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USCCB reclassifies gay Western "Brokeback Mountain" after complaints
Catholic News Agency ^ | December 16, 2005

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


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: bishops; brokebackmountain; catholic; gay; hollywierd; homosexual; homosexualagenda; hornswaggling; morallyoffensive; movie; moviereview; pudding; usccb
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1 posted on 12/16/2005 4:23:32 PM PST by NYer
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To: american colleen; Lady In Blue; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; ...
It's time to dismantle the USCCB!

Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list


2 posted on 12/16/2005 4:25:16 PM PST by NYer ("Socialism is the religion people get when they lose their religion")
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To: NYer

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


3 posted on 12/16/2005 4:27:42 PM PST by Gordongekko909 (I know. Let's cut his WHOLE BODY off.)
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To: NYer
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.

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.

4 posted on 12/16/2005 4:28:32 PM PST by madprof98
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To: NYer

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?


5 posted on 12/16/2005 4:29:11 PM PST by CheyennePress
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To: NYer

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.


6 posted on 12/16/2005 4:29:26 PM PST by Generic_Login_1787
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To: NYer

Well, duh! Talking about having foot up (body cavity of your choice) disease...


7 posted on 12/16/2005 4:30:06 PM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
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To: NYer

What the hell is a sheep herding cowboy?


8 posted on 12/16/2005 4:30:38 PM PST by csmusaret (Urban Sprawl is an oxymoron)
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To: DirtyHarryY2K; little jeremiah

Good guys win again.


9 posted on 12/16/2005 4:30:46 PM PST by Clint N. Suhks (If you don't like Jesus, you can go to hell.)
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To: NYer
It's time to dismantle the USCCB!

And salt the earth on which its headquarters once stood! LOL

10 posted on 12/16/2005 4:32:42 PM PST by B Knotts
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To: Gordongekko909
"sheep-herding cowboys"

As far as I know there is no such thing - kinda like a 'Rat pushing for tax cuts.

11 posted on 12/16/2005 4:32:53 PM PST by Paladin2 (If the political indictment's from Fitz, the jury always acquits.)
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To: Paladin2

I thought they were called "shepherds."


12 posted on 12/16/2005 4:33:48 PM PST by Gordongekko909 (I know. Let's cut his WHOLE BODY off.)
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To: Gordongekko909

Yep, flock fleecers.


13 posted on 12/16/2005 4:34:40 PM PST by Paladin2 (If the political indictment's from Fitz, the jury always acquits.)
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To: Gordongekko909

I thought it was "Brokeass Mountain".


14 posted on 12/16/2005 4:35:10 PM PST by RichInOC (Why would male shepherds have sex with each other when the job comes with a harem?)
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To: NYer

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


15 posted on 12/16/2005 4:35:24 PM PST by OpusatFR
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To: All
This movie should have been called "Homo on the Range"..

I know: collective grooooooooan.......:)

16 posted on 12/16/2005 4:35:48 PM PST by Birdlady
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To: NYer

They changed the rating, but the review is still essentially a rave.


17 posted on 12/16/2005 4:36:07 PM PST by nickcarraway (I'm Only Alive, Because a Judge Hasn't Ruled I Should Die...)
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To: RichInOC

Strokeass Mountain?


18 posted on 12/16/2005 4:36:09 PM PST by Gordongekko909 (I know. Let's cut his WHOLE BODY off.)
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To: CheyennePress
LOL.

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?

19 posted on 12/16/2005 4:36:32 PM PST by Do not dub me shapka broham
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To: NYer

Just read the article. Praise the Lord.


20 posted on 12/16/2005 4:36:37 PM PST by cielo
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