Well, that was a quick turn over.
The saga of the Gay Jesus film continues. What was originally intended to be a humorous, though daring, holiday special, has become the topic of massive pushback and controversy. The production company of The First Temptation of Christ even found their office become the target of bombing on Christmas Eve.
Then yesterday, we reported to you that a Rio de Janeiro judge ruled to have the film taken off Netflix. Benedicto Abicair made this decision after hearing wind of a petition by a British Catholic organization claiming to fight for the “honor of millions of Catholics.” After announcing the ban rule, Abicair said it was “beneficial not only to the Christian community but to Brazilian society which is mostly Christian.” But quickly after, it seems another judge, and one with higher status, disagreed.
Supreme Court President José Antonio Dias Toffoli ruled on Thursday to appeal Abicair’s decision.
“It is not to be assumed that a humorous satire has the magic power to undermine the values of the Christian faith, whose existence goes back more than two thousand years,” Dias Toffoli wrote after the announcement.
The Supreme Court made this decision after Netflix quickly fought the Abicair ruling. As the Associated Press wrote:
“In its complaint filed to the Supreme Court, Netflix’s lawyers argued that the judge’s decision amounts to censorship and has an impact “equivalent to that of the bomb used in the terrorist attack against the headquarters” of the comedy group. “It silences by means of fear and intimidation.”
Despite successfully blocking censorship, damage has already been done. Namely, Abicair’s ruling has started yet another wave of harsh criticism and anti-gay rhetoric around the movie. When will it end?
Source: The Associated Press
