Disney’s Eisner Set to Defame Christians — Again

Michael Eisner and his Disney Corp., parent company to Miramax Films, seems to have an obsession with defaming Jesus Christ.

At least that’s the way it looks by the advance word on the next Miramax movie release, “Dogma.”

The controversial “Dogma” is already making some Miramax executives nervous. So much so that “Dogma” star Ben Affleck, who appears in the film with Chris Rock and Matt Damon, has been begging Miramax chief Harvey Weinstein to make sure the project makes it into movie theaters.

Disney and Miramax enjoy antagonizing Christians with blasphemy, having produced 1995’s “Priest” and last year’s TV sitcom “Nothing Sacred” on Disney-owned ABC.

“Nothing Sacred” caused a fireball of protest from Catholic groups.

Now comes “Dogma,” the latest Miramax production, in which Disney’s movie studio stepchild apparently outdoes itself.

Monday’s New York Post Page Six reports that “Among [‘Dogma’s’] elements are a trash-talking 13th apostle, the notion that Joseph and Mary had sex, a female descendant of Jesus who works in an abortion clinic, a Skee-ball-obsessed God and an updated Christ who no longer hangs from the cross but instead offers a thumbs-up salute.”

William Donohue, president of the New York-based Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, tells Inside Cover that he tried to contact Disney chief Eisner about “Dogma” last year but got no response.

Now Donohue warns that if the movie is as bad as early reports indicate, he’ll take on “Dogma” the way he did Disney’s “Nothing Sacred.”

“We had a lot of problems with that show and worked successfully to kill it. We got 37 corporate advertisers to withdraw their sponsorship of the program,” Donohue told Inside Cover.

The Catholic League chief explained that he’s trying to be tolerant of Disney’s artistic license — as with the role of one of “Dogma’s” stars, Alanis Morrisette. She plays God.

“We have no objection to God being played by a female,” Donohue told Inside Cover.

“But this is a woman who has come straight from doing a nude music video where the lyrics are about oral sex.” The Catholic rights spokesman added, “And Miramax has some of the apostles doubling as drug dealers.”

“There’s obviously an agenda at work here,” says Donohue.

We wonder what they might have protested about if Emma Thompson took the role? The fact that she was British? Absurd!Oh, but that’s not even the end of today’s free publicity…The Catholic League ITSELF printed a story today on the subject.Read CAREFULLY, there are some MINOR DOGMA SPOILERS in the text:

DISNEY/MIRAMAX POISED TO ANGER CATHOLICS AGAIN

In today’s New York Post, there is an article on the upcoming movie, “Dogma,” that says the film’s distributor, Miramax, and its parent company, Disney, are “wringing their hands” over the fate of this Kevin Smith-produced film. Their wariness is a reflection of the expected response that the movie will receive from the Catholic League. In 1995, the Catholic League was the first organization in the nation to call for a boycott of Disney; this was a result of the Miramax-distributed movie, “Priest.”

According to Premiere magazine, Miramax is so worried that it is even considering selling “Dogma” to another distributor. The movie stars Ben Affleck and Matt Damon and other Hollywood stars. The plot is an irreverent look at Catholicism, one that maintains that Mary and Joseph had sexual relations; Mary gives birth to a daughter who works in an abortion clinic. God (played by Alanis Morissette) and the apostles (a foul-mouthed 13th is introduced) are also subjected to director Smith’s brand of humor.

The Catholic League’s position was stated by its president, William Donohue:

“If Michael Eisner is worried how the Catholic League will react, he ought to be. Last July, I wrote to Mr. Eisner requesting a meeting with him over the movie, ‘Dogma.’ I explicitly said, ‘Perhaps it is not too late for something to be done about this.’ He never responded.

“In December, Playboy commented on ‘Dogma’ by saying, ‘If members of the Catholic League don’t picket this one, they’re comatose.’ And in today’s New York Post, we have Independent Film Channel host John Pierson stating, ‘The Catholic League probably will have a problem.’

“If the movie is anything like it is shaping up to be, Mr. Eisner will surely regret not having engaged the Catholic League in dialogue. And if some other producer is dumb enough to pick it up, we’ll deal with them.”

Wow, it’s tiring reading all that stuff, isn’t it? Personally, we sorta think it’d be in better interest of the Catholic Church to be concentrating on feeding the hungry or something, rather than worrying baout movies that they haven’t even SEEN yet (or plan to see at all, probably). Won’t be the first time, won’t be the last time, we suppose. Regardless, we’ll cover all of Dogma’s free publicity (a.k.a. controversy) as it pops up in the press. At least, the stuff that’s not a repeat of what we’ve heard before. Stay tuned.