That Padre Pio Movie and Abusing Theology of the Body

We can't afford to get this one wrong

I first published on this topic in 2016 in response to Christopher West’s unapologetic public participation in the viewing of the pornographic movie Deadpool. My article was titled, Full Knowledge: Abusing Theology of the Body. I am resurrecting parts of it below as a rebuttal to Catholics who are promoting and defending the new controversial movie about Padre Pio.

Though most Catholics were initially eager to champion a movie about a great saint, it turned out to be a great disappointment; an embarrassment for those who paraded Shia Labeouf’s conversion as a victory for traditionalism only to find that his new “Catholic” movie is politically charged, spiritually bizarre, historically inaccurate, and depicts erotic sacrilege.

Even secular film critics and America Magazine don’t like. Beyond moral objections, it seems to be a generally lousy movie. I haven’t seen it. I won’t be seeing it.

Catholics were not necessarily wrong to be encouraged by Shia’s newfound faith and have hope for reasonably good art, but the creators of this film have manipulated that enthusiasm and caused embarrassment by including unforeseen disturbing content. Classic Hollywood.

Let’s be clear: It’s not a Catholic movie and never was. It’s goal isn’t evangelization. It is secular for-profit cinematic art.

At a time when Catholicism already suffers from the unfortunate association with the weird, dark, and deviant, Shia Labeouf (and his utterly untrustworthy director, Abel Ferrara) has done the Church no favors. He has shared that he’s in RCIA and meeting with Bishop Barron regularly, so perhaps it will be coming shortly — the apology, I mean — along with a heartfelt disavowal of such an unfortunate movie. He wasn’t Catholic when he took the role, and I don’t expect him to share my sensibilities and faith, but neither should he be coddled and led to believe that erotic Marian sacrilege is acceptable in any art form.

I share the sentiment of Sean Fitzpatrick in his recent Crisis article when he concludes:

”… it is hard to hear a man say that he has been moved profoundly in faith by taking on the role of a saint in a rough, slipshod movie that will cause many to sin or suffer further disillusionment about the Catholic Church. Shia LaBeouf may have found Christ in playing Padre Pio, but will Padre Pio bring people to Christ? The answer is, I believe, “No.”

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PURE ENOUGH TO EAT GARBAGE…

I read one Catholic review saying that the movie is only for the ”spiritually mature.” Sure. That’s what all the Catholic men who justify watching Game of Thrones say as well. They admit it’s porn… they’re just so holy that it doesn’t touch them. The rest of us spiritually immature plebeians just don’t get it.

It recalled to my mind the Christopher West/Deadpool scandal, and the dustup at Franciscan University over blasphemous literature (2018). It is the same important topic but especially relevant given the current cultural climate. That is to say, it’s June and we’re sitting smack in the middle of mass confusion over identity, sexuality, and the use and abuse of people in the name of love.

I enter into this discussion knowing the reality that the statistical majority of men are regular porn watchers. That includes Christians. The number of women who view is rising as well. Our nation is collectively enslaved and confused. But the manner in which we are individually complicit in sin should not stop us from acknowledging objective truth. If only for the sake of the children, we must. The truth is that…

As Catholics, we may not participate in the use and abuse of people for entertainment, and we may not participate (even passively with popcorn) in sacrilege.

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A BRIEF NOTE ABOUT THE FUS SCANDAL…

In 2018, an English professor at Franciscan University assigned reading to his upper level students which included blasphemous porn. The University issued an apology, calling the material “directly pornographic and blasphemous,” but the Catholic community was divided over the topic.

What wasn’t clear to many at the time was that some of the professor’s greatest public defenders were dissidents who rejected the Church’s moral teachings. The loud narrative was guided cleverly by those who mock the idea of purity and who knew how to use Catholic language (having been lifelong Catholics) to manipulate sensibilities. But at the time, it was confusing—so many voices!—and people who otherwise know and follow the Church’s teachings were quick to overlook a grave offense in the name of academic freedom.

No doubt some will berate me on this point even years later, but it is an incontrovertible fact (and relevant to the point of this article) that we don’t need to read sacrilegious porn in advanced literature classes to be well educated, and we do not need sacrilegious erotica in a secular movie to understand sin and bring souls to Christ. As John Clark put it in his excellent article on the Padre Pio movie:

“Yes, God brings good out of evil, but we are never permitted to do evil that good may come of it.”

He didn’t make that up. It’s Church teaching.

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”But it actually happened!”

I have heard from a number of traditionally-minded Catholics that the Padre Pio movie is right and good because the demonic temptations experienced by the saint actually happened. They hold that the images with which he struggled should be reenacted on the big screen. My response:

The creators of this movie hired a woman to strip naked and commit an erotic sacrilege for entertainment. We must not participate.

How many times in the miles of text on this topic have you seen concern expressed for the well-being and dignity of the woman playing this role? I haven’t see anyone defending this film express concern for a woman who could be their daughter, sister, mother, bride.

“She chose to do it…”

Well, now you just sound like a faithless creep. She is your daughter. Your mother. Don’t watch. Cover her with a blanket. Stand outside the theatre and tell your friends to take their popcorn and go home.

Moving on…

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Full Knowledge: Abusing Theology of the Body

Following Christopher West's internet treatment of the movie Deadpool, a growing number of his followers (mostly men) seemed to be openly drifting away from the firm teachings of the Church on pornography. The summary is that West publicly acknowledged (and frowned upon) the pornographic content of Deadpool in one post and then posted again about how he went to see the film regardless of that knowledge.

When I read detailed reviews of the movie (the same ones West had access to before viewing), I was sickened. It’s not just “derived from a culture immersed in a pornified view of the body and sexuality.” It IS porn. It's deviant. That's all I wish I knew. Though the Padre Pio movie is not as offensive by degree or quantity of sexual content, one could argue that the sacrilege (however brief), is just as bad or worse. I won’t be describing the details of either in this post. My hope is to convince readers to just stay the heck away.

As one commenter on West’s page said: You don’t need to go into the sewer to know that it’s dirty.

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That pesky theology

I married a moral theologian. Consequently, I am aware of the complexities and nuances of in-depth headache-inducing theological debate. I recognize objectively that the study and practice of theology is necessary and important and even recognized in the Catechism. Good theologians are much needed. I also know that the pursuit of intellectual excellence, without the hedges of obedience or proper formation, will often produce bad fruits in the soul and harm others who rely on that "expertise."

Exhibit A: Catholic higher education.
Exhibit B: Catholic Twitter.

To put it in my non-theological sort of way...

• We don't need to be theologians in order to become saints.

• We don't need to be literate in order to become saints.

• We don't need Christopher West to go see a porn flick and then report back to us in order for us to become saints.

• We don’t need to see a visual reenactment of a saint’s sexual temptations to become saints.

• We can be blown off the path of sanctity by consuming bad theology from pious people with good intentions.

God did not create such a complex system of moral nuances that we cannot become holy without having it filtered through a pop-Catholic professional or the approval of the internet masses. In fact, His design is so beautifully simple and accessible that even children can enter into the kingdom of heaven with no more than their simple, fervent, obedient love.

Obviously, the problem is more with us adults who aren't content with that simple fidelity, and who seek habitually to justify our preferences and desires and restructure the moral universe accordingly.

Can you imagine what words Padre Pio himself would have in response to this movie? Some of you, who have been so quick in the past to boast of the great saint’s harsh words against immodestly, are among those defending full nudity in a movie about his life.

The error that some followers of Christopher West (and perhaps West himself) regularly fall into is the idea that our level of spiritual maturity permits us a greater (God-approved) license to tolerate such horrific displays without falling into sin. One doesn't need to be an intellectual powerhouse to know that simply choosing to sit through such a thing can be a sin in itself. Fortunately, our path to heaven will be by way of faithful and obedient love, not theological prowess. However, we do have theology on our side.

"Purity of heart brings freedom from widespread eroticism and avoids entertainment inclined to voyeurism and illusion." {Catechism of the Catholic Church 2525}

THE BASICS

The Church's definition of pornography can be found HERE {CCC 2354}:

”Pornography consists in removing real or simulated sexual acts from the intimacy of the partners, in order to display them deliberately to third parties.”

The Church’s definition of sacrilege can be found HERE {CCC 2120}:

“Sacrilege consists in profaning or treating unworthily the sacraments and other liturgical actions, as well as persons, things, or places consecrated to God. Sacrilege is a grave sin…”

In order for a sin to be mortal, there are three requirements that must be met:

1. Grave Matter

2. Full Knowledge

3. Deliberate Consent

That's really all we need to know about whether or not to see these movies. If you are reading this post, the question of whether or not you should see that movie is likely easily resolved...

1. Grave Matter? (Yes.)

2. Full Knowledge? (Yes. If you didn’t know before, you do now!)

3. Deliberate Consent? (Did you have a choice whether or not to watch? It will be the rare bird who doesn’t, and God protect all the young children whose parents brought them believing the movie to be wholesome.)

The Church is clear. And our God of mercy and love has gifted us with a simple way to heaven that does not fit with the deliberate consumption of evil. I am not interested at all in some complex defense of hell in the movie theater, even with disclaimers of head-hanging during the raunchiest parts. I deeply resent the watering down of the clear, beautiful, freeing, and marvelously concise gift of sexuality given by the Catholic Church through such witness. 

Do we really want to take the culture back from those who would pervert God’s design and purpose for every body and soul? Then let’s dig in and get it done. If we mean it, then there’s no place for such perversion of what is pure and good in us and in others. We cannot change the culture if we obstinately refuse to change ourselves.

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Quick note to readers who might be angry or confused...

To those whose lives have been positively impacted by Christopher West...
His human errors do not negate the power of God working in your lives. No man is perfect. Nothing in this post (or his actions) can reduce the magnificence of what the Lord has done for you. I am addressing a particular error, not reducing the blessing and gift you have received. I rejoice with you over that blessing.

To those who shared Shia LaBeouf’s quotes on the liturgy and rejoice in his movement toward conversion… this post is not an attack against you. It is right and good to rejoice when any man reaches toward God.

To those who think that Theology of the Body was invented by Christopher West...
It wasn't. The original Theology of the Body was presented by Pope Saint John Paul II through a series of papal audiences. Christopher West's teachings are an interpretation of JPII's work. There are differences, and a reading of both reveals inconsistencies in content and context. If you want to learn more about Theology of the Body, I recommend reading the works of the original author. 

To those of you who think that JPII's Theology of the Body gives permission to view pornography in any form according to the individual conscience...
It doesn't. In fact, you will not even be able to find allowance for nude photography or modern nude paintings, let alone live actors. This article by David Clayton provides some insight: Why JPII's Theology of the Body Says that Nude Figure Drawing is a Bad Thing.

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Wrapping up and outpouring…

As Junes rolls forward with its audacious beauty and inherent gift of hope, the enemies of life also march on like fierce wounded soldiers, heedless of the gentle summer promises and bent only on vengeance. The pride flags wave and the children are caught up in the madness whether they want to be or not. I have multiple Catholic friends who have kids tormented by the lies of self-hatred and belief that their bodies are a curse. This torment of identity seems to be always attached to hatred of oneself. I’ve never been more grieved or angry about the bold demonic agenda against innocence.

A dear friend recently spoke to me about the gift of anger and how it can be a vehicle for healing if we respond properly. Alternately, it can lead us into a cycle of grief and rage that leads to earthly and eternal hell. We agreed that anger processed with a lens of trust and faith in God results in an increase of fervent praise. Closeness to God. Deeper commitment to obedience in Love. Greater peace of mind and body. It is a mystery we both experienced as we struggled through the absurdities of 2020…

And now we battle through this complicated season. The only healthy way forward is to seek intimacy with Christ and allow His goodness to pour out into our lives. We are angry. But the anger must come from the depth of His love which passionately loves the vulnerable… and must flow out in cooperation with the Holy Spirit. WE must change. And allow ourselves to be poured out as a gift of praise.

Culture changes when the use and abuse of people is no longer commonplace. When Christians who can walk past it (or sit silently watching it) are finally roused to anger, to change … and then to a holy, fervent, outpouring of praise.

Blessed be God forever.

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