Vatican praise for Jesus Christ Superstar

Vatican Radio, disagreeing with some conservative Catholic critics, has praised Jesus Christ Superstar as a film of "high artistic level,The American rock musical, which recently opened in Rome, was challenged by a group of Catholic conservatives who said it contains blasphemy and offences against the divinity of Christ.
The protests included the celebration of a Mass of reparation, distribution of leaflets and posting of handbills denouncing the film and a brief uproar in the Rome opera house when the protesters, who described themselves as "apostolic Roman Catholics," booed the show and let loose about 20 white mice among the audience.
A Vatican Radio commentator said that in recent years religious themes have been given new treatments that have left the impression of irreverence, particularly when it involves the "sacred figure of Christ."
Vatican Radio said the film echoes "the questions which men and ideologies continue to ask about Jesus. ' While the film does not answer the questions, said the commentator, it invites us to "contemplate with love" this mysterious and fascinating Jesus who excites enthusiasms and rejections, love and hatred."