Raleigh diocese warns of 'Golden Compass'

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh has issued a letter warning parish pastors about the subversive, atheistic themes in the new movie "The Golden Compass" and the book by the same name.

In doing so, the diocese, which spans the eastern half of North Carolina, is the latest to join a chorus of evangelical Christian and pro-family groups who have railed against the fantasy film, which opened Friday in theaters in the Triangle.

In his letter to pastors, Michael J. Fedewa, who oversees education for the diocese, said the movie and the books are anti-Catholic and promote atheism.

"The concern is that once a child gets 'hooked' on the film or the books, then the next film could resort to the true atheistic nature of the books," he wrote.

Another group, Called2Action, a Wake County evangelical coalition of churches, has condemned the movie on its Web site, www.called2action.org, and sounded an alarm: "If the Unibomber sent you a package would you open it?"

The movie, starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, is based on the first in a trilogy of books for young adults by British writer Philip Pullman. The first book was published in 1995. The books track a girl who sets out on an adventurous quest that lands her in conflict with a sinister group called The Magisterium. Adult Catholics might infer that The Magisterium is a reference to the teaching authority of the Catholic Church, but the movie version avoids all reference to church or God, and it is not clear whether children would make the connection.

That is one reason the movie has not been more widely condemned.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which reviews movies on its Web site www.usccb.org/movies, gave "The Golden Compass" a thumbs up.

"Taken purely on its own cinematic terms, [the] movie can be viewed as an exciting adventure story with a traditional struggle between good and evil and a generalized rejection of authoritarianism," it wrote.

Even Fedewa acknowledged that the movie may be harmless.

"It's not the movie itself we're concerned about," Fedewa said. "It's the trilogy with its anti-Catholic tenor."

Later books in the trilogy attack the Catholic Church and even encourage the "assassination" of God. Some religious groups worry that box-office success of "The Golden Compass" might result in blockbuster sequels such as the hugely popular "Harry Potter" and "Lord of the Rings" series.

David Broadway, 21, of Durham, who recently reread the Pullman trilogy, said he recognized the critique of the Catholic Church in the books. But, he said he was wasn't persuaded to believe that Christianity was evil.

"I don't think it's a recruiting tract for atheism," said Broadway, who attends Durham Technical Community College and grew up attending a Baptist church. "It's a fantasy novel. It has magic shifting animals."

For movie theater owners, of course, the controversy is welcome. "Every time I hear something like this," said Bill Peebles who owns four Raleigh theaters, "I say it's good for business."