Bishop Takes Legal Action Against Company That Shot Porn Flick in His Church

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TILBURG, Netherlands (ChurchMilitant.com) - The diocese of 's-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands will be pressing charges against an adult film company that shot a porn flick in one of its churches. The diocese made the announcement Thursday, after Bp. Gerard de Korte, head of the diocese, met privately with a lawyer, auxiliary bishop and vicar general that morning. The announcement comes only days after the pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Tilburg was made aware of the scandal.

A confessional inside St. Joseph's served as the scene of the adult film produced by Paul Visser, a contractor with a production company owned by Dutch porn star Kim Holland. When the film was made public, Holland's company received an onslaught of angry emails, prompting her to apologize.

"For Peter [Visser], as a non-believer, the church was a very ordinary place," Holland explained in response to the backlash. "He completely underestimated the reaction from commenters. He knows he should not have done it."

Father Jan van Noorwegen, pastor of St. Joseph's, expressed shock on discovery of the film shot in his parish. "That's not the right place," he insisted.

The film was reportedly shot about a month ago, although according to the pastor, "No one saw anything" at the time.

It remains unclear how the actors gained entry into the church. "I do not know how they got in," he remarked. "The gate is only open a few hours a day."

Holland confirmed that the film has since been removed from her site. "We regret it very much," she said.

A spokesman for the diocese said Thursday that "a line has been crossed," and the sex acts in the confessional constitute desecration. It's not yet clear what charges they will pursue against Holland's production company.

Sunday, a Mass of reparation was offered in the church, which will be sprinkled with holy water and reconsecrated.

It's not the first time Holland's company has caused controversy; in October, Visser shot a porn film in Walibi Amusement Park. The film received so much backlash Holland took it down from her site.

"We are considering whether we can take legal action,'' said a spokesman for the theme park on January 3.

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