Catholic Family Vignettes

The Holy Roman Catholic Church remains in Hollywood's "crosshairs". While it is no surprise that a "Christian" (read Protestant) production company has spun yet another anti-Catholic yarn, it came as a surprise to many people (Catholics and non-Catholics alike) when a USCCB film reviewer gave a "thumbs up" review for The Golden Compass. Several Bishops have issued statements condemning The Golden Compass and not a few Catholics are urging the firing of Harry Forbes, the Director of the USCCB Office for Film and Broadcasting.

Read John-Henry Westen's article here.

Here is an excerpt from an article by CNA regarding the letter sent by Wisconsin Bishop, Jerome Listecki:

In the letter Bishop Jerome Listecki explained his duty as bishop was to inform priests and laity about entertainment that is harmful to Christian belief. He noted the self-proclaimed atheist and anti-Christian aims of Philip Pullman, the author of the trilogy on which the movie is based.

He described how the books were problematic, saying "instead of using fantasy to lead people to truth and to God, this trilogy tries to lead them away from God."

Bishop Listecki said that, despite the movie’s qualities, “it is clear that this movie is the first part of a trilogy that expresses hatred of Christianity and that portrays God, the Church and religion as evil and oppressive and urges children to join fallen angels in a rebellion against God."

He urged his priests to warn the faithful, especially parents, about the series’ attack on the Christian faith and the innocence of children.

The Diocese of La Cross website has published a question and answer sheet about the movie for parents. It warns parents about desensitizing children to evil, and suggests telling their children the movie is “definitely poison for the soul.”

The Catholic League has called for a boycott of the film due to the blatant attack upon the Church and Christianity in general.

And the movie Noelle? This is not a children's movie nor is it marketed as one. It is absurd, at best. Bill Donahue of The Catholic League provides an apt summary:

Donohue summarized the Catholic League’s objections: “Throughout the film, confession is trivialized, celibacy is ridiculed, the Virgin Mary is disrespected, nuns are belittled, last rites are mocked, and priestly vocations are caricatured. In short, that which is uniquely Catholic is trashed.”

But he also minimized the importance of Noëlle: “the plot and the acting are so deliriously absurd that it is impossible for us to get too worked up about this flick.”

Looks like it's time to put some popcorn in the microwave and pick up a few classics at the video store...

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Six children + one distracted mom + a rolling cart full of books = at least one book you would never have allowed your six year old to check out:



Different Like Coco, is on the surface, a children's book (for ages four to eight, according to Amazon) about Coco Chanel, the French Fashion diva/designer, of days gone by. I certainly have no intention to dive into the rather pathetic life of Coco Chanel; tragedy, feminism, abandonment of societal conventions: all in all, interesting "soap opera fodder."

As I opened this book to read to my two littles ones (I didn't even make the connection that "Coco" was "Coco Chanel"), I was greeted with the adorable line drawing of a thin little girl, gleefully stuffing the bodice of her white slip with toilet paper. I closed the book quickly before the inevitable questions, ensued.

Having dismissed the girls, a thorough perusal was in order. Here are a few tidbits for the four to eight year old girl to consider:

*Coco lied about everything, even her confessions because she liked to tell stories (nice little drawing of Coco in the confessional, complete with shocked expression on the face of the priest).

*The nuns at Notre Dame mistreated the poor children. Feeding them second class food and separating them from the "paying" students.

*Coco had, ahem, a "friend", whom she loved and never married. He did, nonetheless, purchase her first shop.

*Extremely unflattering depictions of over-weight women who simply didn't measure up to the Coco Chanel ideal.

And so on...

The moral of this story: when rounding up six children and checking out thirty library books, it's a good idea to take a peek inside the cover of your toddler's books before you "scan and stack."

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