New “Christian” film denigrates Catholicism

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, Dec 4, 2007 / 12:07 pm (CNA).- A Protestant film company is releasing a movie that trivializes the Sacraments, dishonors the Virgin Mary, and depicts Catholic priests and nuns in a belittling fashion, says the Catholic League.

Gener8Xion, the studio that also created the movie One Night with the King, will release the film Noëlle on December 7. Claiming to be “a parable of forgiveness and grace,” the movie features two laughable priests who are in love with the same woman.

The film company’s synopsis describes the character Jonathan Keene as “a young Catholic priest seemingly devoid of genuine human emotion” whose job is “to do what he does best: shut down a failing parish.” The other clerical character is described as “the child-like Fr. Simeon Joyce, a faithful but disillusioned priest who blatantly disregards church regulations, uses church monies to pay an old fisherman’s medical bills and spends most of his time drinking at the local pub.”

“Both priests are portrayed as losers,” said Bill Donohue of the Catholic League.

Describing the plot, Donohue said the young priest, Father Joyce, only became a priest because he felt guilty for fathering a child by a woman and pressuring her to have an abortion. Father Joyce tells Father Keene he wants to marry a woman named Marjorie so he can help raise her child, who was born out of wedlock. “But Fr. Keene, a first-class klutz, is also in love with the same woman: he is shown bolting in the middle of Midnight Mass to be with her, knocking over a filled chalice and ripping off his vestments,” Donohue said.

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.”

Donohue suggested the filmmakers’ interest in dealing with hypocrisy should be directed towards stereotypes of misbehaving Protestant ministers, such as those who preach the so-called “Prosperity Gospel.”

Comments: 11

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Jack
USA 12/19/2007 03:59 PM EST

Sounds liek a terrible film.

Published by: Priest
Wa 12/18/2007 03:28 PM EST

Thank you so much for making this film. I do not know who will receive this message, but I was compelled to offer this word of appreciation to you for making the movie – “Noelle”. I am a Roman Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Seattle, Washington. Last Monday – December 10, 2007, I happened to be in Redmond, Washington (where “Noelle” is playing) on my day off, and I thought to stop by a movie theatre to see if there was anything worth seeing. It is rare that for me to go to the movies today, as there is not much I would consider worth viewing. I didn’t know what the movie “Noelle” would be about, but I took a chance that it would be a film about the Christmas season…and with the title “Noelle”, I thought it wouldn’t be a comic film about Christmas that is often in theatres at this time of the year.

My jaw dropped when I saw the opening scene featuring a Catholic priest – “Father Keane”. Your film had me in tears all throughout; and needless to say, has touched my heart. This is the first motion picture that I have seen made in recent years about the Advent and Christmas seasons with a message of hope, forgiveness, new life, and new beginnings. These of course, are the themes that the Advent season promises, and the Christmas season celebrates. While I know “Noelle” is promoted as a Christmas season movie, I thought it was really a movie about the Advent season – that the Roman Catholic tradition celebrates as the preparatory season for Christmas. I sa

Published by: Kay McCall
Geneva, Al. USA 12/12/2007 11:23 AM EST

Hey, People, please don't blame this on "Protestants", just because some deranged people aren't Catholics don't make them Protestants. That's like me saying "sexual abuse is caused by Catholics" just because some Priests were deranged. I know the scandal is not who Catholics are, just as the blasphemous film "Noelle" is not who we are. I erred when I was surfing TV and stopped on TBN. Big mistake. They were pushing this as a Christian movie. I have never seen such garbage in the name of Christianity. I was embarrassed for the Catholic Church, knowing this is not who you are. We're together on this. It purposely set out to mock Catholics...but it wasn't the Protestants. We're Christians, too, you know. There are Catholics, Protestants and then there are Unbelievers, who are out to destroy the church of Jesus Christ. Now lets join hands, and get the word out that this is a movie to boycott.

Published by: hello
nash/tn/usa 12/08/2007 05:31 PM EST

Saturday, December 08, 2007
Review: Noelle .... a different point of view

Review: Noelle, the Movie

My husband and I went and saw this movie tonight, in spite of (and maybe, because of) all the controversy that has recently been stirred up by this movie, particularly based on the Catholic League’s review of this movie. [I have yet to see any other Catholic voice review this movie; the closest was an interview in Catholic Digest, but that was not a review of the movie.]

Before I start this review, please let me say that I respect Bill Donohue and the Catholic League and all that they do to protect Catholics and Catholicism in the current American-secular climate. Based on their review of Noelle, we weren’t going to go see it … but cooler heads prevailed and we went to ensure that my husband would be able to address questions from his Catholic high school theology students.

For this review, I’ll quote directly from the December 3rd Catholic League review.

First, the Catholic League titles their review “CATHOLICISM TARRED BY CHRISTIAN FILM”. The movie we watched didn’t “tar” Catholicism. This title alone sets up an animosity that doesn’t make sense after having viewed the movie. This title sets up the preconception that somehow Gener8xion Entertainment, and the Walls and everyone else who had anything to do with this movie have a malignant intent to “dis” Catholicism. If anything, the writers, directors and actors are culpable of benign ignorance in the mistakes they make i

Published by: Robert Rice
New Hartford, CT 12/06/2007 01:04 PM EST

know many wonderful priests, some saintly priests and some who are apathetic 9-5 priests who preach the Oprah-logical gospel of Luuuuv. God loves everyone and we're all goin ta Heaven!

When is the last time those of you who complain about priests prayed for priests?

When was the last time you did a holy hour in front of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament? When was the last time you prayed for priestly vocations?

Pray and fast for Priests! Amen

Published by: Dorothy Swingle
Zanesville, Ohio USA 12/05/2007 09:03 PM EST

They will do ANYTHING to get at our CHURCH

Published by: Charles
Kirkland, WA 12/05/2007 08:43 PM EST

This film is very anti-Catholic and distorts the whole Priest picture.

For every few thousand priests you might find one who isn't a great one. I've been exposed to many priests during my many years of Catholic education and I would say that 95% are extremely faithful to the Church and their vows. Our Church is a Saint factory, and the majority come from our holy priests.

Next time you see a priest, thank him for all the good and holy work he does on behalf of Jesus Christ. Put an extra donation this week with your normal tithe and dedicate it to more priestly vocations.

Jesus Christ is our Chief Priest and if you mess with one of his Priests you mess with Him. "Paul why do you persecute me?" This film company will be judged.

I doubt seriously that this is a sincere Protestant group. Most Protestants I know love Jesus with all their heart, love Scripture and would never bad mouth another Christian.

Donohue should have not said that garbage about their "Prosperity Pastors promoting the Health and Wealth Gospel". While they do have a severe problem and it is only getting worse, we should just pray for them. Catholics and Protestants alike can all be tested by the devil with wealth.

Catholic orthodoxy is the cure for all moral and theological relativism.

Published by: Mickey
Florida 12/05/2007 01:01 PM EST

Well, the character of these two priests does not seem far off. A good priest is rare in America. Our priesthood is ridden with scandal, so much that we can;t even get a priest to head the Catholic League.
I am not going to see this movie, this propaganda. it may only be meant to incite anti-Catholic rhetoric. I am not going to recommend it to anyone. I'll probably shun anyone who goes to see it.

But it does make a very large commentary on the state of our priesthood. We need a better one! We need good, strong, holy men who have no tendency toward sodomy and make no room for the desire of the flesh.

Why not send your remaining sons to the priesthood. Talk to them. Teach them what is good and holy.

The laity always talk about empowerment and participation. Well, this is your chance. Talk to your daughters about Religious Life and Consecrate Virginity. Invite your sons to visit a seminary. F

Published by: Scotus Exiguus
Long Island, NY USA 12/04/2007 06:19 PM EST

May I suggest:
1. There is no such thing as a "Protestant film company." Non-Catholic does not equal Protestant.
2. Anyone who would produce such a film is most likely not an authentic Christian at all, regardless of what they call themselves. This stuff is not from Christ, or any Biblical Christian. This is not "good fruit," therefore ...
3."Prosperity Gospel" ministers are in the same heretical boat as any group who distorts Holy Writ, and teaches "strange doctrines."
-- I understand Mr. Donohue's frustration, but it's no help throwing rocks at other Church groups, no matter how fouled up they are. But he is kinder than I would be.
-- I am a Reformed Protestant, but in the face of this kind of assault, am simply a brother in Christ, and share the disgust.

Published by: Ex-Catholic Mc'Irishman
OC, California 12/04/2007 03:38 PM EST

Thanks for letting us know about this so we can go see it. Of course it is insidious the way priests are portrayed as laughable dolts instead of the dangerous predators we all know them to be.

Published by: jennifer
mumbai, India 12/04/2007 02:24 PM EST

This article reminded me of the ordination of a protestant husband. I had been invited and the ceremony was beautiful, the choir simply sweet. However, it was the wife who disgusted me with the way she was obviously suffering with jealousy. it was as if her husband was getting married to a second wife and she was sick with envy and unable to hide it.
the congregation was obvlious to this but she was a colleague and we her friends could see her misery, it was almost palpable.

thank god that the Catholic church demands celibacy from her priests.

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