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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Vicar supports Life of Brian ban | Vicar supports Life of Brian ban |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A mayor's hopes of ending her town's ban on the 1979 Monty Python film Life of Brian are being opposed by the local vicar, who says it pokes fun at Jesus. | A mayor's hopes of ending her town's ban on the 1979 Monty Python film Life of Brian are being opposed by the local vicar, who says it pokes fun at Jesus. |
| Sue Jones-Davies, who played Brian's girlfriend in the movie, was amazed when she became mayor of Aberystwyth that it was still barred from cinemas. | Sue Jones-Davies, who played Brian's girlfriend in the movie, was amazed when she became mayor of Aberystwyth that it was still barred from cinemas. |
| But the Reverend Stuart Bell said Christians he spoke to in Ceredigion were still against it being shown. | But the Reverend Stuart Bell said Christians he spoke to in Ceredigion were still against it being shown. |
| The mayor declined to respond, but will still press for the ban to be lifted. | The mayor declined to respond, but will still press for the ban to be lifted. |
| Long before she donned her mayoral robes in Aberystwyth, Ms Jones-Davies played Brian's girlfriend in the cult movie. | Long before she donned her mayoral robes in Aberystwyth, Ms Jones-Davies played Brian's girlfriend in the cult movie. |
| However, when it was released, critics accused the Python team of blasphemy with its story about a Jewish man who was mistaken for the messiah and then crucified. | However, when it was released, critics accused the Python team of blasphemy with its story about a Jewish man who was mistaken for the messiah and then crucified. |
| If someone was going to make fun of my wife in a film then I would oppose that... making fun of Jesus Christ, whom I love more than my wife, in a film is going to offend me Reverend Stuart Bell | If someone was going to make fun of my wife in a film then I would oppose that... making fun of Jesus Christ, whom I love more than my wife, in a film is going to offend me Reverend Stuart Bell |
| Some religious groups picketed cinemas which screened the film, and it was banned from being shown in some towns and cities, including Aberystwyth. | Some religious groups picketed cinemas which screened the film, and it was banned from being shown in some towns and cities, including Aberystwyth. |
| Nearly 30 years on, Mr Bell, vicar of the town's St Michael's Church, said the restriction should remain in place. | Nearly 30 years on, Mr Bell, vicar of the town's St Michael's Church, said the restriction should remain in place. |
| "There's been no change in attitude or response to the film amongst the Christians who have spoken to me in Aberystwyth," he explained. | "There's been no change in attitude or response to the film amongst the Christians who have spoken to me in Aberystwyth," he explained. |
| "The film at its root is poking fun at Christ and we don't want that to happen. I don't think that the film should be shown. Why should the ban be removed?" | "The film at its root is poking fun at Christ and we don't want that to happen. I don't think that the film should be shown. Why should the ban be removed?" |
| Asked if he had ever seen the film, Mr Bell said he had "seen a small clip, that's all". | Asked if he had ever seen the film, Mr Bell said he had "seen a small clip, that's all". |
| He said: "If someone was going to make fun of my wife in a film then I would oppose that. | He said: "If someone was going to make fun of my wife in a film then I would oppose that. |
| Sue Jones-Davies has switched acting roles for mayoral robes "Making fun of Jesus Christ, whom I love more than my wife, in a film is going to offend me." | |
| Earlier this month, Ms Jones-Davies said: "I would like to think that any religion would have the generosity to see the film for what it is, which is a comedy." | Earlier this month, Ms Jones-Davies said: "I would like to think that any religion would have the generosity to see the film for what it is, which is a comedy." |
| The movie has grown in popularity over the years, and usually appears at or near the top of lists of the greatest comedy films. | The movie has grown in popularity over the years, and usually appears at or near the top of lists of the greatest comedy films. |
| It featured some iconic lines, most famously the verdict by Brian's mother on her son: "He's not the messiah - he's a very naughty boy". | It featured some iconic lines, most famously the verdict by Brian's mother on her son: "He's not the messiah - he's a very naughty boy". |
| Ms Jones-Davies played a revolutionary called Judith Iscariot, and she had a nude scene with the film's hero, Brian, played by the late Graham Chapman. | Ms Jones-Davies played a revolutionary called Judith Iscariot, and she had a nude scene with the film's hero, Brian, played by the late Graham Chapman. |
| It is understood a committee of church leaders in Aberystwyth recommended a ban in 1979. | It is understood a committee of church leaders in Aberystwyth recommended a ban in 1979. |
| Ceredigion council has the power to lift it, but a spokesman said earlier this month that no-one in the licensing department knew about the ban. | Ceredigion council has the power to lift it, but a spokesman said earlier this month that no-one in the licensing department knew about the ban. |
| But Michael Davies, the owner of Aberystwyth's Commodore Cinema, said he was sure it was still in place. | But Michael Davies, the owner of Aberystwyth's Commodore Cinema, said he was sure it was still in place. |