MEXICO: ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH CONDEMNS THE FILM 'THE CRIME OF FATHER AMARO' BECAUSE IT POKES FUN AT THE CHURCH'S BELIEFS AND DOCTRINE.

Record ID: 393001

  • Title: MEXICO: ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH CONDEMNS THE FILM 'THE CRIME OF FATHER AMARO' BECAUSE IT POKES FUN AT THE CHURCH'S BELIEFS AND DOCTRINE.
  • Date: 14th August 2002
  • Summary: SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICAN CITIZEN JAVIER MENDOZA SAYING: "It's not necessary to hide things, but they should simply be seen as they are and try to confront them with a positive solution." LAS: EXTERIOR OF CHURCH. MV: PRIEST OFFICIATING A MASS. SCU:(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRIEST SAMUEL MACIAS SAYING: "More than looking if the priests are or are not acting badly, we
  • Embargoed: 29th August 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: General,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVACK41YIXF7BP6M4UZI0O4VK8DU
  • Story Text: Mexico's Roman Catholic Church and its faithful followers have lashed out at a soon-to-be-released movie about a priest who betrays his faith and falls in love with a young girl.
    Members of the Roman Catholic have said the controversial movie "El Crimen del Padre Amaro" (The Crime of Father Amaro) poked fun at the church's beliefs and doctrine.
    Based on a 19th century novel by the Portuguese writer Eca de Queiroz, local media have said the film shows Father Amara falling in love with Amelia, a 16-year-old adolescent.
    "More than looking if the priests are or are not acting badly, we are going to look to see what is in society and what the society has to change and try to make each day better,"
    said Father Samuel Macias.
    But movie director Carlos Carrera had mixed feelings.
    "I believe that we should not generalise. I don't believe that all the priests are like they appear in the movie, but evidently they have this type of behaviour and other much more reprehensible," he said.
    The film will make its debut in 300 movie theaters in Mexico on Friday (August 16) and is expected to be a roaring box office success, not least because it stars Mexican heartthrob Gael Garcia Bernal. The young actor shot to fame in the prize-winning "Amores Perros" and "Y Tu Mama Tambien".
    Mexico is the second most populated Catholic country after Brazil, with 90 percent of its 100 million inhabitants professing to be Catholic.
    --
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