GRADE: “MIN” (Minimally Redeeming)

CAVEATS: Heavy profanity (expletives and vulgarities) and sexual innuendo, brief nudity, occasional drug use, and highly controversial subject matter.

SYNOPSIS: Faithless woman chosen by God to stop two fallen angels’ scheme to destroy existence.

One upon a time, movie directors had ideas and were not afraid to share those ideas. That is, after all is said and done, the joy of movies: Ideas. (And, that’s one of the themes of “Dogma.”) Director Kevin Smith, who is born, raised, and practicing Catholic is one such director who explores legitimate issues of faith in a movie specifically targeted to adults. There is certainly a substantial amount of profanity and objectionable content in this film, but it is hardly a blasphemous attack on Catholicism. God forbid Catholic Christians should be allowed to explore their faith without being persecuted for it. This is one Catholic who understands and appreciates what the film has to say but not necessarily the manner in which it says it.

In an effort to revitalize the Church and improve its public image, a fictitious Cardinal Glick (GEORGE CARLIN) unveils a “Catholicism…Wow!” campaign. Before a large crowd of news reporters, Cardinal Glick officially retires the crucifix because he feels it is too depressing and unveils the Buddy Christ – a smiling, thumbs-up Jesus. The mission of this campaign is to get Catholics more active in the liturgy. Speaking as a Catholic who attends church, I was not offended with the scenes of mass that characterized its parishoners as doing anything and everything in the pews but listening to the priest. It happens every Sunday in churches around the country. One gentleman was listening to a walkman and in another pew, three children were fighting. And, it’s not disrespectful to point out what “Dogma” is trying to say. Unlike their Protestant and Evangelical counterparts, there are many Catholic Christians who really do not participate in the liturgy. (There’s even a book published by Catholic Answers about this very subject, James Akin’s “Mass Confusion: The Do’s and Don’ts of Catholic Worship,” which I would recommend to anyone who sees this film.)

Two fallen angels, Loki (MATT DAMON) and Bartleby (BEN AFFLECK) are banished from heaven to Wisconsin. However, they learn that Cardinal Glick’s campaign to revitalize the Church includes a “plenary indulgence” – freedom from sin and entrance to Heaven – for all who pass through the gates of a particular church in New Jersey. And, so that becomes their mission in “Dogma.” Finding a loophole in Catholic dogma that would allow them back into the kingdom of Heaven.

It is definitely worth noting for Catholic Christians and non-Catholics alike that there is such a thing as a “plenary indulgence,” but it’s clearly not the loophole that is depicted in this film. For the Church to grant a plenary indulgence, which is different that partial indulgence, Catholic theology requires that a person must be free from attachment to sin and furthermore, that person must fulfill the conditions of sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the Pope’s intention. Obviously, Loki and Bartleby are not fulfilling any of these conditions. On the contrary, these fallen angels are very attached to, not detached from, sin. Loki, especially, spots sinners for fun. (There’s a scene where he asks an adulterer, “Are you married?” The guy flashes his wedding ring. Loki taps him on the shoulder and clarifies, “To her?”)

Much of the controversy surrounding “Dogma” centers on Bethany (LINDA FIORENTINO), a woman who has seemingly lost her faith in God and faith in Church. Although she works at an abortion clinic and “pro-life” sentiment is satirized, Bethany still prays to God before she goes to sleep at night and she still attends mass each Sunday. Oddly enough, nobody – not even the Catholic League – has said a word about Bethany’s co-worker, a Jewish woman (JANEANE GAROFALO) who expresses jaded sentiment about both Catholic and Jewish faith. Let me repeat that: Janeane Garofalo’s character will be the make-or-break factor for most Catholic viewers.

Bethany is called upon by a divine messenger to stop Loki and Bartleby before they get to New Jeresy. At first, she enlists the help of two prophets in the form of Jay (JASON MEWES), a filthy-mouthed druggie who’s preoccupied with sex, and his buddy Silent Bob (KEVIN SMITH), a chain-smoking man of few words. Along the way, however, the utterly fictitious 13th apostle Rufus (CHRIS ROCK) and celestial showgirl Serendipity (SALMA HAYEK) join them. Much of this group’s, um, crusade in “Dogma” consists entirely of remedial Religious Studies 101 dialogue about how the Bible was transcribed by white men who excluded women and blacks from subsequent translations. And, furthermore, there are a few lines by Serendipity about how the Church hierarchy got carried away with “this denominational” thing. Needless to say, the screenplay is not exactly the most insightful.

A final word about “Dogma.” Adult Christians, particularly young adults, struggle with faith and there is nothing sinful about questioning faith. There is nothing sinful about examining faith. There is nothing sinful about seeing “Dogma” provided the viewing of the film is for enrichment of, and not corruption of, faith. Individual faith, however, is not possible without a Church to foster it and nurture it. Individual faith is not possible without a well-formed conscience. That’s one itty-bitty detail “Dogma” neglects to cover.

Bottom line: Incomplete, Generation X catechism loaded with four-letter words.

(BN)

What Other Christians Say About "Dogma":

The USCC gave "Dogma" an "O" (Morally Offensive) for anti-Catholic sentiment, profanity, and sexual innuendo. (The film's occasional drug use was not cited by the USCC.)

Anyone who is thinks seriously about man's relationship to God or believes that religion is worth caring about should see this film. Those who object to the film because they think it is "anti-Catholic" are just plain wrong. "Dogma" is funny, scatalogical, profane, profound, violent, but never blasphemous. You leave the theatre questioning your personal relationship with God and the meaning of faith in your live. When's the last time you left church in a similar frame of mind? --Daniel Dupill

I don't understand why some Americans are willing to say that Disney has nothing to do with blasphemous film Dogma. They produced it and therefore are the authors of a grave offense against the Catholic Church. Once they sensed it would produce protest, Disney handed the rights over to another party. Thus acting in similar fashion to that of Pilate when he washed his hands after passing sentence against Our Lord. Disney is responsable for destroying the innocence of many youth and perverting real family life by their productions, period. If Catholics don't stand up for their Faith, Disney will continue attacking our religion. They have been processively getting worse and worse promoting ways of life contrary to Catholic doctrine and natural law. -- John Ritchie

I think that you have no right whatsoever to protest the release of a movie in the united states, this country is the land of the free, so therefore any movie should be released, dogma is probably not going to contain too much, sex/violence/language because if it did, then the MPAA would slap an NC-17 on it. -- Tahir Mirza