Brokeback Mountain and the USCCB

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I’m sure you’ve heard all about the “gay cowboy” movie by now. This movie is about approval of homosexuality plain and simple. It’s being called the “love story” of our time and the homosexual community is salivating. I couldn’t believe however the USCCB review for this movie. Not only did it not get an O rating which it deserves just on its subject matter and its potential for cultural damage, but the review itself is actually *glowing. *There is very little done in the way of telling audiences that the Catholic Church believes that homosexual actions, the backbone of this movie, are intrinsically evil. To be honest I’m pretty shocked about this. Does anyone know who writes these reviews? To me this just says everything about the problems going on right now in the Church and it makes me very sad.

usccb.org/movies/b/brokebackmountain.shtml

Please read this article from Focus on the Family, it gives another viewpoint from people who’ve seen the film.

family.org/cforum/news/a0038874.cfm
 
I read both reveiws. At least focus on the family has the nerve to tell it as it is. A very disgusting, immoral movie that nobody should see. Nerve and speaking out is something the Catholic bishops have been very lacking in lately. My wife and I will not waste our money seeing such trash. It is just an effort to normalize homosexuality as just another life style.
 
Did you read the USCCB review?
The adulterous nature of their affair is another hot-button issue. But the pain Jack and Ennis cause their families is not whitewashed. (The women are played with tremendous sympathy, not as shrill harridans.) It’s the emotional honesty of the story overall, and the portrayal of an unresolved relationship – which, by the way, ends in tragedy – that seems paramount.
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I read the USCCB review, it seemed fair and balanced. Obviously, we *cannot *support films that have themes like this. But, it does not preclude the film itself from being an artistic masterpiece. All that I have read have said that the performances, script, and Ang Lee’s direction are exemplary.

Still, it’s hard not to see the overt bias in this… or, especially, in the New Yorker short story that it was based on. Its entire raison d’etre is basically to destroy the most archetypally masculine/heterosexual figure in America, the cowboy. It’s propagandistic in a way that’s similar to two other masterpieces, Riefenstahl’s Olympia and Triumph Des Willens. All are examples of great art that have destructive ends.
 
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davy39:
I read both reveiws. At least focus on the family has the nerve to tell it as it is. A very disgusting, immoral movie that nobody should see. Nerve and speaking out is something the Catholic bishops have been very lacking in lately. My wife and I will not waste our money seeing such trash. It is just an effort to normalize homosexuality as just another life style.
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It happened to be a very amazing and well done film. If you weren’t so ignorant maybe you would see the film’s true message and not just the homosexual theme. It wasn’t just a gay movie, it was a love story. If I may say so, a more touching love story than a “straight” love story could be.
 
The USCCB, Brokeback Mountain and The Passion of the Christ

An arm of the USCCB has once again reminded us of the nature and depth of the problem for orthodox Catholics here in the United States. In a recent movie review, a USCCB movie-reviewer conveyed adulation for a movie that promotes homosexuality, adultery, drug use and more. At the end of the review, the reviewer chose to give the film a rating of “L”, which means it is suitable for adults, even though there may be aspects to the movie that adults “may find troubling.” (“Troubling”, is that all sodomy and adultery have become?) However, due to the almost immediate response (i.e. pleasant surprise from the pro-homosexual lobby and anger from orthodox Catholics), they changed the rating to “O”, the lowest rating, which denotes “morally offensive”. Nonetheless, this arm of the USCCB kept the review itself intact (below).

Below, I have pasted the USCCB review of Brokeback Mountain and followed it with their review of The Passion of the Christ and also a statement by a committee of the USCCB about the Passion of the Christ along with an article I wrote in response to it. I invite you to determine for yourself which movie these individuals at the USCCB seem to be more concerned about. I also invite you to consider the disrespectful way the Gospels are treated in favor of modern historical criticism.

Additionally, note the way that criticism of Brokeback Mountain is offered by the USCCB reviewer. I have underlined some of these passages that caught my attention below and added commentary, where I thought it helpful or necessary.

I make another heartfelt plea to the USCCB: Please, please stay away from rating movies if this is all that can be managed. This is truly and deeply scandalous.

more…
 
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xphan:
If I may say so, a more touching love story than a “straight” love story could be.
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What in the world is that supposed to mean?
 
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Jayson:
What in the world is that supposed to mean?
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It means that it is more captivating than a film with a man and woman falling in love.
 
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xphan:
It means that it is more captivating than a film with a man and woman falling in love.
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Very slick that agenda is. Make a film that is more captivating and you sell it hook, line and sinker. Very, very shrewd the devil is.
 
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xphan:
It means that it is more captivating than a film with a man and woman falling in love.
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**Sin is usually quite captivating - that’s why it’s been an effective tool of Satan’s since the dawn of time. **

To the OP - at the very bottom of the review I read that they gave it an “O” rating - morally offensive - Here’s the last paragraph:
The film contains tacit approval of same-sex relationships, adultery, two brief sex scenes without nudity, partial and shadowy brief nudity elsewhere, other implied sexual situations, profanity, rough and crude expressions, alcohol and brief drug use, brief violent images, a gruesome description of a murder, and some domestic violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O – morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R – restricted.

(Note: this is an edit to my original post - apparently they changed the rating to an “O” under pressure. Gads! To think it could’ve been anything else to begin with? A movie about sodomy??? :confused: )

Granted, the rest of the review seemed rather glowing. So, I would NOT use that site as a guide for movie viewing - my standards of what is acceptable & entertaining is clearly much higher than theirs.

This is the site I use (they gave this move an ABHORRANT rating. (rightfully so)

movieguide.org/index.php?s=reviews&id=7031&PHPSESSID=805d6ce24baa3dafcb5a689a8ae64658
 
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xphan:
It happened to be a very amazing and well done film. If you weren’t so ignorant maybe you would see the film’s true message and not just the homosexual theme.
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Carefull there calling someone ignorant. It is very easy to throw out insults when one has no leg to stand on rather than make a reasoned argument.
It wasn’t just a gay movie, it was a love story.
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It is a gay love story. Would this movie have been made if it were not for the gay part?
If I may say so, a more touching love story than a “straight” love story could be.
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You are free to say so, even without anyone calling you “ignorant” for your beliefs.

Peace

Tim
 
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xphan:
It happened to be a very amazing and well done film. If you weren’t so ignorant maybe you would see the film’s true message and not just the homosexual theme. It wasn’t just a gay movie, it was a love story. If I may say so, a more touching love story than a “straight” love story could be.
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One thing I know for sure. You’re one of many whom the movie has succeeded in doing: brainwash!

But you can’t convince yourself of that cuz you’re brainwashed!
 
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Starsweeper:
I’m sure you’ve heard all about the “gay cowboy” movie by now. This movie is about approval of homosexuality plain and simple. It’s being called the “love story” of our time and the homosexual community is salivating. I couldn’t believe however the USCCB review for this movie. Not only did it not get an O rating which it deserves just on its subject matter and its potential for cultural damage, but the review itself is actually *glowing. *There is very little done in the way of telling audiences that the Catholic Church believes that homosexual actions, the backbone of this movie, are intrinsically evil. To be honest I’m pretty shocked about this. Does anyone know who writes these reviews? To me this just says everything about the problems going on right now in the Church and it makes me very sad.

usccb.org/movies/b/brokebackmountain.shtml

Please read this article from Focus on the Family, it gives another viewpoint from people who’ve seen the film.

family.org/cforum/news/a0038874.cfm
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Was the rating changed? Because it now states
The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O – morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R – restricted.
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I feel sorry for homosexuals who struggle with their identity. But I have no compassion nor tolerance for those of them who wish to make this lifestyle an “in your face” and as “normal as straight love” either.

I admire Ang Lees work. I love and own Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (Watch that and see what a love story is and how love just cant be had due to society’s so called traditions at the time) Those 2 charactors I support in their love. Two gay guys who marry women and then cheat on them? I seen the same **** in “The Hours” where Julianne Moores charactor ( a married woman) is somehow unhappy cause she is denying her homosexuality… she even abandons her husband & son! :rolleyes:

I like Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as actors, but I wont see this movie. I aint into an attempt to normalize this lifestyle. This film has an agenda. Agenda driven flicks turn me off no matter what the subject is.

I’ll pop in my dvd of SHREK and watch a love story between an Ogre and a Princess before I watch 2 guys fall in love, get married and then cheat on their wives.
 
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cathgal:
One thing I know for sure. You’re one of many whom the movie has succeeded in doing: brainwash!

But you can’t convince yourself of that cuz you’re brainwashed!
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I would appreciate it if you didn’t act like you know me. I’ve been wanting to see this film since 3 months ago when I found out about it. I even drove half an hour to find a theater that was showing it. It really was an amazing film, and you can really see the pain both characters feel in their attempt to be together. I really don’t think that this movie carried an ‘agenda’ It was just a love story between two guys. You guys need to come out of the 20th Century and not be so ignorant and more accepting of others.
 
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adrift:
Was the rating changed? Because it now states
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Yes, apparently they gave it a lighter rating but caved under pressure. One of the earlier posts - I believe by buffalo - explains.
 
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xphan:
I would appreciate it if you didn’t act like you know me. I’ve been wanting to see this film since 3 months ago when I found out about it. I even drove half an hour to find a theater that was showing it. It really was an amazing film, and you can really see the pain both characters feel in their attempt to be together. I really don’t think that this movie carried an ‘agenda’ It was just a love story between two guys. You guys need to come out of the 20th Century and not be so ignorant and more accepting of others.
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I am able to accept sinners… just like Jesus did. I will gladly share the good news of the gospel and tell them that with God’s help, they are able to overcome their sins. They must repent though… the Bible is very clear about that. Engaging in a homosexual acts - cheating on your spouse - those are mortal sins and as a Catholic I’m sure you agree that unconfessed mortal sins will send a person to hell.

This is the thing… engaging in homosexual behavior was wrong in every century leading up to the 20th century - and it’s still wrong today. Despite what Hollywood would have you believe. God’s ways don’t change. This movie glorifies sin.

So tell me again why this is a good movie? :confused:
 
Because it was beautifully made and the Oscar’s will prove that. Yes, i’m homosexual and I won’t ask for forgiveness because it would be admitting that i’m doing something wrong. And falling in love with another guy isn’t wrong in my eyes.
 
I don’t know if they changed it or not, but, right near the end of the article it plainly says.

"The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O – morally offensive. "

xphan: You need to go read Genesis 18 and consider what the moral question looks like from GOD’S eyes.

Leviticus 20:13 If any one lie with a man as with a woman, both have committed an abomination, let them be put to death: their blood be upon them.

From the CCC:
2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.” They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.

Romans 1:17-32 is also pretty clear and these are the very passages of the Bible that the church bases it’s statements on.

I won’t see it…there’s nothing that could interest me there. The whole world can say what they want, but the church can’t & won’t change the truth.

May God deliver you from your homosexual sin even as He delivers heterosexuals from theirs. The call is to chastity…and righteousness.
Pax vobiscum,
 
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