The German city of Bochum has begun legal proceedings against a secular group for screening Monty Python’s Life of Brian on Good Friday this year. The group, Free From Religion in the Ruhr, showed the film at a local community centre on the evening of Good Friday, one of the holiest days in the Christian calender. The film depicts life of a man called Brian, which some may find similar to that of a certain man called Jesus. Apparently the film is on the list of films that would be “inappropriate” to show on Good Friday, in the Western state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The founder of Free From Religion in the Ruhr, Joerg Schnueckel said that the decision to screen the film was made to showcase "outmoded clerical rules in German laws." "The law blatantly violates the constitutional rights of freedom of belief and opinion" he added, "it is high time to abolish it," The group is now facing fines of up to €1,000 (£860). Spokeswoman for the City of Bochum, Barbara Gottschlich, defended the decision saying "We have to react in this way in order to comply with rules which we did not lay down ourselves."
The Public Holidays Act in North Rhine-Westphalia has for years banned certain films, as well as lectures and theatrical and musical performances from being shown during "the main worship hours" of Good Friday, while in other parts of Germany there are similar laws banning dancing.
