'The Nativity Story' Movie Problematic for Catholics, "Unsuitable" for Young Children

LifeSiteNews.com ^ | 12/4/2006 | John-Henry Westen

[Pyro7480]

'The Nativity Story' Movie Problematic for Catholics, "Unsuitable" for Young Children

By John-Henry Westen

NEW YORK, December 4, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A review of New Line Cinema's The Nativity story by Fr. Angelo Mary Geiger of the Franciscans of the Immaculate in the United States, points out that the film, which opened December 1, misinterprets scripture from a Catholic perspective.

While Fr. Geiger admits that he found the film is "in general, to be a pious and reverential presentation of the Christmas mystery." He adds however, that "not only does the movie get the Virgin Birth wrong, it thoroughly Protestantizes its portrayal of Our Lady."

In Isaiah 7:14 the Bible predicts the coming of the Messiah saying: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel." Fr. Geiger, in an video blog post, explains that the Catholic Church has taught for over 2000 years that the referenced Scripture showed that Mary would not only conceive the child miraculously, but would give birth to the child miraculously - keeping her physical virginity intact during the birth.

The film, he suggests, in portraying a natural, painful birth of Christ, thus denies the truth of the virginal and miraculous birth of Christ, which, he notes, the Fathers of the Church compared to light passing through glass without breaking it. Fr. Geiger quoted the fourth century St. Augustine on the matter saying. "That same power which brought the body of the young man through closed doors, brought the body of the infant forth from the inviolate womb of the mother."

Fr. Geiger contrasts The Nativity Story with The Passion of the Christ, noting that with the latter, Catholics and Protestants could agree to support it. He suggests, however, that the latter is "a virtual coup against Catholic Mariology".

The characterization of Mary further debases her as Fr. Geiger relates in his review. "Mary in The Nativity lacks depth and stature, and becomes the subject of a treatment on teenage psychology."

Beyond the non-miraculous birth, the biggest let-down for Catholics comes from Director Catherine Hardwicke's own words. Hardwicke explains her rationale in an interview: "We wanted her [Mary] to feel accessible to a young teenager, so she wouldn't seem so far away from their life that it had no meaning for them. I wanted them to see Mary as a girl, as a teenager at first, not perfectly pious from the very first moment. So you see Mary going through stuff with her parents where they say, 'You're going to marry this guy, and these are the rules you have to follow.' Her father is telling her that she's not to have sex with Joseph for a year-and Joseph is standing right there."

Comments Fr. Geiger, "it is rather disconcerting to see Our Blessed Mother portrayed with 'attitude;' asserting herself in a rather anachronistic rebellion against an arranged marriage, choosing her words carefully with her parents, and posing meaningful silences toward those who do not understand her."

Fr. Geiger adds that the film also contains "an overly graphic scene of St. Elizabeth giving birth," which is "just not suitable, in my opinion, for young children to view."

Despite its flaws Fr. Geiger, after viewing the film, also has some good things to say about it. "Today, one must commend any sincere attempt to put Christ back into Christmas, and this film is certainly one of them," he says. "The Nativity Story in no way compares to the masterpiece which is The Passion of the Christ, but it is at least sincere, untainted by cynicism, and a worthy effort by Hollywood to end the prejudice against Christianity in the public square."

And, in addition to a good portrait of St. Joseph, the film offers "at least one cinematic and spiritual triumph" in portraying the Visitation of Mary to St. Elizabeth. "Although the Magnificat is relegated to a kind of epilogue at the movie's end, the meeting between Mary and Elizabeth is otherwise faithful to the scriptures and quite poignant. In a separate scene, the two women experience the concurrent movement of their children in utero and share deeply in each other's joy. I can't think of another piece of celluloid that illustrates the dignity of the unborn child better than this."

See Fr. Geiger's full review here:
http://airmaria.com/

[wagglebee]

The point of the article is that we might take issue with the movie, I do not think the movie is irrelevant. I personally plan to watch the movie after it comes out on DVD (because I despise movie theaters), and I hope that this movie will help bring nonbelievers to the Lord.

[Quester]

I DON'T HATE PROTESTANTS, nor do I go onto their threads and attack their beliefs.

This was your thread ... ?

I guess that I thought that it was an open discussion.

Ans if you think that Catholic beliefs are the only beliefs being questioned on this thread, ... then your heart is as biased as your ALL CAP demeanor demonstrates.

I think that it was when lay christians began to have the opportunity to read their Bibles.

So, men such as Luther, Calvin and Wesley just "missed it"?

Apparently ... errors such as this one may take some time to sort out.

[wagglebee]

This thread was posted by a Catholic and Catholic lists were pinged. Then, as so often happens, a group of Protestants arrived to challenge Catholic beliefs.

Apparently ... errors such as this one may take some time to sort out.

So, what other "errors" might we expect Protestants to "sort out" in the future?

[annalex]

It's ok for you to throw heresy charges at others, but as soon as you get called on it, you get sanctimonius

Kosta, however, does not invent charges of heresy out of his own head, but rather cites appropiate Church councils. Your opinions, however, are just that, your opinions.

[annalex]

You have Catholic offshoots who want to deify Mary literally. They petitioned the Pope to do just that.

Really? Can you substantiate?

[annalex]

They may still call themselves Catholics, but there are liberal Catholics, conservative Catholics, feminist Catholics, Charismatic Catholics, Tridentine Mass Catholics

They are still Catholic so long as they believe, or failing a perfect belief, struggle to comprehend that docrines of the Faith as expressed in the Catechism. There are no denominations in the Church.

[blue-duncan]

" I personally plan to watch the movie after it comes out on DVD (because I despise movie theaters), and I hope that this movie will help bring nonbelievers to the Lord."

See, I knew we could agree on somethings. I felt the same way about Gibson's movie and in fact took people to see it even though there were places in it I disagreed with, However, it brought people to the Lord and that was a blessing. Have a great Christmas.

[Quester]

This thread was posted by a Catholic and Catholic lists were pinged. Then, as so often happens, a group of Protestants arrived to challenge Catholic beliefs.

Now I'm sure you know that the original poster didn't post this thread as a Catholic caucus thread ... and that it, therefore, is an open discussion.

And Catholics began the thread by negatively critiquing what they saw as a particularly Protestant portrayal of Mary in the Nativity Story.

[wagglebee]

Thank you.

May you and your family have a very joyous Christmas as well.

[wagglebee]

And Catholics began the thread by negatively critiquing what they saw as a particularly Protestant portrayal of Mary in the Nativity Story.

Can you be more specific? I reread the first twenty or so posts and didn't see any of this until Protestants came along.

[blue-duncan]

" Your opinions, however, are just that, your opinions."

No, you are mistaken, we have a council, the Neener Council of Aaaargh. We meet annually about this time of the year or before, to decide the "Anathema" of the year award along with the lesser, but still important, "Heretic" and "Lesser Heretic (but still icky)" awards. Our Council is not as old as yours but we still like it.

[Quester]

And Catholics began the thread by negatively critiquing what they saw as a particularly Protestant portrayal of Mary in the Nativity Story.

Can you be more specific? I reread the first twenty or so posts and didn't see any of this until Protestants came along.

See what ?

Disagreement ???

Why ... what else would you expect to see when Catholics and Protestants (and Orthodox) ... come to occupy the same space ?

[wagglebee]

No, you are mistaken, we have a council, the Neener Council of Aaaargh. We meet annually about this time of the year or before, to decide the "Anathema" of the year award along with the lesser, but still important, "Heretic" and "Lesser Heretic (but still icky)" awards. Our Council is not as old as yours but we still like it.

If you announce that this council has an open bar, you might find a pronounced increase in interest from Catholics of Irish descent! :-)

[Blogger]

Blogger, I have to ask, why is it so big a deal to say that Mary did not have any more kids? I am a Lutheran, and quite frankly I think it is more than likely that Joseph and Mary did not have sex. It makes sense logically, and isn't contradicted in scripture.

The big deal is that I believe it IS contradicted by Scripture; and, it is part of an overarching pattern. One has to explain Adelphos some other way than it is usually translated (brothers), protokos some other way than it is usually translated (first born in a succession) in Greek in that context, and until in some other way than the actual context indicates. Of course, there are other ways to translate Protokos and Ews(until)and other ways of understanding Adelphos; however, with the three elements all being present in Scripture and there being NOTHING in Scripture to indicate otherwise, it seems to be a great contradiction of Scripture to indicate that Jesus was an only child.

Beyond that, it is a part of an overarching pattern in Mariology. She has been exalted from being the blessed mother of Jesus and servant of God that she was to taking on the attributes of Christ. In fact, Ascribing attributes of Christ to Mary is something the Catholic church does regularly - in opposition to Scripture and very often at the instigation of "Mary" herself.

Study the apparitions that are revered by so many. Many are rather tame, but many are outright blasphemy.

Examples: Mary as Mediator

What Scripture says: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; . . ." [I Timothy 2:5]

What "Mary" says: Apparition of Mary to the children of Medjugorje, Bosnia "I am a Mediatress between you and God."

Mary as High Priest

What Scripture Says: "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself." [Hebrews 7:26-28]

What "Mary" Says: Apparition of Mary to the children of Medjugorje, Bosnia "I am with you and day after day I offer your sacrifices and prayers to God for the salvation of the world."

Apparition of Mary to Sister Agnes Sasagawa, Akita, Japan 1973 "With my Son I have intervened so many times to appease the wrath of the Father. I have prevented the coming of calamities by offering Him the sufferings of the Son on the Cross, His Precious Blood, and beloved souls who console Him forming a cohort of victim souls."



Mary as Savior: What Scripture Says- "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." [Acts 4:12]

What "Mary" Says- Apparition of Mary to Sister Agnes Sasagawa, Akita, Japan "I alone am able still to save you from the calamities which approach. Those who place their confidence in me will be saved."

Apparition of Mary to Nancy Fowler, Conyers, Georgia, USA "Our Loving Mother said, `We are both revealing our suffering faces to you. Tell others we suffer for them in love.'" "During the vision, Jesus appeared to Nancy on the cross and, then, merged with an image of His Mother. This vision was repeated over and over and over and over. This vision appeared to show the oneness of their suffering." BR>
Mary as Goddess:

What Scripture says: Exodus 20:"8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. "

Apparition of Mary to Maximin Graud and Melanie Mathieu, LaSalette, France 1846 "I gave you six days for working. The seventh I have reserved for myself."

Interior Locution of Mary to Carlos Lopez, San Francisco, California, USA 1991-present

"I am the Morning Star whom announces the day, the Light which is near, the Light of God, the Light of Love, the Light of peace, the Light of eternal salvation... I will ascend to heaven to take possession of My throne alongside of My Son."



The Gospel according to "Mary": Apparition of Mary to Lucia Abobora, Fatima, Portugal 1917 "`Jesus . . . wishes to establish in the world the devotion to My Immaculate Heart' ..[Lucia later recalled,] `Before the palm of the right hand of Our Lady was a Heart encircled by thorns which seemed to have pierced it like nails. We understood that it was the Immaculate Heart of Mary outraged by the sins of humanity, for which there must be reparation.'"

There have been many apparitions and more blasphemous sayings- but these particular ones have been blessed by the church as being real or have at least received favorable attention by the Pope and others.

There is so much more I could say. But, bringing it back to the subject of this thread- The Catholic church does not own Mary. They have in effect created a female deity (though they will not refer to her as such) whom draws attention away from the true Gospel of our Lord and Savior. If in the Movie Mary is depicted in a way that is unbiblical- then I will object to that portrayal. But to portray her as the Mary developed by the RCC, would be a distortion beyond words.

[wagglebee]

Why ... what else would you expect to see when Catholics and Protestants (and Orthodox) ... come to occupy the same space ?

Great point!

[redgolum]

But, as many here have said, and has been long acknowledged by many Protestant Bible scholars, adelphos can mean siblings, or close cousins. First born doesn't always mean that there were more than the first.

If you have problems with the having Mary as co redeemer and co mediatrix, then I can see your point. But if she had kids with Joseph doesn't have much to do with the rest of the stuff you talked about.

[annalex]

And I'M called heretic.

And a very hateful one.

[annalex]

I explained to you that "prototokos" is indeed firstborn, -- it is not a question of translation. It is a question of context, -- in a Jewish family it designates an obligation to God and a dynastic relationship, in this case to King David.

[trisham]

Catholics of Irish descent bump!

[bornacatholic]

All good suggestions, brother. For Scripture, I use Douay with notes, the Navarre Bible, Catena Aurea and "A Catholic Commentary" By Dom Orchard, among others