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Is Hollywood anti-Catholic?
May. 13, 2009
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Printer-friendly versionSend to friendPDF versionFor the record, no, I do not think Hollywood is anti-Catholic. Hollywood is a business with commercial interests driven by profit. Profit is often blind, uninformed and fails to ask the right questions.
If profit and consumerism are to have a conscience, we must look beyond Hollywood to the larger political economy that has usurped democracy, not while we were sleeping, but while we were all watching.
I know there are good people in Hollywood because they tell amazing, meaningful stories well. If thoughtful people will look at the record of films that address major social issues and ask for a human and Gospel response, they will find them.
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'Angels & Demons' : Everyone's trying to save the church
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The story of the ecclesiastically grouchy Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez offers a tale of homelessness and beauty in the recently released “The Soloist” and asks: What are we going to do about it? “Blood Diamond” (2006) drew our attention to the tragic consequences of the first world’s unquestioning thirst for diamonds. “Innocent Voices/Voces Innocentes” (2004) introduced us to the plight of child soldiers. The subtext of the latest James Bond film, “Quantum of Solace,” told how politics controls access to clean water in developing nations. Kathryn Bigelow’s upcoming film “The Hurtlocker” lets us feel the dehumanizing addiction to adrenalin experienced by soldiers whose task it is to defuse roadside bombs in the current war in Iraq.
My greatest concern for mainstream Hollywood cinema centers on things like the U.S. military consulting on big-budget influential comic books-into-film like 2008’s “Iron Man.” Is anyone making this connection when they critique Hollywood?
Is the Catholic church anti-Hollywood?
Not if you read any number of church documents on media, communication, culture and artists that have been published by the Vatican since 1936 with Vigilanti Cura, Pope Pius XI’s encyclical letter on motion pictures. This was followed by dozens of subsequent documents and statements, such as those for World Communications Day, instituted by the Second Vatican Council in Inter Mirifica (“The Decree on the Media of Social Communications”) in 1963. Through such publications the church has promoted critical awareness and critical engagement with media.
The church consistently calls the means of social communication “gifts of God.” However, in church documents such affirmative statements are always followed by a firm “but.” The church knows that the media are a garden and a minefield, too. At the end of the day, the church respects storytelling and creativity, and the intelligence of people to discern, choose and to make meaning about the media they consume.
Pope John Paul II’s final formal teaching on communication and media, “The Rapid Development” (2005), was the last document he wrote before his death. A new document on all media was announced earlier this year by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.
These documents can educate and form the story-tellers of tomorrow who are in our pews, living rooms and classrooms today, as well as their teachers and parents. They also advise advocacy but not boycotts. The church, at its heart, knows that how one teaches is what one teaches.
The problem is that not enough people read these documents. I think the people of God need for those engaged in the public debate on any level to stop screeching and start teaching and preaching in ways that form, inform and give life. Like Jesus did.
I think that Hollywood is
I think that Hollywood is pro-money. And if Catholicsploitation brings in the bucks, the films get made. Ironically, the people backing them have no real need for more money. Ron 'Opie' Howard is a millionaire many times over. Christ is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Who can name the last
Who can name the last anti-Islamic film released in recent history? Think of all the flak that the Passion of the Christ got for having what could have been read by some people as anti-Semitic elements in it.
To frame the question by asking if HOLLYWOOD is ANTI-CATHOLIC is disingenuous. Your average high school economics student could tell you it would have been extremely difficult to make films based on Brown's novels if they weren't best sellers. The question is why even "Catholic" news sources such as this are giving the films based on Dan Brown's works a pass as to whether they are anti-Catholic (assuming that the timing of this article isn't totally random, having something to do with the near release of Angels and Demons), and why the film's producers are getting so little flak in the media over its direct anti-Catholic overtones. Articles such as this lend further credence to the idea that anti-Catholicism is the last acceptable form of bigotry.
Right on, Rose! Excellent
Right on, Rose! Excellent observations and recommendations. The Catholic Church has always been involved in the artistic life of the planet, of which the cinema is just one more manifestation. Glad to see trained, lucid individuals articulating the Catholic viewpoint out there in the secular marketplace.
quantum of solace was the
quantum of solace was the most stupid bond film ever made. we go from villians who want to conquer the world, hold entire nations hostage with space weapons to... a secret organization whos goal it appears is to run up the water bill in 3rd world countries.
"My greatest concern for mainstream Hollywood cinema centers on things like the U.S. military consulting"
thats a dumb thing to be concerned about. you should be glad they do this as they help hold back some of the stupid cliches that hollywood puts into movies dealing with anything military. the biggest thing all should worry about is michael bay and his continuous pushing of the 'special effects totally outweighs the need for a story' method of film making.
hollywood DOES have an ideological bias, agree with it or not, and they are more than willing to act on it occasionally even if it harms them financially. want proof? look at the money they blew on tons of anti war movies over the last several years. what, you never saw them? well, guess what, nobody else did either. they all tanked and the studios making them bled money like there was no tomorrow. but hollywood kept making them.
Hollywood is anti-Christian.
Hollywood is anti-Christian. Every character who is a believer is usually a fool, a fascist or an uptight jerk. The audiences that 99 percent of Hollywood films are made for have been taught to mock religion. Other than "The Passion," which was the last film that had positive images of Christianity? None. If religion is shown, it's mocked or made villanous. Addressing social issues and portraying religious life in a positive light are not the same thing.
Hollywood isn't
Hollywood isn't "anti-Catholic" it is "anti-God". About 90%, anyway,(subjective number). If you are anti-God than you are anti-Catholic Church because the Church is His Body, made manifest in the world by His son, Jesus Christ. Start with first premises and work down from there. From the universals to the particulars.
are you kidding me? of course
are you kidding me? of course Hollywood is anti-Catholic..watch any Law & Order DVD,without commercial interuption..rosaries,crucifixes,nuns,priests..all Catholic(not "just"Christian)..Who are the writers,producers,directors,actors???they despise Catholics,yet our children are taught in public schools that it's the other way around..the double standard is appalling. Look at the movies..so many anti-Catholic messages,from Barnard Hughes' character in Midnight Cowboy,to Juno,etc..All the SNL skits with nuns..it would never be allowed with rabbis(unless Woody Allen,or Gene Wilder-Mel Brooks,Jewish writers)/mullahs..yet it's always okay on South Park,Family guy,etc..to make fun of Catholics.It is deplorable,yet allowed..and the stupid catholics watch ,pay,laugh!
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