Vatican calls Twilight a "deviant moral vacuum"

[sorrowspath]

The latest movie in vampire saga Twilight is a 'deviant moral vacuum', the Vatican said yesterday.

New Moon, which opens in Britain today, is a 'mixture of excesses aimed at young people and gives a heavy esoteric element', a spokesman added.

The blockbuster opened on Wednesday in Italy and took £1.8million at the box office

Monsignor Franco Perazzolo, of the Pontifical Council of Culture, said: 'Men and women are transformed with horrible masks and it is once again that age-old trick or ideal formula of using
extremes to make an impact at the box office.

'This film is nothing more than a moral vacuum with a deviant message and as such should be of concern.'

The attack comes three weeks after the Catholic Church in Italy condemned Halloween as 'anti-Christian and dangerous' and urged parents not to dress their children as ghosts and goblins.

In the past, the Vatican has also attacked the Harry Potter books and films. Six years ago, Pope Benedict XVI criticised the 'subtle seductions' in J.K. Rowling's stories, which could ' corrupt the Christian faith' in impressionable young children.

Last year Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano ran an editorial attacking the teen wizard-as 'the wrong kind of hero'. But in a U-turn four months ago it published an article approving of the latest big screen installment, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. The film managed to 'distinguish between good and evil', it said.

Cardinals also urged people not to see or read Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, which they said was an insult to Christianity. The Vatican denied film crews access to churches in Rome when they wanted to shoot sequel Angels and Demons last year.

Twilight, based on books by U.S. author Stephanie Meyer, tells the story of a romance between vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart).


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1229300/Vatican-slams-vampire-blockbuster-Twilight-deviant-moral-vacuum.html

[MrModerate]

1. I'm tempted to call the Vatican morons, but the fact is they're very astute . . .

And the secularization of the supernatural is a direct threat to their existence. If anybody can imagine miracles, what do you need a church for?

Put another way, what do you need a church for?

This are the questions the Vatican doesn't want people asking.

[Caliman73]

2. You know...

I was raised Catholic, and there are some parts of the faith that I find useful for personal growth, but this kind of crap is just ridiculous. I remember when "The Last Temptation of Christ" came out way back when, and the leadership was all in a lather about what horrific effect it would have on people. If the faith is being taught and modeled in a positive way, then they should not have to fear temptations. No one told Christ, "Don't go out into the dessert to fast cause the Devil is gonna getcha!"

Perhaps the Church needs to look inward at the behavior of its own clergy and lay leadership before casting stones. I think I may have read that in a book somewhere that people were getting ready to punish someone for some offense they felt to be worthy of death and someone came along and challenged them somehow...hmmm, who might that have been and where did I see that?

[murielm99]

4. They think everyone is stupid.

I love vampire stories but I know they are not real.

The Harry Potter books are great fun for all ages. Obviously, they are stories about good vs. evil. What is wrong with a little fantasy thrown into the mix? Haven't people always illustrated greater truths with stories like these?

I really wish I could figure out my own fascination with vampires. I loved all the old vampire movies. I watched "Dark Shadows" faithfully. I read all the Anne Rice books. The only reason I have avoided the Twilight series is that they are supposed to be poorly written and vapid.

My love of (almost) all things vampiric has nothing to do with my faith.

[johnaries]

3. I think they're giving it too much credit. nt

[Raine]

5. In that case

it sounds like something I'll want to see. }(

[NYC Liberal]

6. Much as I dislike Twilight...now I will go see it

Thanks, Vatican!

[proteus_lives]

7. Don't waste your money.

It's awful.

[NYC Liberal]

10. I definitely could've predicted that...

I'll encourage someone else to go then :P

[LostInAnomie]

8. Plus, it causes teenage girls and lonely middle aged women to...

... fiddle with their bits while fantasizing about sensitive and troubled vampires with impossibly high cheek bones.

[ima_sinnic]

9. morally deviant? they have exclusive rights on that--no wonder they're upset

as for me, I'll get my movie reviews from real movie critics and normal, sane, educated, people who don't superstitiously burn incense, rattle beads, and chant Latin while diddling little boys and making ignorant 12th-century pronouncements in the 21st century.

In fact, I'm not particularly into vampire movies, but this makes me feel like buying a ticket at the box office, because if it upsets the perverts, I'm all for it.

As far as "anti-Christian and dangerous," sounds like a good description of the entire sorry 2000-year history of that disgusting abomination know as the catholic "church."

[Ex Lurker]

11. well, I wouldn't go that far, but

Every time I see a picture of that kid I have an overwhelming urge to shove him into a locker and take his lunch money.

[madrchsod]

12. what`s the old saying about throwing rocks glass houses?

[snake in the grass]

13. What?

For some strange reason I was under the impression this was a vampire movie and not a movie about an organization that fucks little boys! I have the agree with the Vatican. That is indeed a deviant moral vacuum.

[depakid]

14. The Vatican pontificating on moral deviance?

:rofl: