(SPOILERS) Avengers: Age of Ultron Slightly Anti-Catholic?

[the2112]

WARNING: SPOILERS

I just saw The Avengers 2, and I thought it was really good, and I’m definitely going to see it again. However, there’s some themes in it that I feel could be purposely anti-Catholic. While the most obvious reference is Nick Furry says Ultron’s robots are “reproducing like Catholic rabbits” (which I’ll admit I laughed out loud at, as I am the oldest of 6), there are others that are more subtle:

-While Ultron is “data-mining” in the beginning, one of the first things he sees is Pope Francis.
-He sets up his “base” in a church (and he specifically notes it’s a church).
-When Tony comes to him in the “church” near the end, Ultron asks him “are you here to confess your sins?”

And I think the most telling line is:
-When Ultron is obtaining the vibrainium, he says “I am the rock and on this rock I build my Church”.

Do you think after adding all this up, it seems the movie creators intended it to actually be offensive to the Catholic Church as in trying to associate Ultron with the Church? Or do you think it’s more like Ultron thinks he’s doing good and thus wants to associate himself with an institution on Earth that is good? Considering Hollywood though, the later wouldn’t be likely, and Fury’s comment about Catholics reproducing like rabbits may be a reference to Catholic’s opposition to artificial birth control (something that is a hot button issue now with the HHS mandate).

So do you think this movie was purposely anti-Catholic, or am I just thinking about it too much?

 

[randomuser]

Not really a spoiler if it’s openly mentioned by the Catholic News Service:

*"… a remark about Ultron “multiplying faster than a Catholic rabbit.” While Whedon may be able to claim a vaguely pontifical pedigree for that one-liner, taken together with the other elements listed below, it renders his picture inappropriate for impressionable youngsters.

The film contains pervasive but bloodless violence, brief irreverent and anti-Catholic humor, fleeting sexual banter and some crude and crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III – adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13."*
Source: catholicnews.com/data/movies/15mv050.htm

 

[Jaelithe]

It’s likely Ultron’s desire to topple civilization, and the Catholic Church’s place as the ultimate representation of religious establishment worldwide, that has him making such comments.

That, and Whedon’s simultaneous contempt for and fascination with Holy Mother Church.

 

[dmar198]

WARNING: SPOILERS

I just saw The Avengers 2, and I thought it was really good, and I’m definitely going to see it again. However, there’s some themes in it that I feel could be purposely anti-Catholic. While the most obvious reference is Nick Furry says Ultron’s robots are “reproducing like Catholic rabbits” (which I’ll admit I laughed out loud at, as I am the oldest of 6), there are others that are more subtle:

-While Ultron is “data-mining” in the beginning, one of the first things he sees is Pope Francis.
-He sets up his “base” in a church (and he specifically notes it’s a church).
-When Tony comes to him in the “church” near the end, Ultron asks him “are you here to confess your sins?”

And I think the most telling line is:
-When Ultron is obtaining the vibrainium, he says “I am the rock and on this rock I build my Church”.

Do you think after adding all this up, it seems the movie creators intended it to actually be offensive to the Catholic Church as in trying to associate Ultron with the Church? Or do you think it’s more like Ultron thinks he’s doing good and thus wants to associate himself with an institution on Earth that is good? Considering Hollywood though, the later wouldn’t be likely, and Fury’s comment about Catholics reproducing like rabbits may be a reference to Catholic’s opposition to artificial birth control (something that is a hot button issue now with the HHS mandate).

So do you think this movie was purposely anti-Catholic, or am I just thinking about it too much?

It looks like the moments you identified can be classed into two categories: “serious” moments where Ultron connects his evil purpose with Catholic themes, and a more light-hearted moment where Fury makes a joke about stereotypical Catholic fertility.

I don’t think these are enough to call the film anti-Catholic. I doubt the film makes it seem like Ultron’s attempt to connect himself to religion is legitimate. Instead, I would guess that the film is trying to suggest that Ultron and Christianity are actually at cross-purposes. His attempt to co-opt religious themes is supposed to illustrate his villainy, right? Then perhaps the film is trying to suggest that the Church isn’t truly villainous. Or at least that it’s bad to use the Church to further an unjust end.

As for the stereotypical joke, I think that was a bad move, but probably not enough to call the whole film anti-Catholic. One sparrow doesn’t make a summer.

 

[styrgwillidar]

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

The lines and the setting his meeting with key people in the Church seemed to be in line with the theme of human pride and hubris. Not a comment on religion or religious institutions but the flaw of man thinking they can create an intelligence in an almost god-like way. Note, Tony Stark specifically states he’s not informing the team of his attempt at AI because he doesn’t want to hear that argument- that he’s dabbling in what man shouldn’t do.

Then that exact flaw is exhibited by the AI - it sees itself as worthy of sitting in judgment of how the world should proceed, he’s sitting in God’s place and judging the human race.

The first Avenger’s didn’t seem to be anti-religion. Capt A is portrayed as a man of faith. Remember his line from the first movie-" There’s only one God, ma’am, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t dress like that."