Staff Report

Archbishop of Cincinnati Dennis M. Schnurr has joined with the Religious Alliance Against Pornography in urging pastors of the Archdiocese’s parishes to warn the faithful about the objectionable content of the movie “Fifty Shades of Grey.” In his note to pastors, Archbishop Schnurr said:

Dear Father,

The movie, Fifty Shades of Grey, is scheduled to debut in theaters across America on February 13, 2015.

The story line is presented as a romance; however, the underlying theme is that bondage, dominance, and sadomasochism are normal and pleasurable.

In the story line, a young Miss Steele is urged to sign a contract becoming a sex slave and agreeing to an abusive and degrading relationship. This movie is in direct contrast to the Christian message of God’s design for self-giving and self-sacrificing love, marriage and sexual intimacy.

The movie is a direct assault on Christian marriage and on the moral and spiritual strength of God’s people. We need to inform our people about the destructive message of this movie and to highlight the beauty of God’s design for loving relationships between a husband and a wife in the bond of marriage.

The Alliance spoke out against what it said was the main message of the movie, that “bondage, dominance and sadomasochism are normal and pleasurable.”

The Alliance’s letter  is signed by 29 national religious leaders and was brought to the Archbishop’s attention by local business leader Tony Maas.

The movie opens next week and clergy members are being urged to warn their congregations of the movie’s anti-marriage message and pornographic nature.

Posted Feb. 4, 2015