Pregnant star misses Vatican gala (16-yr-old "Mary" in "Nativity" is pregnant)

BBC News ^ | 11/29/06 | Not listed

[paulat]

Pregnant star misses Vatican gala

Keisha Castle-Hughes has said she is too busy to attend the premiere The teenage star of a film about the Nativity is missing its Vatican premiere because she is expecting a baby with her 19-year-old partner. New Zealander Keisha Castle-Hughes, 16, who was nominated for an Oscar for her role in Whale Rider, plays Mary.

Pope Benedict XVI will also be unable to attend the Vatican's first premiere due to his forthcoming visit to Turkey.

A member for the Papal Council for Culture said the actress was expected to play her part well, not be a saint.

The actress, who is expecting a child in spring, said that she was "thrilled" at the news and had made the film "in a state of grace".

Biblical tale

The premiere of The Nativity Story, expected to be attended by 7,000 people, will take place in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, which is used for Sunday masses when they are not held outside in St Peter's Square.

The film was shot in southern Italy and Morocco

The film was shot partly in Matera, Italy, the same location used for Mel Gibson's The Passion of The Christ.

It recounts the Biblical tale from the Angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary that she will give birth to Jesus, to the visit of the three wise men to the new baby.

It has been produced by the US-based production company New Line Cinema, which was also involved in the Lord of The Rings trilogy, and will open in the US and Italy next month.

Oscar Isaac, a 30-year-old US actor, plays Joseph opposite Castle-Hughes.

Born in Australia, Castle-Hughes moved to New Zealand aged four with her Maori mother and Australian father. She became a New Zealand citizen in 2001.

Proceeds of the premiere will go towards the building of a school in the northern Israeli village of Mughar which Druze, Muslim and Christian children will attend

[RockinRight]

[Stone Mountain]

. If you look at my initial post, I am saying that the situation is bad for the child, and that the baby's mother has made an unfortunate decision.

Your initial post:

Her baby is a bastard. That's what's sad.

Are you serious? You think single motherhood is ideal?

So yes, you did say the situation is bad for the child. You also called the baby a bastard. You have a problem with the way I used "little?" Fine. Change my previous post to:

You're being quite sympathetic to the bastard? How wonderful!

No problem with that, right? I think calling the baby a bastard shows how symathetic you are towards it.

Why are you so pro-illegitamacy? Why so anti-marriage? Go to DU if you don't feel comfortable with the concept that having a baby out of wedlock is less than ideal.

Ahh, Mr Strawman. Nice try - the last refuge of a bankrupt argument on FR - call the person you disagree with a Liberal DUer. LOL! I'm not pro-illigitimacy, nor anti-marriage at all, nor have I implied that anywhere - I'm pro-not-calling-innocent-children-bastards. That was my only beef with your post. You seem to think it was warranted and tried to justify it. I don't believe there is a good justification to call an innocent child names. That's all.

[Stone Mountain]

Yeah, I completely misrepresented him! : )

[motormouth]

Howdy do RR.

MM

[motormouth]

You certainly did.. Shame on you. ;o)

MM

[Soothesayer]

I understand that having a child at age 16 while unwed may not be a very wise thing to do but pregnancy is certainly glorious anyway.

One can only hope that the two of them will soon marry and will make better decisions in the future. In the meantime, I wish only the best for Ms. Castle-Hughes, her partner, and especially her new baby. From what I have read they have done absolutely nothing to merit the resentment of the world. If they make better decisions from now on, their baby will surely be healthy and happy.

Furthermore, I don't think that the pregnancy diminishes the movie in any way, if it may seem that way to some. Hughes may not be very wise but it is very possible that she has a good heart and will cherish her child with the deepest reverence. Mary was pure of heart but otherwise quite ordinary. I think Hughes is very appropriate to play the role.

[motormouth]

Just wow. What a great post.

MM

[RockinRight]

Not bad, and you?

[carlr]

Why are you so pro-illegitamacy? Why so anti-marriage? Go to DU if you don't feel comfortable with the concept that having a baby out of wedlock is less than ideal.

That would appear to be something of a leap.

It would seem to be a "strawman" attempt to divert the debate.

[motormouth]

Very well, Thanks. Getting ready for Christmas?

[Theo]

I disagree with calling children bastards. If you admit you were wrong to do so, I'll gladly let it go. Otherwise, I'm going to call fouls where I see fouls.

"Bastard" is a commentary on the parent, not the child. Period. Again, since it seems you're so slow to understand what I'm saying -- the child is innocent. The child is not at fault here. The two parents are at fault for bringing a child into the world without a set of married parents. The mother and father are responsible for the child's situation.

Not sure why you're so defensive of illegitimacy. If your parents weren't married when you were born, that is not your fault. That makes your life no less meaningful or valuable.

[Theo]

I have said on several occasions that the child is innocent, and not at fault. Stone Mountain seems unable to understand that. Generally people on FR understand simple statements like, "The child is innocent." My conclusion was that Stone Mountain is not of sound mind, and therefore a DUer.

Forget it. This discussion is not worth my time.

[RockinRight]

Yup, still need to shop though. As is typical for men, I wait till the last week before Christmas.

;-)

[carlr]

I have said on several occasions that the child is innocent, and not at fault. Stone Mountain seems unable to understand that. Generally people on FR understand simple statements like, "The child is innocent." My conclusion was that Stone Mountain is not of sound mind, and therefore a DUer.

Perhaps it is when words and statements contradict each other.
Saying "The child is innocent" after calling that child a bastard,which is in todays vernacular attributed to be an insult or slur,might be the reason for a little confusion.

Just a guess though.

[Chanticleer]

Bastard, in the context you originally used, refers to the child. It means an illegitimate child. It does not refer to the adulterous or fornicating parents; only the child born out of wedlock. Whether you believe the word comments on the guilt of the parents instead of the child, the word addresses the child's state, not the parents'. That is why many of us do not believe it is appropriate.

[motormouth]

LOL Ugh..youre such a..such a ... typical man.

MM

[paulat]

Great post! I agree! She is a talented young woman.

[Stone Mountain]

"Bastard" is a commentary on the parent, not the child. Period.

This is just wrong. Period. You are calling the child a name, not the parents.

the child is innocent. The child is not at fault here.

And yet you would call him a bastard. Lovely.

Not sure why you're so defensive of illegitimacy.

Hey, Mr. Strawman, nice try again. I haven't defended illegitimacy. I just have a problem with calling innocent children bastards. It's in bad taste and it's cruel to the children.

[Stone Mountain]

My conclusion was that Stone Mountain is not of sound mind, and therefore a DUer.

Once again, when your arguments are intellectually bankrupt, you resort to this DU accusation. How sad.

[Stone Mountain]

Saying "The child is innocent" after calling that child a bastard,which is in todays vernacular attributed to be an insult or slur,might be the reason for a little confusion.

Absolutely correct. Why is it so important for some to slur children?