USCCB reclassifies gay Western "Brokeback Mountain" after complaints

Catholic News Agency ^ | December 16, 2005

[NYer]

Washington DC, Dec. 16, 2005 (CNA) - "Brokeback Mountain," originally rated L (limited adult audience) by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has been reclassified as an O (morally offensive) after several pro-family organizations expressed concern for what they saw as an implicit endorsement of the USCCB film critic to the controversial gay western.

Brokeback Mountain is the story of two sheep-herding cowboys in Wyoming who begin a homosexual relationship on the range in the 1960s, and continue their affair even after they marry women.

The $13-million film garnered seven Golden Globe nominations from foreign film critics.

Director Ang Lee’s homosexual Western premiered last weekend in limited release. Showing in five theaters in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, the film grossed $544,549, averaging $108, 910 per theater. A wider release is slated on December 16, with a nationwide release in January.

In the original comment posted on the USCCB's website, the reviewer wrote that the Catholic Church "makes a distinction between homosexual orientation and activity," and that "Ennis and Jack's continuing physical relationship is morally problematic."

"While the actions taken by Ennis and Jack cannot be endorsed, the universal themes of love and loss ring true," said the original USCCB's review, which also called the movie "a serious contemplation of loneliness and connection."

"Looked at from the point of view of the need for love which everyone feels but few people can articulate, the plight of these guys is easy to understand while their way of dealing with it is likely to surprise and shock an audience," the original USCCB review said.

“Brokeback is the ‘Perfect Storm’ of Hollywood’s war on morality,” said Robert Knight, director of Concerned Women for America’s (CWA’s) Culture & Family Institute (CFI). “It combines high production values with a lowdown attack on morality. It’s a mockery of the Western genre embodied by every movie cowboy from John Wayne to Gene Autry to Kevin Costner. I can’t think of a more effective way to annoy and alienate most movie-going Americans than to show two cowboys lusting after each other and even smooching.

After several pro-life and pro-family websites strongly criticized the original review, the USCCB decided on Friday to change its classification, while still providing a very positive description of the film.

"Brokeback Mountain, originally rated L (limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling) has been reclassified as an O (morally offensive). This has been done because the serious weight of the L rating -- which restricts films in that category to those who can assess from a Catholic perspective the moral issues raised by a movie -- is, unfortunately, misunderstood by many. Because, in this instance, there are some who are using the "L" rating to make it appear the Church -- or the USCCB -- position on homosexuality is ambiguous, the classification has been with revised specifically to address its moral content," says the new USCBB posting.

The new full review of the USCBB can be seen at:
http://www.usccb.org/movies/b/brokebackmountain.shtml

[red irish]

But let us not forget this is another step to make all of this NORMAL to the younger generation.The young people follow all of the celebrities lives and think they have it all. I can see that same way of thiking in my own kids who are in their 20's. They think live and let live. And yes they were brought up Christian and know that this is a wrong kind of lifestyle. So now you can think what is the next generation going to believe. There will be gay marriage and it will go head to head with the church in wanting the church to validate their marriage.

[murdoog]

"American Beauty": Disgusting, soul-sick and scornful of normal people. Also a really well-made movie.

I'll grant that it had excellent cinematography, art direction and score. But it was horribly written. Not quite up to "really well-made". More like a pig that is slightly better looking because it's wearing lipstick.

[Salamander]

Wasn't there some great John Wayne line about the "stinking sheepherders"?....:))

[garandgal]

Wasn't there some great John Wayne line about the "stinking sheepherders"?....:))

Don't know about that, but this is true:

My husband (a lifetime city boy) and I have gone back to help on the farm because my Dad passed away in July. We have 400 ewes.

The other day, a neighbor called the hubby on his cell phone to tell him that he'd driven by our farm, and that "a couple of sheep had their heads stuck in the fence."

My husband replied (I kid you not) "Well, just push 'em out when you're done!"

I about died! The neighbor about died laughing.

[Salamander]

ROFLMAO!

Oh my.
That's even better [uh..worse?] than the "rubber boots" or "kilts" jokes....;D

Me, I just have one pygmy goat who's a wether.
He doesn't do anything [especially] stupid so I don't have any good goat jokes....;]

[garandgal]

Me, I just have one pygmy goat who's a wether.

Do you want more? We have a small herd...accidentally!

About five years ago, two of them (male and female) just showed up at the farm. We have a slight suspicion that they fled from a neighbor a few miles down who had a reputation for being rather callous towards his animals.

In any event, they "moved in." Just showed up and stayed; and immediately dropped a set of twins. My Father liked them, so he got another male goat...we are now trying to GIVE away the babies.

Those little tiny baby goats are so adorable...you really want another, right?

[Salamander]

I'd love one but how the heck are you gonna get one from *there* to *here*?....:))

Here he is

His tale is similar.

My dad got him and tied him to a doghouse up at his cabin thinking that "goats eat everything" and the poor little guy would eat all the weeds around the pond.

Well, he didn't.

He just stood up there, alone, terrified and crying.

Hubby and I kept sneaking up after dark and feeding him oats and corn so he wouldn't starve.

When winter came, I "generously" offered to babysit him so dad wouldn't have to tend him during the cold winter months.

Spring came and my dad said "I'll be coming to get the goat next week" and I said "No you won't".

He's now the most pampered, spoiled persnickety little guy you'll ever meet.

He's gotten so bad that he won't eat his goat chow unless I put 6 animal crackers on the top, first...:)

I have to take new pictures of him.

He now sports a new reflective Hunter-Orange rollover 'hound' collar instead of that horrible ratty nylon thing dad put on him.

[pawdoggie]

You couldn't be more wrong. I have known and still do know cowboys (ranchers) so run sheep.

When I was down San Angelo way, they called such ranchers, "Goat Ropers". Something change?

[garandgal]

I'd love one but how the heck are you gonna get one from *there* to *here*?....:))

What do you think the airlines would say if I showed up with a goat in a carrier? They ship puppies after all!

Your goat is so cute...ours are black and white spotted.

[Salamander]

If you sent them by Northwest Airlines, they'd probably say 'they ain't gonna make it".

[They nearly killed a puppy I had flown in from Nebraska]

Somewhere around here is a guy who has pygmies for sale.
I'm just having a rip of a time tracking him down.

If you ever get pix of your goats online, I'd love to see them....:)

[des]

sheepboys do it woolly...and, BAAHAAHHAAD.

[garandgal]

I'll check on the "pregnancy status" of our goats tomorrow. We track the sheep constantly because that is our money supply.

With the goats...we walk out one day and say: "oh, look...babies!"

I swear, if you see a pic of the babies you will DRIVE out to Iowa to get one!

[Ditter]

>>>>"review called movie, a serious contemplation of loneliness and connection">>>>

I am just not interested in watching that kind of "connection".

[flaglady47]

"I thought they were called "shepherds.""

This isn't the kind of "shepherd" I'd want hanging around any nativity scene. I'm so cynical now, I believe part of the reason this movie is coming out right now is as another jab at Christianity and the Christmas season. I know, I know, I'm being paranoid, right?

[Salamander]

LOL!

You're really making this hard for me, aren't you?


[who knew goats were so dang personable?]....;)

[MoochPooch]

One last possible alternate name for the film:

"Bum Steer"

(GROAN!)

[cowboy_code]

I have a problem with this movie's advertising and reviews. It isn't up front with the audience.

It is not mentioned that these two 'cowboys' are actually sheep-herders. To people in the know, there is a great difference especially in the 'mythos' the film makers are trying to 'cash in' on with gay contraversy. **I feel the Mel Brooks might have been more appropriate to do a film about two gay sheepherders in the mountains!

Also the two men are already married with children to women before getting involved. So there is an real element of family breaking-up here.

All these facts as compared to the simplistic way this film is being marketed to the audience is somewhat false & hypocritical. Hypocrisy sucks!
I don't patronize such phony message films.

[redhead]

"Seriously, something must be done to abort the USCCB. What a waste of time, money and resources."

I've thought about this often, but for the life of me, I can't even imagine how one would go about even beginning the process, let alone bringing it to completion. These bishops are not about to allow the laity to dismantle their fun little good-ol'-boys group hug.