Pope Trumps Big Hollywood

The AP’s Ariel David is on the trail of Tom Hanks and Ron Howard who have been banned from filming Angels and Demons, the sequel to the Da Vinci Code, in Rome’s lovely churches because the film “does not conform” to the Church’s views:

Permission was denied in 2007, but the issue surfaced only now that filming is ongoing in Rome, Fibbi said. The Sony-produced film was put on hold during the Writers Guild of America strike that ended in February and is now scheduled for release in May 2009.

Fibbi’s comments first were reported this week by the Italian entertainment magazine “TV Sorrisi e Canzoni.” “It’s a film that treats religious issues in a way that contrasts with common religious sentiment,” Fibbi told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “We would be helping them create a work that might well be beautiful but that does not conform to our views.”

Nice way to stir up some controversy/publicity, though ain’t it? Well, other than the millions of Americans who won’t be seeing it for that reason either.¬† Anyway, I guess that something is sacred after all.