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cvbmom
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| Posted: Feb 16 2009 at 1:01pm | IP Logged
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Hello,
I recently received the following question from a Catholic friend about the new movie "Corpus Christi," which, by the way, I knew nothing about. It turns out that upon researching the issue, it's a hoax (according to snopes.com). Either way, I think that my telling this person that the movie is a hoax does not necessarily answer the question asked. I think there's still question there about censorship and I am asking for help as to how to deal with the question...
"...about the movie "Corpus Christi", which I never heard of. I guess it's a movie that depicts Jesus and the apostles as homosexual. There seems to be a group that wants the movie banned in this country. I write to you as a person that has a background in religious matters. Am I being anti-Catholic because I do not support the banning of the movie? If the Catholic Church cannot bear the ridicule of those who do not believe or those who make a mockery of everything that is morally good, how strong is the Church? Our country is founded on freedom, including freedom to watch, read, write or speak satire, pornography, blasphemy and so on. We all know that somewhere on the internet that movie is available right now. Why do people use a method, such as having a movie banned, to "protect" their faith. My faith is strong enough to withstand a movie portraying Jesus as homosexual. If your faith is weak, maybe seeing a movie such as this, will cause you to think about what you actually believe. Forbidding the release of a movie is like keeping bad things a secret. It never works. Show the movie and give people an opportunity to discuss its content. Or let the movie be shown and it loses some of its appeal because it's a non-issue.
I am counting on you to set me straight, or, to tell me that I am in the right direction. Jesus wants us to be creative and express or views. I personally would never view this movie, but then again, *** tried to tell me that "Jesus Christ Super Star" was not the best choice in plays, but I went anyway and loved it (and remained in the Church!)."
Ok, so how would you answer this one? I'm not always the best with words and I really don't want to botch this one up.
Thanks for the help!
God bless,
Christine
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Willa
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| Posted: Feb 16 2009 at 10:13pm | IP Logged
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Here's the Snopes link
Personally, I would probably not say much since as a hoax, it's a non-issue. I think your friend could have a point that making a big stink about these (usually very bad and unpopular) type movies is counter-productive -- in fact, many times the marketers of these types of movies TRY to get religious groups up in arms about their movie in order to raise their profit and publicity levels. Otherwise their movie would simply sink like a stone... hardly anyone would go watch it.
I do think that "lying" fiction is bad by its very nature..... and there is no way a movie like that could be anything but a lie. Fortunately, in some ways the viewing public is rather conservative on things like that. They usually aren't all that interested in or affected by a foolishly controversial work of art.
I don't think your friend is being anti-Catholic or non-Catholic. She might be wrong, though, especially about people's ability to discern. For instance, to even think about watching such a movie really OUGHT to be offensive. If it isn't, there is already a bit of a problem. Sometimes people become accustomed to evil things just because they are accepted and taken for granted in society. Contraception comes to mind, and I'm sure you could think of other examples. Alexander Pope wrote:
Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
As, to be hated, needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.
I think there is some truth in that. But it is probably more dangerous in the "standard" movie fare where morality is often topsy-turvy but goes unnoticed because the movie itself is exciting or well done in some way.
I'm sorry, this is probably not a whole lot of help. Maybe someone else will speak up. Generally I would probably let the argument pass or just simply disagree with the friend based on what you believe and let it go there.
There is an article in the Catholic Encyclopedia (from 1913) on Censorship
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Rachel May
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| Posted: Feb 17 2009 at 12:40pm | IP Logged
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Or if you do want to discuss it, you could start with from the fact that this topic for a movie would be sacrilegious.
"Real sacrilege is the irreverent treatment of sacred things as distinguished from places and persons. .... Indeed deliberate and notable irreverence towards the Holy Eucharist is reputed the worst of all sacrileges. Likewise conscious maltreatment of sacred pictures or relics or perversion of Holy Scripture or sacred vessels to unhallowed uses, and finally, the usurpation or diverting of property (whether movable or immovable) intended for the maintenance of the clergy or serving for the ornamentation of the church to other uses, constitute real sacrileges....."
from New Advent
I'm thinking here that to pervert the content of scripture is what is sacrilegious not just messing about with the book. From that then I think it would be a close step to say that a "ban" would be an effort to preserve the faithful from committing that sin of sacrilege.
Also, I do think that this comment:
"Our country is founded on freedom, including freedom to watch, read, write or speak satire, pornography, blasphemy and so on."
is debatable. I personally do not think the founding fathers meant pornography or blasphemy to be included in the freedom of speech. We can even ask ourselves if we are Catholic first or American first? My first allegiance is to God and my faith and Truth, and then America. 
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Willa
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| Posted: Feb 17 2009 at 1:05pm | IP Logged
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Rachel May wrote:
"Our country is founded on freedom, including freedom to watch, read, write or speak satire, pornography, blasphemy and so on."
is debatable. I personally do not think the founding fathers meant pornography or blasphemy to be included in the freedom of speech. |
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I read recently in a Belloc book that "free press" is not the same thing as "no censorship". Every country has some things it will not tolerate in its discourse. You know, like how now Alistair Cookie in the Muppet Show is cut because he smokes a cigar.
I agree that the founding fathers never meant "freedom" to be "license to do or say whatever you happen to feel like".
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cvbmom
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| Posted: Feb 17 2009 at 3:43pm | IP Logged
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Thanks everyone for the replies. I feel a little more prepared for speaking to my friend. I feel like I have more to say than, "it's just sick and wrong to have a movie like that" 
I now can say, "It's not that the Church is not strong, it is that it is VERY strong as it takes unpopular stands to uphold Truth," and have some back-up examples/explanation.
Thanks!
(By the way, if anyone else wants to make suggestions as to how to handle this, I am still open and wanting them. I doubt this will be a one-time discussion )
God bless,
Christine
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4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Topic: Censorship - Help, Please!
