual US Bishops:
http://www.usccb.org/bishops.shtml
See related story with links to several other reports on Golden Compass:
Ontario Catholic School Board Removes Anti-Catholic Book 'The Golden Compass' from Library
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/nov/07112202.html
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A sad state of affairs. I would never let the writer of the positive review publish again in the magazine based upon a self-evident lack of discernment.
The film has already caused some concern in Catholic circles because of the author's professed atheism, and the more overt issue of the novels' negative portrayal of his (very much fictionalized) church, a stand-in for all organized religion.
The good news is that the first book's explicit references to this church have been completely excised with only the term Magisterium retained. The choice is still a bit unfortunate, however, as the word refers so specifically to the church's teaching authority. Yet the film's only clue that the Magisterium is a religious body comes in the form of the icons which decorate one of their local headquarters.
And now for a lighter approach:
Revelation 2
To the Church in Thyatira
18”To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 20Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. 24Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): 25Only hold on to what you have until I come. 26To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—
27’He will rule them with an iron scepter;
he will dash them to pieces like pottery’— just as I have received authority from my Father. 28I will also give him the morning star. 29He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Forbes is director and Mulderig is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies.
I wonder if what his background is that he appears to be so naive about people out to destroy the Catholic Church.
Must be a registered Democrat who voted for John Kerry...
FWIW, your article was already posted last week: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1933533/posts
I see the point, but anyone who forbids their child from seeing the movie is missing some real opportunity.
First, without explicit reference to a church (who would know what “Magesterium” means, honestly, I didn’t even know the connection until I read this article, and this is 12 years of Catholic schooling talking), you can talk about the movie with your child about how the entity represents government and its need to control. Remember, once the thing leaves Pullman’s hands, you can use the metaphors he has to your own advantage! How delicious to subvert his intent.
Second, boycotts of films with controversy almost always flop to the advantage of the film. People who wouldn’t normally see the film see it anyway to see what the fuss is all about, and often go “What’s the big deal?” and wonder how oversensitive the complaining party is. Boycott this, make it a big deal, and you will see the free press coverage on this explode.
Go ahead and do what you want, but that’s how I see it.
Quiet boycott is the way to go most of the time. Just let believers talk to each other and not go. That takes some large percentage of possible viewers away so the film doesn’t become a blockbuster.
I just finished Perlanda last night (the second book of C.S. Lewis’ space trilogy). It drove home the nature of innocence and trust and how delicate they are . . .
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The odd thing is that we both abbreviated the title the same way...
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