Scene in Dolphy flick incurs wrath of bishops

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday appealed to the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to delete a scene from the movie “Fr. Jejemon” starring Comedy King Dolphy that may offend Filipino Catholics.

Last night, Dolphy told The STAR in a text message that he was having the two offending scenes removed from the movie.

CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Social Commission and Mass Media (ECSCMM) executive secretary Fr. Francis Lucas admitted that he has not yet seen the movie of Comedy King Dolphy but that he has been receiving several negative comments about it.

“Fr. Jejemon” is one of eight entries in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival and in one of the scenes Dolphy, who plays the lead role, was giving communion when the host slipped and landed in the cleavage of a female churchgoer who was wearing a printed blouse with a low cut neckline.

The other scene involved the host getting stuck in the dentures of a senior citizen.

Some conservative Catholics have reportedly expressed their indignation with the scene and are calling for a boycott of the movie.

“I think the MTRCB should remove this portion because these kinds of scenes are disrespectful to human beliefs. If they do not remove that scene, we might be forced to boycott the film, don’t watch it,” Fr. Lucas said.

He also described the scene as “blatant disrespect” to the people’s religious beliefs.

He added that those behind the movie should not take the Communion host lightly since “it is the body and blood of Christ. It is the center of Christianity and they should not play around with it.”

 “I think religion should be respected and (they should consider) the sensibility of people, things we hold sacred,” he added. 

“Fr. Jejemon” would reportedly be the 82-year-old Dolphy’s last movie because of his ill health. He was recently reported to be suffering from severe pneumonia that required hospitalization.