Catholic Ping
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Posted on 12/16/2005 4:23:29 PM PST by 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
Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list
Oh, wait, it's called "Brokeback Mountain?" I've only heard about it on FR, and all this time I thought it was actually called "Bareback Mountain." LOL
They gave the very same treatment to that pro-euthanasia film, Million Dollar Baby. It would be interesting to see how they'd treat a pro-life film, but, of course, there are no pro-life films.
Now, here we go again with these "cowboys" who do nothing more than heard sheep.
They're shepherds, and ask a rancher what he thinks about land that has had sheep on it.
Just goes to show you that being a cowboy equates to nothing more than wearing the right fashion accessories.
I know, I'm off topic. It's just now that this has dawned on me, though. They're just called cowboys because they're wearing a hat and boots. Hopefully designer, right?
Disappointing. Even though some of my favorite movies are rated O, like Mulholland Drive, I've always found the reviews to be no worse than useful and usually perceptive.
Well, duh! Talking about having foot up (body cavity of your choice) disease...
What the hell is a sheep herding cowboy?
Good guys win again.
And salt the earth on which its headquarters once stood! LOL
As far as I know there is no such thing - kinda like a 'Rat pushing for tax cuts.
I thought they were called "shepherds."
Yep, flock fleecers.
I thought it was "Brokeass Mountain".
Weasels come popping out of the woodwork!
" 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."
What balony! Assessing from a Catholic perspective cannot mean anything other than pity and shame.
"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."
So, while the "many" are unable to assess the movie from a Catholic viewpoint, others, the "some" are attempting to make the movie if not affirmative of homosexuality, at least neutral? Who are the "some?" I don't believe anyone other than those in the USCCB office.
Dear USCCB,
At least stop playing us for fools. You either use this as a teaching opportunity to expand Christian understanding, or you forfeit your authority. Didn't one of the modern saints see bishops walking up a mountain some lacking heads, others asleep, and others just filthy?
You absolutely cannot hide now, or in the everafter. Teach, or be condemned. There aren't other choices.
Sincerely,
Opus
I know: collective grooooooooan.......:)
They changed the rating, but the review is still essentially a rave.
Strokeass Mountain?
Absolutely correct.
The notion that the anyone in Hollywood would even know how to ride a horse without a three month preparatory course is laughable.
Whatever happened to actors like Jimmy Stewart, Lee Marvin, and Charles Durning?
Just read the article. Praise the Lord.
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