Producers fear protests at premier of film about play depicting Jesus as a homosexual
A production company responsible for a play depicting Jesus as a homosexual living in Texas in the 1950s has expressed worries about Catholic-inspired protests when a documentary about the controversial drama premieres at a San Francisco theater on April 29.
The film, Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption, is a documentary about the play Corpus Christi, which was first staged in New York in 1998, and since has toured across the U.S. and Europe, often greeted by protests from those who consider it blasphemous.
The documentary is scheduled to premiere at San Francisco’s Castro Theatre at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 29. “A VIP Ticket includes a Pre-Show Gathering at 1:00pm with the Cast/Crew, songs from the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and the Choir from the Church of Uncommon Hope, a blessing from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and Rev. Dr. Cindi Love of Soulforce, James Langteaux reading from his new book Gay Conversations with God and many more surprise guests!” says an entry on the film’s website.
While the documentary will be featured at the Castro Theatre, the play itself will be performed at other venues in San Francisco, including on April 28 at the Southside Theater at Fort Mason Center and on April 29 and 30 at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco.
The production company behind both the film and the play — 108 Productions — is apparently not sure what to expect, though based on earlier demonstrations in other cities appears wary of what might happen in San Francisco next weekend.
“A protest outside the April 29 event at the Castro could materialize”, said officials with 108 Productions, which has staged its touring version of the play since 2006, “although there is no indication yet of any organized response,” the homosexual newspaper Bay Area Reporter said in an April 19 story.
The story continued: “Surprisingly, now it seems our biggest group of protesters in our six-year history may show up in San Francisco, a city where we assumed we would be most protected from such attacks,” said Nic Arnzen, the play’s director and film’s co-director/producer. “Luckily, we have found the city rallying around us as individuals and organizations come forward to stand in solidarity with us and our quest to spread the message of love and equality.”
The Bay Area Reporter said the group America Needs Fatima has launched an online petition against the film, describing it and the play as “unspeakable blasphemy.”
The newspaper said representatives from the Archdiocese of San Francisco “declined to speak” to its reporter.
Posted Tuesday, April 24, 2012 12:55 AM By Clinton
Disgusting! What else can be said? So many souls are destined for hell because of their great desire to sin and remain in their sinful state. |
Posted Tuesday, April 24, 2012 2:45 AM By Peter
If they blasmphemed about the Muslim’s religion, they would not be alive to be further concerned. I hope all people of good will will protest – not just Catholics. Enough is enough. |
Posted Tuesday, April 24, 2012 5:06 AM By Catherine
“Luckily we have found the city rallying around us as individuals and organizations come forward to stand in solidarity with us and our quest to spread the message of love and equality.” These exact words could have been written by our own resident homosexual activists and their rallying supporters who stand in solidarity with their activism. The true meaning of the word love is being twisted by the activists and also by those who encourage homosexual activism with false compassion. Pay attention to the word “Luckily” because it lets us know that if everyone stood united in denouncing this blasphemous activism in San Francisco then these plays would not be taking place. In certain twelve step programs they teach about the danger of enabling the person with the disease or the disorder. False compassion enables sin and error to spread and in this particular case years of false compassion have enabled blasphemous plays about Our Lord. When activists are bold enough to talk about their disdain for the men in Rome on Catholic websites then they also consider themselves lucky to find supporters rallying for their quest to spread a different and perverse kind of gospel under the banner of love and equality. This homosexual activism should be called out and denounced as surely as this blasphemous play in San Francisco. |
Posted Tuesday, April 24, 2012 5:18 AM By JMJ
First I am surprised that this filth is not being done on those ‘catholic’ schools or churches that we have been reading about, but, most importantly, everyone that is involved with this trash should be fearing of where their souls will be for all of eternity: hell!! How much longer before God sends His Wrath down upon us? +JMJ+ |
Posted Tuesday, April 24, 2012 5:53 AM By Angelo
I wonder what would happen if a film were made depicting Mohammad as a Homosexual. I wish they would try it. It would certainly clean up their sacreligious acts once and for all. |
Posted Tuesday, April 24, 2012 6:03 AM By Sandra
Evil in San Francisco–what else is new? We should pray for these sick deviants. |
Posted Tuesday, April 24, 2012 6:17 AM By Ted
There have not many productions or occasions more deserving of protest, in my opinion. I hope thousands show up in opposition to any such example of anti-Christian garbage. |
Posted Tuesday, April 24, 2012 7:04 AM By ALL4Him
Silence is a powerful weapon…it has been used to oppress, abuse, and allow unspeakable attrocities to continue. Silence is also used to keep peace. Yet, today keeping silent regarding faith/moral issues and blasphemy against the sacred is what the hedonistic society bets upon. Remember Satan has no power, only influence. When we speak, we must always remember to wait upon the Holy Spirit to inspire us and to do what Christ calls us to do as His disciples. Even if the faithful stand silently, with an image of Our Lord and Our Lady, meditating and praying the Most Holy Rosary, that is a stronger weapon against evil. Yes, most times we must speak up and protect the most vunerable and not allow our Christian culture to be battered. It is our right, not only given to us by our government, but most assuredly by GOD. Stand firm, testify to the Truth in love, and as St. Padre Pio instructs us “Pray, Pray Pray!” |
Posted Tuesday, April 24, 2012 7:38 AM By Dan
Related to this, there is a bill in Kansas I read on another blog that will force churches to offer their facilities for LBGT weddings/receptions, and possibly other meetings . So homosexuals, if this Kansas bill passes, and passes judicial review, are free not just to ridicule the christian faith but to use it for their own purposes when it suits them. And if it can happen in Kansas of all places, it can happen anywhere. And what will be the penalty for churches if they violate the “rights” of LBGT? Will we face here what is happening in Canada? |
Posted Tuesday, April 24, 2012 7:43 AM By Dana
So, what else is new? People who are totally lacking in imagination and talent always seem to stoop to shock and disgust in their bitter anger against God who they blame for their mediocrity and banal understanding. They see the beauty and truth of Jesus and it must be a terrible affront to their interior vileness and ugliness. They want to punish anyone who is the ultimate in truth, beauty and grace. These unfortunate souls want to bring Jesus down to their own level of degredation and hopelessness. It’s very sad but ultimately one must avoid swine lest one join them in depravity and despair. The less said the better as far as I’m concerned. They are desperate for attention and publicity. By publicizing this ignorant and pathetic play we elevate them to something worth talking about. Let the dead bury their dead. |
Posted Tuesday, April 24, 2012 7:44 AM By Vicious Ski Ven
Reading this article has occasioned me with a heightened state of viciousness. I am not sure if many of the things that I would have to say would get past the editor. It is infuriating to see Jesus get attacked by such vitriolic hate speech. I guess some kinds of hate speech are more equal than others. |
Posted Tuesday, April 24, 2012 8:25 AM By Patricia Fraide
While living in Palm Springs, where the gay population is about as. Large as San Fracisco, I still am apauled at their brazen attack on Christianity and all things sacred. Aim praying for a big protest at this blasphemous event. BTW, it is good to be back, reading the most honest news papers in So. calif. I have been away too long. |
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