Sunday, December 18, 2005

Catholic Bishops' Conference Reclassifies Homoerotic Western as "Morally Offensive" After Complaints - Still Gives Thumbs Up

From Catholic News Agency:
Washington DC, Dec. 16, 2005 (CNA) - "Brokeback Mountain," originally rated L (limited adult audience) by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has been reclassified as an O (morally offensive) after several pro-family organizations expressed concern for what they saw as an implicit endorsement of the USCCB film critic to the controversial gay western.

Brokeback Mountain is the story of two sheep-herding cowboys in Wyoming who begin a homosexual relationship on the range in the 1960s, and continue their affair even after they marry women.

***
In the original comment posted on the USCCB's website, the reviewer wrote that the Catholic Church "makes a distinction between homosexual orientation and activity," and that "Ennis and Jack's continuing physical relationship is morally problematic."

"While the actions taken by Ennis and Jack cannot be endorsed, the universal themes of love and loss ring true," said the original USCCB's review, which also called the movie "a serious contemplation of loneliness and connection."

"Looked at from the point of view of the need for love which everyone feels but few people can articulate, the plight of these guys is easy to understand while their way of dealing with it is likely to surprise and shock an audience," the original USCCB review said.

***
After several pro-life and pro-family websites strongly criticized the original review, the USCCB decided on Friday to change its classification, while still providing a very positive description of the film.

***
The new full review of the USCBB can be seen at:

http://www.usccb.org/movies/b/brokebackmountain.shtml
(emphasis added)

My Comments:
Although I am disgusted that this obscene garbage would receive a positive review from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, I can't say that I'm surprised.

3 Comments:

At 12/18/2005 2:25 PM, Blogger Fidei Defensor said...

Im still mad at these guys for not saying Mel Gibson's "The Passion" was one of the all-time greats. I can't think of a movie since the Charlton Heston Era (except maybe the Exorcist) that got more Catholics back to CHurch.

 
At 12/18/2005 2:46 PM, Blogger Sir Galen of Bristol said...

What I think is funny is that the "gay cowboy movie" isn't about cowboys at all, but in fact about shepherds.

 
At 12/19/2005 8:48 PM, Blogger Pro Ecclesia said...

So, Paul, you're saying the Bishops' Conference likes a movie about "gay shepherds".

Kinda gives some new insight into this somewhat empathetic phrase from the original review:

"... the universal themes of love and loss ring true," said the original USCCB's review, which also called the movie "a serious contemplation of loneliness and connection."

"Looked at from the point of view of the need for love which everyone feels but few people can articulate, the plight of these guys is easy to understand ..."

 

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