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CNA STAFF, Dec 3, 2007 / 05:44 pm (CNA).- The promoters of the controversial movie, The Golden Compass, are making an effort to diminish the boycott being threatened by Catholics and other Christian groups. The advertising agency for the movie has sent an email to the top 50 weekly Catholic newspapers asking that they consider running an ad promoting the movie. Advertising Media Plus, the agency promoting The Golden Compass, is trying to use a review by Harry Forbes, the director of the U.S. Bishops’ Conference Office for Film & Broadcasting, as leverage against the boycott being called for by Catholics...

US Bishops asked to Fire Chief Film Critic over Glowing Reviews for "Brokeback" and "Compass" "Bishops horrified at what has been done in their name" By John-Henry Westen WASHINGTON, DC, December 3, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Bishops of the United States are being asked to fire the chief movie reviewer for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Harry Forbes, the Director of the USCCB Office for Film and Broadcasting, has reignited scandal by praising the film "The Golden Compass" which is based on an anti-Catholic novel. Forbes caused similar controversy two years ago when he issued a glowing...

Nick Milne, a reader of this blog who is in graduate school (studying English) at the University of Western Ontario, saw an advanced screening of "The Golden Compass" and sent the following (thanks, Nick!): An advanced screening of 'The Golden Compass' was offered today, and far be it for me to turn down the opportunity to beat the mainstream when it comes to a film (even if only for a film I had no particular interest in seeing).  Having followed the stalwart efforts of those at Insight Scoop and other venues to bring attention to the pernicious intent of Pullman's...

A nice snapshot of contemporary values: I saw that Coca-Cola is promoting the movie [The Golden Compass], and I wrote to them to express my feelings about it -- including mentioning that the villains are called "The Magisterium" in the movie. Here is the response I got: "We appreciate the opportunity to respond to your concerns." The Golden Compass movie is a story about friendship, love, loyalty, tolerance, courage and responsibility. This movie also provides an opportunity for Coca-Cola to help raise awareness about climate change and the perilous state of the polar bear.""We do not believe that this...

Is "The Golden Compass" a sinister piece of anti-religious propaganda, designed to convert impressionable young viewers into atheist heathens?

I've been noticing an ongoing stream of headlines relating to the Golden Compass in recent weeks (it opens Dec. 7th), and also to the Catholic League's initiative to boycott the film because it is based on Philip Pullman's anti-Catholic series, His Dark Materials. I blogged about this story back in August ("The Golden Compass is pointing towards anti-Catholicism") and composed a short summary of what you need to know about the film back in October ("The word is getting out about The Golden Compass"). Now, with the movie's release immanent, and the fate of films two and three hanging...

We all get "those" emails from time to time-the ones making claims that are meant to be passed on. We've learned to check things on sites like snopes.com to make sure what we pass is true. When it comes to the movie The Golden Compass, whats going around is...true

"My books are about killing God" — Phillip Pullman.Are you concerned with the witchcraft and dark themes embodied in the Harry Potter book and film series? If you are a Christian and your answer is "Yes" then Phillip Pullman thanks you. Sort of. Identifying J.K. Rowling's stories about the boy wizard as covering fire, drawing away the ire of concerned Christians, Phillip Pullman — the author of the best-selling His Dark Materials trilogy -- has been slowly advancing what he identifies as an even more subversive philosophy: the need for children and adults alike to kill God. Of course, Pullman also...

What Every Parent Should Know About "The Golden Compass" Interview With Pete Vere and Sandra Miesel INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, NOV. 14, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The film "The Golden Compass" isn't simply about using fairy-tale magic to tell a good story, it corrupts the imagery of Lewis and Tolkien to undermine children's faith in God and the Church, says Catholic author Pete Vere. In this interview with ZENIT, Vere and Sandra Miesel discuss the movie adaptation of the fantasy novels written by Philip Pullman. The film, staring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, will be released in the United States in early December. Vere...

The latest children's favourite to be given the Hollywood treatment, CS Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia has been dismissed as sexist, racist, Christian propaganda. Alison Lurie on the fairytale that has divided children and adults alike Most enormously successful children's books, like Harry Potter, become successful films within a few years of their publication. But there is one odd exception: CS Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has taken 55 years to reach the screen. Or maybe it is not so odd. On first reading, this story and the six other Chronicles of Narnia that followed it seem simple,...

Author Philip Pullman has attacked plans to turn The Chronicles of Narnia into a movie series, calling CS Lewis' books "racist" and "misogynistic". The first film in the series - The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - is due to be released in December. His Dark Materials author Pullman said the 1950s stories were "reactionary". "If the Disney corporation wants to market this film as a great Christian story, they'll just have to tell lies about it," he told The Observer. [. . .] But Pullman said the Narnia books contained "a peevish blend of racist, misogynistic and reactionary...

As the UK prepares for a CS Lewis movie blockbuster this Christmas, a row has broken out about its Christian message. To millions The Chronicles of Narnia are a childhood tale of wonder and triumph now made into a film that could inspire millions of children to read. To others, including the celebrated fantasy author Philip Pullman, they are stories of racism and thinly veiled religious propaganda that will corrupt children rather than inspiring them. Either way, one thing is certain: this Christmas, and perhaps the next six, depending on sequels, everyone will be talking about Narnia. Disney is already...

A discussion on Philadelphia's Mayor Street's remarks on race led to the poster "bourbon" linking to an interesting thread on former Detroit mayor Coleman Young that discussed the 1967 race riots there. Having been born after the Civil Rights Act, I didn't have any memories of the '60's riots, and failed to understand the scale and impact of them. Some searching produced several interesting articles: Photos of the '67 Detroit riotBiographies of the victims in a chronological portrayal of the '67 Detroit riot '43 Detroit riot and backgroundAnother telling of the '43 Detroit riot(PBS) The latter two helped to provide...