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...

Read more!

Curiouser and curiouser...from Zenit:

Coke's Compass

I saw that Coca-Cola is promoting the movie [What Every Parent Should Know About "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 fantasy movie is an attack on any religion. We would never support a film that intentionally antagonized or condemned any faith."

If they receive more letters about this, it's possible it may accomplish something.

Rick Kephart

(You just can't make this stuff up...it is way too bizarre!)

Read more!

Here is a response from Kyle Good, Vice President of Corporate Communications - Scholastic Books. The gentleman who emailed Mr. Good, is a devout Catholic who has read not one, but all three of the Philip Pullman books, the trilogy His Dark Materials. This seems to fly in the face of the assertion by Mr. Good that most of the trilogy's detractors have never even read the books.

Interestingly enough, the "Catholic" supporters that Mr. Good cites, are not known to most Catholics, and certainly are not espousing what most would consider an orthodox view regarding the anti-Catholic/anti-God elements contained within these books.

Ultimately, it comes to this: The Golden Compass equals big bucks. Scholastic will rake in the cash, should the New Line Cinema production fare as well as The Lord Of The Rings trilogy or The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe.

Here is Mr. Good's email:


Subject: The Golden Compass



Your email regarding The Golden Compass was forwarded to me, and I
appreciate the opportunity to offer a thoughtful, if somewhat lengthy,
response to your concerns.



The Golden Compass is a fantasy adventure set in an alternate world
about a brave and resourceful young girl who sets out to rescue her
best friend and winds up on an extraordinary quest. It celebrates
freedom, love, courage and responsibility. The upcoming film from New
Line Cinema is based on the first book in an award-willing trilogy by
Philip Pullman. Scholastic Media and Depth of Field are also
producers of the film.



The books, published in the U.S. by Random House, have received
numerous awards and honors, including the Carnegie Medal, the Guardian
Fiction Prize, designation as an ALA Notable Book, ALA top Ten Best
Books for Young Adults, Horn Book Fanfare Honor Book, Publishers
Weekly Best Book of the Year, Texas Lonestar Reading List winner, and
Main Student Book Award among many others. They have earned
widespread critical acclaim including praise from the Archbishop of
Canterbury, and the following reviews:

"Powerful… a fantasy adventure that sparkles with childlike wonder."
—The Boston Sunday Globe

"Masterful storytelling… with a cast of instantly beguiling characters."
—The Dallas Morning News

"Extraordinary storytelling at its very best."
—The Detroit Free Press

"This is a captivating fantasy, filled with excitement, suspense, and
unusual characters."
—School Library Journal

There has been discussion swirling on the Internet and in the media
that is confusing and contradictory, even though the writers and
outspoken critics have yet to see the film which they are critiquing.
Many of those commenting admit that they have never read Mr. Pullman's
books.



Literary debate and analysis of the meaning of the Pullman trilogy,
His Dark Materials, like many other great works of fiction, has gone
on since the books were first published more than ten years ago. That
discussion frequently takes place in elementary through college
classrooms worldwide.



Take, for example, this comment from Father P.S. Naumann, S.J., a
lifelong educator from upstate New York, whom we asked for his
perspective on The Golden Compass. He wrote, "Teaching English for
thirty odd years in a Jesuit high school, I kept looking for a
contemporary novel that could, would, and should provoke questions and
discussions. Philip Pullman's book is an eye-opener and window-opener
that can bring kids, parents, and teachers together to talk. The
windows in our own minds, and in our own Church, open onto a secular
society and a multi-cultural world, as Pope John XXIII knew. How to
deal with that? Sooner or later students will open windows for
themselves; it's part of growing up. If they don't ask any questions
in the process, we may have lost our opportunity. The Golden Compass
will help in that direction, and if the book brings kids and parents
together to discuss important ideas, think of the good it's doing."
Also consider the writing of Donna Freitas, Ph.D. from Catholic
University, and Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Boston
University. Dr. Freitas is a Catholic who rejects the allegation that
Pullman's work is anti-Christian as she writes in the book she
co-authored with Jason King, Assistant Professor of Theology at St.
Vincent College, Killing the Imposter God: Philip Pullman's Spiritual
Imagination in His Dark Materials: "Pullman, despite his personal
professions of atheism, has, indeed, created within His Dark Materials
a universe replete with the divine."—pg. 34.



Philip believes in open, honest free speech and he decries corruption
and abuse of authority. He promotes love, kindness, loyalty, and
courage. He is also a master storyteller who artfully weaves these
themes into brilliant fantasy stories, and he encourages an open,
honest dialogue about his work. As Freitas and King explain, "Pullman
cares supremely about the power of the human imagination and the role
that freedom of interpretation plays in shaping it."—pg. xviii.



At Scholastic, we offer a wide range of books and materials in our
Book Fairs and Book Clubs in order to serve the diverse communities
across the nation. We recognize that not every book is for every
young person, and we always encourage parents and caretakers to take
an active interest in their children's reading choices to help
children select the materials that are right for their family and
community values as well as their age and reading level. We also
encourage families to help their children interpret whether what they
see and read in the media and on the Internet is honest, factual and
unbiased and to consider alternate views in pursuit of the truth.



If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact me.



Sincerely,



Kyle Good

Vice President, Corporate Communications







Kyle Good
V.P. Corporate Communications
Scholastic Inc.
557 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
212-343-4563
fax: 212-343-6930
kgood@scholastic.com Read more!

I'm sure that many of you have already read this post.

The release date for The Golden Compass is fast approaching (just in time for the season of Advent...how's that for timing?!). An outstanding interview with Steve Wood of the Family Life Center/Faith & Family Radio is available and contains an urgent plea for all parents.

I've received a few emails and comments from individuals unsure as to why Catholics are so opposed to the Pullman trilogy and upcoming movie. This interview provides, with great clarity, a concise explanation.

You may listen here.


This is not for children! Mr. Wood will be reading excerpts from the book...atheism? More like demonism...

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host -
by the Divine Power of God -
cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen. Read more!

I've just recently viewed a very disturbing trailer, for a children's movie scheduled for release on December 7th. Take a look:



What this particular trailer doesn't reveal, amidst the fantastic CGI and stunning cinematography, is that the "big, bad wolf" in this children's film is the Magisterium. The Magisterium is a powerful, evil world organization bent on capturing the souls of children and suppressing their imagination. Each soul has it's own "demon" which comes to the defense of the child in times of peril or threat.

The Golden Compass is the first installment in a trilogy written by Philip Pullman. Pullman, a pro-active atheist, pulls no punches about his personal feelings regarding religion. In fact, Peter Hitchens, a conservative British columnist, published an article about Pullman entitled “This Is the Most Dangerous Author in Britain,” in which he called him: the writer “the atheists would have been praying for, if atheists prayed.”

His Dark Materials trilogy is marketed as being "loosely based upon the classic Paradise Lost."

Pullman is extremely hostile in his views of C.S. Lewis and The Chronicles of Narnia, referring to the stories as "reactionary" and containing "a peevish blend of racist, misogynistic and reactionary prejudice." He vigorously opposed the production of the Chronicles as a movie series, stating: "If the Disney corporation wants to market this film as a great Christian story, they'll just have to tell lies about it."

A reminder: Philip Pullman's trilogy is marketed to and read by children. To call the books anti-Catholic, is an understatement. The film contains the same errors, in a visually stunning package.

The Golden Compass is filled with anti-Catholic rhetoric: evil Magisterium, wicked priests, an ex-nun who describes Christianity as “a very powerful and convincing mistake,” and so on. The visual appeal of this new movie will be hard to resist and Newline is marketing this film on the heels of the very successful "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, though the two works share no real similarities.

Mr. Pullman is well aware of the power of a well told tale:

“ ‘Thou shalt not’ might reach the head, but it takes ‘Once upon a time’ to reach the heart.”

For additional information, check out the following:

Life and Letters: Far From Narnia

Pullman Attacks Narnia Film Plans

Kidsreads.com Read more!