Judge Orders Netflix to Remove Film Depicting “Jesus” as a Gay Man

A Netflix film in which Jesus was depicted as a gay man has been ordered to be removed on the internet by a Brazilian judge after a legal battle.

The ruling by Rio de Janeiro judge Benedicto Abicair responded to a petition by a Brazilian Catholic organization that argued the “honor of millions of Catholics” was hurt by the airing of the film titled “The First Temptation of Christ.”

It was produced by the Rio-based film company Porta dos Fundos, whose headquarters was attacked on Christmas Eve after some people threw gasoline bomb on the premises.

Netflix told The Associated Press it would not comment on the ruling.

Porta dos Fundos also declined to comment on the judge’s decision, which contradicted an earlier decision rejecting censorship of the program. The ruling is valid until another court orders otherwise.

Abicair said the program’s withdrawal “is beneficial not only to the Christian community, but to Brazilian society which is mostly Christian.”

“The First Temptation of Christ” depicts Jesus returning home on his 30th birthday and insinuates he is gay. Religious groups bristled at the depiction. Creators of the film have defended it as legitimate freedom of expression.