Bishops condemn “Fifty Shades of Grey”

From Christianity Today: 

It may have made its way through film censors across the globe despite its strong sexual content but religious leaders are not staying quiet about their opposition to the screening of “Fifty Shades of Grey'”s film adaptation.

Bishop Richard Malone of Buffalo, New York, has written a letter to his fellow members of the clergy and sounded off about the film’s portrayal of a young woman subjecting herself to abuse and degradation in a sexual relationship.

“This is an opportunity for us to remind the faithful of the beauty of the Church’s teaching on the gift of sexual intimacy in marriage, the great dignity of women, and the moral reprehensibility of all domestic violence and sexual exploitation,” he said, adding that the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, which he leads, is working to come up with a statement on pornography.

In his own letter to his pastors, Cincinnati Archbishop Dennis Schnurr called the film a direct assault on Christian marriage, adding that there is a need to inform the people about the destructive message of the film.

The prelate said that the film was masquerading as a romantic movie, but was in fact promoting bondage, dominance, and sadomasochism (BDSM).

The Religious Alliance Against Pornography (RAAP) has also criticised the film, saying: “The contrast between the message of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ and God’s design for self-giving and self-sacrificing love, marriage and sexual intimacy could not be greater.”

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You can read the full text of the bishops’ letter here.