The Blues Brothers

From the "Now-I-Can-Die-Because-I-Have-Seen-It-All" file, the New York Post is reporting the the Roman Catholic Church is recognising The Blues Brothers as a "Catholic Classic." No, really. Somethings you just can't make up.
The Blues Brothers is a great many things: hysterically funny, irreverent, and one of my favorite films. A "Catholic Classic" I'm not sure about. Did they watch the same version of the film that I have on DVD? Is there a Director's Cut that I am unaware of?
First and foremost, The Blues Brothers is a tribute to some of the greatest legends of American R&B music. Just consider the magnitude of the cast: "The Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, "The Godfather of Soul" James Brown, Cab Calloway, and John Lee Hooker (who does not even rate a speaking part!) I doubt that anyone could get so many icons of American music in one film today.
Second, the film is a sometimes over-the-top commentary on racial intolerance. Come on, who doesn't hate Illinois Nazi's? What unites the characters in the film is not the Catholic faith but soul music. Jake and Elwood may look like "Hasidic diamond merchants" (bet Aretha wishes she could have that line back) but there is no question that when it comes to music skin color means nothing. If America is a great melting pot music becomes the common language.
Is there a religious element to the film. Absolutely! If R&B is not from God then I don't know what is. Yet, it is James Brown, who plays the Baptist minister, who helps Jake see the light, not the Catholic Nun. Are Jake and Elwood on a mission from God? You bet! Saving the orphanage is just a plot device. The real mission of the movie is saving R&B from being foreclosed on by disco. And yes, Jake and Elwood complete this mission as well.
If our Catholic brothers and sisters want to claim The Blues Brothers as their own go for it. I am content to enjoy it for what it is - a great memorial to some of the best music this country has produced and the most talented musicians the world has ever seen. Thanks to Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi my children will get to enjoy some terrific comedy and some unbelievable music. Maybe they will also see the light.