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Email: "‘For Greater Glory’: Film about Mexican fight for religious freedom opens in U.S. theatres June 1"

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Numerous commentators have drawn parallels between the Mexican fight and the current fight for religious freedom in the U.S. against the Obama admin's birth control mandate. BY Thaddeus Baklinski May 30, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A movie described by its lead actor as the epic story of the fight for religious freedom in Mexico is set to open in theatres across the US this Friday, June 1. Already the film is earning enthusiastic accolades from religious leaders, who say that the film couples Hollywood-quality production and acting with a powerful story of faith and freedom that is surprisingly relevant. Starring Andy Garcia, and co-starring Peter O’Toole and Eva Longoria, “For Greater Glory” is a movie about the true story of the Cristeros, the rebels who fought against Mexican dictator Plutarco Calles who banned religion in the country in the 1920s. At a time when the debate is raging over the Obama administration’s birth control mandate and its threat to religious freedom, numerous commentators have drawn a parallel between the religious oppression of the Mexican dictatorship and the subversion of religious freedom by the U.S. government. Oscar-nominee Andy Garcia told CNSNews recently about the film, “It’s a fight for religious freedom, but really a greater umbrella it sits under is the concept of absolute freedom. There are countries all over the world right now that are still fighting, in the middle of a fight for those rights, and people have been deprived of those rights.” When asked, “if there was a timeliness in the release of For Greater Glory in that Americans today are talking about the same question Mexicans were talking about in the 1920s: Can government order people to act against their faith?” Garcia answered, “There could be a parallel drawn there. Sure.” “There seems to be a coincidence that these things are being discussed and debated right now,” said Garcia. “It wasn’t planned out to be that way when we made the movie, and there are similar issues being discussed even in Mexico today in relationship to the church and the state. So, it’s a coincidence, and it’s important, too, I think, to recognize that if you don’t agree with something you have the right, you must, we must, have the right to protest.” The movie portrays the Cristero War, also know as the Cristiada, of 1926 to 1929, which was an uprising and counter-revolution set off by the bloody persecution of Roman Catholics due to the strict enforcement of anti-religious provisions in the Mexican Constitution. The film has been acclaimed by religious leaders and pro-family groups who are urging all those concerned about the future of religious liberty to support the movie by going to see it and encouraging others to do so. Brian S. Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, called the film “transformational.” “All I can say is that the movie is must see for anyone concerned about the future of religious liberty. It is an epic true story about religious persecution which is as culturally relevant today as when the oppression occurred in 1920’s Mexico,” Brown said in an email to LifeSiteNews. “I encourage you to see it, absorb it and talk about it. Get your fellow church members out to see it. This film has the potential to light a fire under those who have been sitting on the sidelines in the fight to protect religious liberty.” “To describe this film as stirring or powerful would do it a disservice,” said Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, Archbishop of Philadelphia, in a news release from the Maximus Group. “For Greater Glory is much more than an exercise in piety; it’s an extraordinary portrait of ordinary people struggling to defend their convictions. It’s among the most absorbing films by any director or movie studio that I’ve seen in the past few years.” “As a nation established on the principal of freedom for all people, For Greater Glory reminds us of the important values that we as Americans and Catholics share and must be willing to protect,” said Cardinal Seán O’Malley of Boston. “This film helps us to understand the history surrounding the Cristero War and its importance in the Mexican Catholics’ efforts to fight for religious freedom and tolerance. Those values are as relevant today as they were almost one hundred years ago.” “It is not often that a film opens a window into the past that casts so much light on the present,” said Most Rev. Thomas J. Olmstead, Bishop of Phoenix, Ariz. “For Greater Glory depicts a courageous struggle for religious freedom that was inspired by love of Christ and love of country. The Cristeros of Mexico have much to teach us today.” For Greater Glory opens in theatres Friday, June 1. To watch the trailer and find out more about the film and where it is playing in your area, click here. www.forgreaterglory.com http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/for-greater-glory-film-about-mexican-fight-for-religious-freedom-opens-in-u/

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