Posted on 12/04/2006 7:52:47 PM PST by 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/
I wasn't talking about that Pres. Bush.
(I would advise that you tone it down.)
It appears you have learned and practice the liberal methods of attacking the truth by attacking the person who disagees with the personal mysticism of the Catholic Church and the forbidden practice of worshiping any but God and His Christ (which excludes the worship of Mary and the heresies of the Catholic church).
Again, I ask that you seach the scriptures and cast off all heresies outside of the Word of God.
[I wasn't talking about that Pres. Bush.]
What you saying?
What you saying?
Precisely.
Thanks for demonstrating that clear communication is necessary.
[Are you agreeing that you were bearing false witness?]
No.
I am suggesting that the Catholic Church bears false witness of God's Holy Scriptures for their own purposes as their doctrines are not biblical doctrines but are pervesions of the Word of God.
And I ask that you tone it down.
[Thanks for demonstrating that clear communication is necessary.]
Thanks for demonstrating that clear communication is necessary. Pres. Bush is not clear communication.
(LPFOKETT GAHCOEEP-w/o*)
What does this mean?
That IS false witness against Roman Catholic Christians. That he believes these falsehoods does not matter.
[And I ask that you tone it down.]
Again, I ask that you seach the scriptures and cast off all heresies outside of the Word of God.
Lord Protector of the Knights of the Eternal Time Table and Grand Advocate for the High Council of the Order of the Eternal Exclamation Point (without asterisk).
And He who sent Me is with Me.
Sounds like they are inseparable in some unique way, does it not?
Now you answer.
There's no fear involved in avoiding snares set by others. Some find little to gain by jumping into another's rhetorical trap.
They are One God. They are separate persons.
Are they not? Yes or no?
I answered one of yours so now it is your turn to answer (no, you don't get to play the role of Inquisitor here).
Was Jesus lying when He said: "And He who sent Me is with Me"? Yes or No?
[Is the Father the Son?]
I'll answer this your question on biblical authority.
No. The Father is not the Son and the Son is not the Father and not the Holy Spirit either. All three persons are distinct persons and all three are ONE Elohim, the uni plural name of God. That is, these three are one.
Hence, in Jesus dwellith all the fulness of the Godhead, as the pauline epistles revealed to Paul the Apostle by the revelations of Jesus Christ teach.
It is his opinion. I suspect it is his sincere belief. The post was inflammatory and designed to get your goat. Don't let it. And, I would suggest that you not respond in kind.
If you guys were sitting at a table having lunch together and your posts became your discussion, I would suspect that fists would have been flying by now.
There are nice ways to say people are wrong. Imparting improper motives to someone's religious beliefs is not conducive to civil discussion. I think you are wrong, and you think I am wrong. At least one of us is wrong. So let us use temperate language to express those beliefs and let each man be fully persuaded in his own mind. Rom 14:5
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