Action Alert!

Sacrilege against Mary in the new Padre Pio film

By Thomas Mirus and James Majewski ( bio - articles - email ) | Jun 01, 2023 | In Criteria: The Catholic Film Podcast

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The new film Padre Pio, directed by Abel Ferrara and starring Shia LaBeouf, is ruined by a pornographic and sacrilegious scene involving abuse of a sacred image.

James Majewski and Thomas Mirus contend that conscientious Catholics must not see this movie. They explain the difference between portraying an act and committing that act, and how that line can be obliterated on a film set. They discuss the reality behind holy images, and the importance of making reparation for sacrilege.

Thomas Mirus wrote a summary of the arguments in this podcast for the Dappled Things blog: https://www.dappledthings.org/deep-down-things/about-that-padre-pio-film

First Saturdays devotion to make reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary: https://www.bluearmy.com/first-saturday-devotion/

Criteria is hosted by Thomas V. Mirus and James T. Majewski.

Thomas is Director of Podcasts for CatholicCulture.org and hosts the Catholic Culture Podcast. See full bio.

James is the Director of Customer Relations for CatholicCulture.org as well as the host and narrator for Catholic Culture Audiobooks. See full bio.

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  • Posted by: EiLL - Jun. 06, 2023 2:10 PM ET USA

    Wish I had read/heard this before streaming the film. One priest said this movie was "artistic" with a scene of female nudity. This was not a story of Padre Pio's life but a mish-mash of individual scenes - some just WEIRD, some very disturbing due to the pornography. No need to show these images. This could have been communicated effectively without the X-rated scene, or the perversion toward Our Lady. I recommend Sergio Castellitto in Padre Pio Miracle Man. This was a fine film.

  • Posted by: mary_conces3421 - Jun. 02, 2023 10:13 PM ET USA

    Thank you both for doing the manly thing and sticking up for our Blessed Mother--and also true art.

  • Posted by: margaretinvirginia - Jun. 02, 2023 6:52 PM ET USA

    For those who are unable to give 58 minutes to a podcast, the pertinent information is between minutes 3 and 8. Thank you for informing us about this. I haven't heard of it from any other source.