British Religions Groups Call For Boycott Of... (Press, 15 August 1988)

On 15 August 1988, various British religious groups, including the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales and the Salvation Army, called for a boycott of the film "The Last Temptation of Christ," which had sparked significant controversy in the United States. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film premiered in the U.S. on 12 August 1988, generating packed theatres and increased attention due to the outrage expressed by conservative religious factions. Key features of the film that have raised concerns include a dream sequence featuring Jesus, portrayed by Willem Dafoe, engaging in an intimate relationship with Mary Magdalene. Notably, David Bowie also appears in the film as Pontius Pilate. Following the uproar, the film is set to open in Britain on 9 September 1988—earlier than originally planned—capitalising on the international controversy. As the British Board of Film Classification prepares to evaluate the film's suitability for release, discussions about its potential blasphemy have surfaced. The board’s secretary is contemplating seeking legal advice on the matter. Scorsese, a Catholic himself, asserts that the movie is an adaptation of a 1955 novel by Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis rather than a retelling of Biblical texts. Moreover, pressure is mounting on government officials to consider applying a rarely-used blasphemy law to prevent the film's release. Mary Whitehouse, president of the National Viewers and Listeners Association, is contemplating invoking similar legal measures as she had successfully done in a case against the magazine "Gay News" in 1977, which resulted in the only successful blasphemy prosecution in 55 years. Conservative MP Nicholas Bennett has urged Attorney-General Sir Patrick Mayhew to assess whether screenings of the film could potentially breach the peace and warrant criminal prosecution. Bennett posited that had the film depicted the life of Mohammed or any other religious figure, it might have led to legal repercussions under the Race Relations Act. In summary, the impending release of "The Last Temptation of Christ" in the UK has ignited widespread calls for a boycott from religious groups, significant legal discussions concerning blasphemy, and highlights the complex intersection of art, faith, and law.

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