Catholic League Slams USCCB Positive Review of Golden Compass

WASHINGTON, DC, November 30, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Harry Forbes has for many years been the Director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Office for Film and Broadcasting. In 2005, LifeSiteNews.com pointed out that Forbes issued a glowingly positive review of the homosexual propaganda film "Brokeback Mountain". Yesterday, Forbes issued another positive review, this time for the film adaptation of the specifically anti-Catholic novel "The Golden Compass."

"The Golden Compass," is one of Phillip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy, which includes "Northern Lights" (re-titled "The Golden Compass"), "The Subtle Knife" and "The Amber Spyglass." Pullman wrote these books with the intention of indoctrinating children with atheistic values. Pullman told The Washington Post in 2001 that he was deliberately "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief."

The USCCB review approves the film even for adolescents, and dismisses concerns about the radically anti-Catholic nature of the books saying: "Most moviegoers with no foreknowledge of the books or Pullman's personal belief system will scarcely be aware of religious connotations, and can approach the movie as a pure fantasy-adventure. . . . Religious elements, as such, are practically nil."

LifeSiteNews.com spoke with the Catholic League about the review. The League has been one of the most vocal groups in warning about the dangers of the books, which will be given renewed interest from the upcoming film starring Nicole Kidman which is to be released next week.

The League did not take issue with the USCCB review praising the film for its artistic merit, but for its winking at the devastating anti-Catholicism of Pullman's trilogy of books of which "Northern Lights", the first one, is the basis for the Golden Compass movie.

Forbes' review says, "The film has already caused some concern in Catholic circles because of the author's professed atheism, and the more overt issue of the novels' negative portrayal of his (very much fictionalized) church, a stand-in for all organized religion."

The Catholic League told LifeSiteNews.com that the review by Forbes and John Mulderig (a member of Forbes' staff) presents an "inaccurate rendering" of the controversy.

"Philip Pullman's books do not portray a 'very fictionalized church,' one that is 'a stand-in for all organized religion.' They portray the Catholic Church. That is why he uses the term 'Magisterium,' (for the evil empire)," said the League.

The League says that the USCCB reviewers were "wrong" to say that it was 'a bit unfortunate' that Pullman chose this term Magisterium for the evil empire. "He deliberately chose it because his target from the very beginning has been Catholicism, not anything else. It was Pullman who said that 'I'm trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief.' Not to accept what the man says about himself shows no respect for his integrity," said the League.

In what the League calls "mind-boggling", the USCCB review actually congratulates the screenwriter for portraying the characters as demonstrating "free will" for their opposition to the Magisterium and then suggests that this is a reflection "entirely in harmony with Catholic teaching".

"To the extent, moreover, that Lyra (the central character) and her allies are taking a stand on behalf of free will in opposition to the coercive force of the Magisterium, they are of course acting entirely in harmony with Catholic teaching," writes Forbes. "The heroism and self-sacrifice that they demonstrate provide appropriate moral lessons for viewers."

The League countered: "Nazis are portrayed as having free will in movies, too. Should the screenwriters of this film be commended for reflecting Catholic values? Free will is indeed a Catholic value, but it is the object of free will that carries moral weight."

The USCCB review admits "There is, admittedly, a spirit of rebellion and stark individualism pervading the story," but adds that "only by defying the powers that be, can a scientist like Lord Asriel achieve progress." Reflecting, Forbes writes, "Pullman is perhaps drawing parallels to the Catholic Church's restrictive stance towards the early alchemists and, later, Galileo."

Of course, Pullman could also be drawing parallels to the Catholic Church's restrictive stance towards embryonic stem cell research, in vitro fertilization, and cloning.

The USCCB reviewers conclude, by suggesting that parents allow their children to not only view the film but also read the books, and "take the opportunity to talk through any thorny philosophical issues with their teens."

"Leaving the books aside," says the USCCB review, "and focusing on what has ended up on-screen, the script can reasonably be interpreted in the broadest sense as an appeal against the abuse of political power."

The Catholic League countered, "to say that the movie should be judged by "leaving the books aside" is to miss the point: The Catholic League has never objected to the film, per se, but we have objected to it on the grounds that it is bait for the books."

The League warns that The Golden Compass is the least offensive of the three books and is bait for the books with "sell atheism to kids in a stealth fashion." The League has produced a booklet against The Golden Compass film's soft sell for the spiritually dangerous book series. Catholic League President Bill Donohue notes that many Christian groups from all denominations have joined in the effort.

Forbes' 2005 USCCB glowing review of the homosexual film Brokeback Mountain was substantially altered after a LifeSiteNews.com readers issued numerous concerns to the Bishops Conference. (See coverage: .http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/dec/05121607.html) LifeSiteNews.com has retained a copy of the original glowing review for those interested.

See Forbes' USCCB review of The Golden Compass here:
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/movies/07mv242.htm

To respectfully contact individual US Bishops:
http://www.usccb.org/bishops.shtml

See related story with links to several other reports on Golden Compass:
Ontario Catholic School Board Removes Anti-Catholic Book 'The Golden Compass' from Library
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/nov/07112202.html

I just re-read the Golden Compass, and it's just as I remembered it: HIGHLY appealing main character (Lyra), so sympathetically and attractively sketched that she quickly gets the reader's full allegiance, even as her allies shift (Lord Azriel, bad, good, bad again? so bad he's good?)) and her choices become more and more murky.

The stark fact is that Pullman is a far better writer than Joanne Rowling, and the movie, with all it panoramic scale, heart-thumping action and impressive CGI's will undoubtedly be far more enticing than the film version of Narnia.

How are kids going to resist this emotional and visual magic in movies 2 & 3 when Lyra and Will become lovers and save all the worlds by overthrowing the Kingdom of Heaven?

It's a cinematic date rape drug.

The USCCB needs to be disbanded. It is a playpen for wayward bishops and liberal elite apparatchiks masking socialism and marxism in the form of enlightened theology. I say this in the broader context of the political garbage which emanates from this glorified group of lobbyist as it sits on its beautiful Washington DC campus telling easily mislead catholics how to behave politically. As an advocacy group the USCCB shows all the worst of political advocacy in its deception and blatant disregard for both empirical and moral truth. Shame on this group.

How are kids going to resist this emotional and visual magic in movies 2 & 3 when Lyra and Will become lovers and save all the worlds by overthrowing the Kingdom of Heaven?

We live in such dark times, Mrs. D. It's important for parents and grandparents to read through these books and be ready to formulate a response to children when they ask questions - or - in the absence of questions, bring the topic up for discussion at the dinner table. Children are bound to see the film, now or later, at a friend's house. My local borders has a huge display of these books and audio tapes just outside the Children's section and very close to the Christmas books. In a society where secularism prevails, many un-churched children are easy prey for the message on Pullman's trilogy. Thank you for posting your comments.

My wife’s cousins have been asking me for some of my old Scifi books, and their mom asked me about this movie. I said “Be careful”, but I suspect since the USCCB said ok they will take their kids to it.

As old fogyish as it sounds, you need to watch what kids put it their heads. I wouldn’t suggest you take a young kid to this, as it paints religion in a very bad light.

What is said, is that so much of sci fi does that.

As old fogyish as it sounds, you need to watch what kids put it their heads. I wouldn’t suggest you take a young kid to this, as it paints religion in a very bad light.

It's not at all 'old fogyish' - what parent doesn't instinctively want to protect their young from such an assault? The dilemna, unfortunately, i that we live in a very secularized society where teachers and friends hold sway over what Mom and Day have to say. That said, the best piece of advice for parents and grandparents is to read or familiarize themselves with the contents of these books so as to address any questions raised by precocious children who will see it, especially if their parent are against it.

Some of the best Sci-fi books, however, have religion in a very positive light, such as “Canticle for Leibowitz” and “The Mote in God’s Eye”. A.C. Clarke and Asimov, while being visionaries in the genre, wrote some very atheistic works. Also noticed the Sci-fi authors that disparage religion raely know what they’re talking about. Another case of “stick to science please”.

Canticle for Leibowitz is one of my favorites. And one I plan on giving to my brides cousin this year. Never read
The Mote in God’s Eye, but will pick it up at the library next time.

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