Letter to Catholic Standard: Santa, Sex & Movies

Letter to the Editor

There is a popular statue in stores and gift catalogues with Santa Claus on his knees, praying before the infant Christ in the manger. While Santa traces his Christian roots to St. Nicholas, it has largely become a non-sectarian cultural icon. The statuary reminds believers that the secular must always bend the knee to the sacred. That which emerges from imagination and childhood fantasy must always make room for that which is most real. Christians do not fear Santa Claus; they just want him to represent something more than department store commercialism. This something more also emerges in light-hearted fun films like Miracle on 34th Street. Christ came into the world that we might be reconciled with God and with one another. Peace, charity and a childlike trust are hallmarks of the season that we should take with us all year long.

While tough critics may have a few small concerns about Tim Allen’s portrayal in Disney’s Santa Clause series; even the most callous reviewers should be horror stricken by Disney-Miramax’s new film, Bad Santa. It was bound to happen. People who do not understand what the Church is really about and who blaspheme God, have already established that there are no limits to their depravity, lack of good taste and impropriety. It is somewhat disingenuous for Michael Eisner, Disney’s chief executive, to say that he was shocked by some scenes. Billy Bob Thornton’s Santa is a drunk who fornicates in his Santa suit. He assaults innocent children with vulgar language. Nevertheless, Disney is going to release the film, anyway. Eisner is right, “This is just not in the spirit of Walt Disney.” Too bad he does not have the moral backbone to put his actions behind his words. Eisner and his fellow executives are the real abusers of children in this film.

While no decent person would condone abuse, Miramax released The Magdalene Sisters, a film that scapegoats all the Catholic nuns and accompanying priests as evil and sadistic. The director, Peter Mullan does not seek to disguise his anti-Catholicism and labeled the Sisters of Mercy, “Taliban militants.” Miramax also gave us Dogma, where we find out that Joseph and Mary had a sexual relationship and that there is a distant female descendant of Jesus working at an abortion clinic. (Particularly at Christmas, we should not forget that every child is a reflection of the Christ child and that life has dignity and an incommensurate value.) God is played by Alanis Morrisette, who had just previously done a nude musical video with lyrics about oral sex. This effort to distort and ravage Christianity and now any wholesome image is not new. Remember Miramax’s 1995 film, Priest and the awful TV sitcom Nothing Sacred? Dissent from the basic principles of Christianity is applauded. The priesthood is portrayed as populated by sadists, fornicators and homosexuals. Yes, Eisner is right, “Nothing appears sacred anymore.” And he and his associates have had a hand in the moral decline and the hardening of sensibilities.

The Washington Times (Nov. 21, 2003) is to be applauded for its short but critical editorial of the new film under the Disney-Miramax banner. It takes courage to challenge such an imposing entertainment giant. When Mother Angelica and Fr. Groeschel from EWTN TV criticized Priest eight years ago, and gave them an anti-catholic award, they were rewarded with a phone call from these same “shocked” Disney executives. They told her that if the show ran again or a similar one, they would see to it that she would disappear from all their vast cable markets. In other words, shut up or we will close you down! Let us not continue to be silent. We can show our disdain by avoiding this new film in the theaters and later on cable and rental. This film, like all the other Miramax movies mentioned here, will probably lose money. They do not seem to care. Given that Disney is a business, it has been suggested that a sinister spirit is working behind the scenes? We can only pray that the true spirit of this holy season will prevail.

Friday, November 21, 2003

Father Joseph Jenkins
Church of the Holy Spirit