Religion + Movies = Some Kind of Crazy

Go to this website and read the story at the top.

Ok, you read it? Let's break this down.

First, let's have a look at the Catholic group that approves of this movie.

"The good news is that ... explicit references to this church" found in the book on which the movie is based "have been completely excised...This is not the blatant real-world anti-Catholicism of, say, the recent Elizabeth: The Golden Age or The Da Vinci Code. Religious elements, as such are practically nil."

Hurray! That is good news! Another movie has changed the original story in the book to make it more marketable. Lord knows there aren't enough of those out there. Amen, movie makers!

Next, why do Catholic organizations feel so threatened by movies? If movie critics don't like a movie, they just tell you it was bad. They're not going to tell you to boycott a movie just because they didn't like it. They'll warn you it is a waste of your time, a waste of money and a waste of celluloid, but they stop short of telling you it will make you stop believing in God. I'm pretty sure only the Catholic leaders make that leap. Gee that sounds familiar. Aren't they also the ones who jump straight from same-sex marriage to bestiality. Pretty sure that's not going to happen either.

Finally, let's look at what William Donohue, president of the Catholic League says about this movie (disregarding for the moment the fact that this was an interview on FOX News because, wow, what a shocker that one is):

"The idea is to sell the horrors of Catholicism and the virtues of atheism to youth," and has insisted that the movie will encourage young people to read the book.

I'm sorry, is that such a horrible thing? Ok, I guess from their point of view, any young person that reads any literature that remotely might damage their view of the Catholic Church should probably be burned at the stake along with their vile and sinful book. Couldn't we just celebrate for once that any movie without the words "Harry Potter" in the title is going to inspire kids to do something intellectually stimulating? Not that there's anything wrong with Harry Potter (unless you ask these guys)...it's just that I don't know of many kids who like to sit down and curl up with a good version of The Bible. If kids want to read, don't stop them.

And who is this group to talk? Have they not seen the news this week of the Catholic Church publishing coloring books to teach kids how to be safe around adults and not be molested by priests? I'm fairly certain I would be much more comfortable with my kids reading a book that might open their minds to differing viewpoints about religion than have them color pictures in "an abuse-themed coloring book," but that's just me. Guess I’m going to Hell.