O Crime Do Padre Amaro 2002 — Exclusive
O Crime do Padre Amaro 2002 Exclusive: Revisiting the Mexican Masterpiece That Censorship Couldn’t Kill
Amaro soon finds himself trapped in his own web of "crimes":
Why It Stung So Deeply: The Mexican Context
- The Vatican’s Wrath: The Catholic Church’s hierarchy in Mexico was apoplectic. The Archbishop of Mexico City, Cardinal Norberto Rivera, publicly condemned the film as “an insult to the faith of millions.” He called for Catholics to boycott it and labeled it “offensive, vulgar, and anti-evangelizing.” The Vatican’s own film office issued a rare rebuke, accusing the film of “grave slander” against the clergy.
- Death Threats & Censorship Attempts: Director Carlos Carrera and producer Alfredo Ripstein received anonymous death threats. Hardline Catholic groups attempted to physically block screenings at major Mexico City cinemas. They gathered signatures to have the film’s distribution license revoked, arguing it violated blasphemy laws.
- The Government’s Tightrope: The Mexican government, officially secular but still deeply tied to Catholic tradition, refused to ban the film, citing freedom of expression. President Vicente Fox’s administration took a cautious “no comment” stance, while conservative members of his own PAN party (Partido Acción Nacional, historically close to the Church) seethed.