U.S. Bishops Give "Golden Compass" a "Thumbs Up"...

...Is anyone really surprised?

For weeks, controversy has surrounded this film as noted here:

“THE GOLDEN COMPASS” SPARKS PROTEST October 9, 2007

PHILIP PULLMAN’S DECEIT IS APPALLING November 2, 2007

SCHOLASTIC PRESSED ON “THE GOLDEN COMPASS”; NO MORE VENTURES WITH PULLMAN SOUGHT November 13, 2007

“THE GOLDEN COMPASS” PLEASES NO ONE November 20, 2007

“GOLDEN COMPASS” SPIN DOCTORS November 26, 2007

The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification for this film is A-II -- adults and adolescents. Harry Forbes' glowing yet misinformed review can be read here.

Thankfully though, AmericanPapist has been diligently covering the matter, also:

You’ve probably heard about the controversy surrounding New Line Cinema’s upcoming movie The Golden Compass and the claims that the book it is based on by Philip Pullman is anti-Catholic.

Today the USCCB Office for Film and Broadcasting released a very favorable review of the movie, discounting the many criticisms and calls for boycotts it has received.

I have commented on the USCCB’s review, and proposed what I think is a compelling argument for why Catholics and other Christians should prudently consider avoiding it.

This movie deserves to be avoided as do the USCCB movie reviews (Brokeback Mountain, anyone?)...

Fauithful Catholics would do well to review the Catholic League articles as well as the commentary by Tom Peters at AmericanPapist before funding and rewarding Pullman and his "Golden Compass"...