Catholic League warns of "Atheism for kids" movie, book series

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Comments: 16

, Oct 11, 2007 / 11:00 am (CNA).- A new movie starring Nicole Kidman will belittle Catholicism and promote atheism to children, warned Catholic League President Bill Donohue.

The movie The Golden Compass is being produced by New Line Cinema and Scholastic Entertainment. It is based on the first volume of the His Dark Materials trilogy of books, written by the militant English atheist Philip Pullman.

“Atheism for kids. That is what Philip Pullman sells," said Mr. Donohue.

He continued: "The trilogy, His Dark Materials, was written to promote atheism and denigrate Christianity, especially Roman Catholicism. The target audience is children and adolescents. Each book becomes progressively more aggressive in its denigration of Christianity and promotion of atheism."

Mr. Donohue cautioned that a watered-down version of the film will deceive people into buying the books for children. "The movie is bait for the books," he said. "To be specific, if unsuspecting Christian parents take their children to see the movie, they may very well find it engaging and then buy Pullman’s books for Christmas."

The Catholic League is conducting a nationwide two-month protest of Pullman's books. It has also prepared a booklet titled "The Golden Compass: Agenda Unmasked" for those concerned about the movie. Its website is http://www.catholicleague.org

Comments: 16

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Fernando
Chicago/Illinois/USA 10/19/2008 12:52 PM EST

i think it was very prejudice to no watch a movie because of that certain director's beliefs. and people should understand that some movies are not truly real. such as aliens and monster ones. i dont think christians should treat other people different because of thier beliefs. we need to help people who are in need, and the world needs to look at us, and think that we are very peaceful and helpful people. thank you

Published by: Debra
Charlotte, NC 11/23/2007 11:03 PM EST

It is time that we start voting with our dollars. No matter how beautiful and sophisticated an actor may appear his or her choice in movie roles speaks far more loudly as to their character than the way they choose to label themselves in interviews. I was very disappointed that the Catholic Church would have waited until now to question some of Kidman’s career choices. After all, how is an actress who starred in movies such as "Birth" and "Eyes Wide Shut" which are little more than commercialized pornography allowed to wed in a Catholic Church? Maybe Kidman was swayed by the almighty dollar and in the case of a Catholic Wedding, which looked oh so sweet to the press, maybe the church saw dollar signs too.

Published by: Minerva
Harlingen,TX 11/09/2007 09:31 AM EST

for those uninformed, Catholicism has stood since the Jesus Christ was crucifid and the apostles went all over the world to preach the gospel. Children should not be thought that there is no God. God teaches us how to live a clean productive life with love. If Nicole Kidman was a devout catholic she should not starred in this movie. Boo to her.

Published by: Brian
Ottawa, ON, Canada 11/01/2007 02:58 PM EST

Is Scholastic Entertainment an arm of Scholastic Publications?
Scholastic Publications distibutes and sells books in Catholic Schools in the U.S. and Canada. If they are involved in the production of the movie, then consideration to Boycott of all of their publications must be made.

Published by: prophet
unknown 10/31/2007 12:32 AM EST

I am always amazed that people of faith are the quickest to censor any criticism of their belief. What a shaky foundation that can not stand a little up to scrutiny. While masked with good intention, these groups seem more like the crucifiers that the savior.

Published by: Jim
San Jose,CA,USA 10/16/2007 12:09 AM EST

The article talks about "promoting atheism" as if it is a bad thing!

Published by: KT Wentworth
New York, NY, US 10/15/2007 12:55 AM EST

Just like the Da Vinci Code, publicity from irate Catholics will problem make a film that would barely make a ripple at the box office into a huge success. One wonders if Bill Donahue is getting a percentage of the box office.

Published by: Jim
San Jose,CA,USA 10/14/2007 03:35 PM EST

If the message from "Tim" is accurate, then this movie and book series is NOT really "Atheism for kids". It is simply somewhat opposed to organized religion. Bill Donohue apparently takes "anti-organized religion" to mean "anti-Catholic", and to him this is automatically "pro-atheist".

Like Tim, I would like to ask Bill if the Catholic faith is so fragile that its followers must be prevented from hearing other points of view. Will people be Catholics only if they have heard of nothing else?

Published by: TonyO
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA 10/12/2007 01:50 PM EST

I choose reality, not mythology.

Published by: DK
PA 10/12/2007 12:02 PM EST

My goodness! People are either praising these books or bashing Catholicism. And, they speak of tolerance! While I haven't read these books, don't we owe it to our children to "avoid the near occasions of sin". Anti-Catholic books should not be read by children that don't know any better.

Published by: Richard Collins
San Diego, CA 10/12/2007 11:30 AM EST

Once again the retro-Catholic mind of Bill Donohue wants to advance the theory that he can control what people read and think. If Catholicism is truly the work of God it should be able to stand up against a few critical books or movies. Any god powerful enough to create the universe does not need all his little helpers here on earth. He certainly doesn't need the Bill Donohue variety.

Published by: Gabriel
Monticello/NY/USA 10/12/2007 08:08 AM EST

Always thought Nicole Kidman to be a bit on the trampy side!

Published by: Bishop Brian Kennedy, O.S.B.
Toledo, Ohio 10/12/2007 07:24 AM EST

While it is important to defend Christ and our Christian values and beliefs, the damage to the image of "Christianity" has already been done by the supposeed Christians who have stood by and let the Secularist have their way. The individual Christians will not defend their beliefs and will not even vote according to Christian values. We are following the road of the Athenian Democracy and the Roman Empire. We will as a society suffer the same fate.

Published by: Rob
UK 10/12/2007 06:27 AM EST

Quite right too. Young children should be being taught to fear Hellfire rather than encouraged to think for themselves.

Published by: Tim
Bath, England 10/12/2007 03:21 AM EST

I have read all of the Pullman books and find them to be very good reads. There is a theme running through them which whilst not atheist as such is anti-organised religion. Roman Catholicism is an organised religion so I guess that you could say that the books are anti-catholic. But I really can't see what is wrong with children seeing the film or reading the book. Children are not stupid. They are perfectly able to decide for themselves as to what to beleive. Wouldn't you rather have a church full of committed people who have really considered the issues and heard the arguements both for and against their relegion before making their choice rather than a church full of sheep who have a faith so shallow that it only arrises because they have only ever been presented with one side of the story?

Published by: John Doe
United Kingdom 10/12/2007 02:51 AM EST

I can see how catholics are arguing from a position of strength. After all, they have never influenced the minds of children or controlled their lives. The appearance of catholicism being the last bastion of Paedophilia is just an illusion.

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