by Bibi St. Bijou (Showbiz Scoop)

CHASING AMY/CLERKS director Kevin Smith is calling on the on higher creative powers (the fans) to prove his controversial feature, DOGMA, will rise long after the critical crucifixion. The film touts an impressive cast including Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, George Carlin, Janeane Garofalo and Alanis Morissette as a hula-haloed God. In addition, heavenly hunks Matt Damon and Ben Affleck portray shirt-less angels that fall to earth.

The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, fueled by countless boycott requests, has denounced DOGMA's "anti-Catholic" content in a booklet and website devoted to exposing Smith's " hidden" agenda. The League has collected 5,000 signatures(in crayon?) that will be sent via petition to (MIRAMAX parent and Disney chairman, Michael Eisner. DOGMA is reportedly targeted for an October release date although the Miramax "spokes-pagans" have yet to name a distributor. DOGMA did screen well at several major film festivals this past year including Cannes and Telluride, so it seems probable that Disney will fend off altar-boy picket lines in favor of big box-office returns.

After countless studio vs. Christian Coalition wars -- will the movie execs ever back down? Easy answer...does the Pope watch SHOWGIRLS in the woods?