The murderous rioting of Muslim extremists across the Middle East over a film depicting the prophet Mohammad in an unflattering way provides a true study in contrasts to reaction to another film set to debut in the U.S. early next year which depicts a devout Catholic woman as an eccentric who carries a statue of Mary around with her and uses crucifixes in sex acts.

The Catholic League is reporting that the film, entitled Paradise: Faith, won a special prize at the Venice Film Festival on September 8.

"The movie begins with the woman, Anna Maria, played by Maria Hofstatter, whipping herself topless before a crucifix," explains Catholic League president Bill Donohue.

"A strange gal, she is shown walking around the house on her knees praying. She also likes to go door to door carrying a two-foot high statue of the Virgin Mary; this is her way of getting new converts. She earns our empathy when we learn she is stuck in a lousy marriage with a Muslim in a wheelchair (he has no legs)."

He continued: "Hofstatter, like the director, Ulrich Seidl, was raised Catholic. True to form, she admits that 'as a youngster I rebelled against the authority of the Catholic Church' (authority problems are not uncommon with her ilk). Yet she says she has 'profoundly Christian values,' the kind which, evidently, allow her to masturbate with a crucifix."

Of course, films and other "artistic" expressions of blasphemy aimed at Christianity are nothing new. "One of the hallmarks of cultural charlatans is the propensity to insult Christians, especially Catholics, and then declare their offense creative," Donohue said.

The film, which is part of a series, is being planned for an early 2013 release in the U.S.

© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace®  http://www.womenofgrace.com