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Clergy Describes Paramount's Abandoning Promise to Protesting Hindus

In view of Paramount Pictures reportedly breaking its promise to protesting Hindus regarding pre-screening of upcoming Hollywood movie 'The Love Guru', clergy belonging to different religions and denominations has strongly come out in support of "Hindu brothers" and criticized Paramount.

Here is the text of the signed appeal, titled "Clergy's appeal to Paramount Pictures":

"We have learnt that Paramount Pictures promised to screen the upcoming film 'The Love Guru' for Rajan Zed and other Hindu leaders once they had a finished print. We have also learnt that Paramount Pictures has now reportedly gone back on their promise and has not made any efforts to pre-screen the film for them before the public release, which is scheduled on June 20, 2008."

"We were dismayed by learning this as Paramount Pictures and its parent company Viacom are leading global entertainment content companies and have a high reputation and credibility and are held in high esteem all over the world."

"Going back on promise is un-Christian, un-Hindu, un-Buddhist, un-Jewish, etc., besides being unethical."

"We urge Paramount Pictures to immediately make arrangements to organize advance screening of 'The Love Guru' movie for Rajan Zed and other Hindu leaders and be positively responsive to the concerns of Hindu brothers regarding the content of the movie, who we hear are perturbed all over the world."

The signatories include: Right Reverend Gene Savoy Jr., Bishop of International Community of Christ and President of Nevada Clergy Association; Father Charles T. Durante, Roman Catholic Priest; Reverend Alan Dorway, Presbyterian leader; Rabbi Jonathan B. Freirich and Rabbi Elizabeth Beyer, both Jewish leaders; Swami Pooja Saraswati, Hindu/spiritual leader; Reverend Bill Bartlett, Buddhist leader.

It may be recalled here that advance screenings of Mel Gibson's 2004 movie 'The Passion of the Christ' were held for clergy and others.

Paramount Pictures, through its Senior Vice President National Publicity, Jessica Rovins, has stated in March, "It is our full intention to screen the film for Rajan Zed and other Hindu leaders in the U.S. once we have a finished print."

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion followers. Moksha (liberation) is the ultimate goal of Hinduism.

Viacom is a leading global entertainment content company and its family of brands includes MTV, Paramount, DreamWorks, etc. Paramount Pictures Corporation, presenter of 'The Love Guru', is a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. 'The Love Guru' is a comedy starring Mike Myers (of Austin Powers fame).