By DPA
Los Angeles : Conservative Christians in the US blasted the new children’s adventure movie “The Golden Compass”, saying it could lead children to atheism.
The influential Catholic League called for a boycott of the movie about a girl who battles a mysterious religious organisation, which League president Bill Donahue said Wednesday represents the Catholic Church.
The $180 million movie is based on the first book in the trilogy “His Dark Materials” by author Philip Pullman, who said he is an atheist.
“It is his objective to bash Christianity and promote atheism,” Donahue said in a statement. “Christians should stay away from this movie. This teaches atheism to kids.”
The Catholic League said watching the movie would cause children to read the books, in which the anti-Christian themes were more pronounced.
“The three novels are extremely anti-faith in general, anti-Christian and anti-Catholic in particular, and pro-atheism,” said Kiera McCaffrey, director of communications for the Catholic League.
“In each successive book, the anti-God agenda gets progressively stronger.”
Director Chris Weitz said he toned down the religious symbolism from the books in order not to offend.
“I think it’s a shame that people are reacting to a movie they haven’t seen by attacking a book they haven’t understood,” he said.
The movie’s producers also deny there is any anti-Christian content, rolling out the film’s stars in a last minute public relations blitz.
“I don’t see it as that, but it’s always laid out for interpretation,” Nicole Kidman, who plays a steely villain, told CBS News. “But I would be surprised if people actually saw the film and felt that.”
Actor Daniel Craig said the incident was overblown. “I think the Catholic Church will survive,” Craig said. “It’s survived much worse things than this.”
The movie had its premiere in London on Tuesday night and is due to roll out in cinemas globally next week.