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At the same time, contentious issues like abortion and same-sex marriage aren't going anywhere. If anything, there are signs in the last couple of election cycles as well as other flash points—such as the University of Notre Dame's controversial decision not only to invite President Obama to speak at their 2009 commencement but also to bestow on him an honorary degree in law—that American bishops are moving toward a more outspoken defense of traditional Christian teaching on these matters in the public square.

Taken together, these trends suggest that hostility toward the Church as a standard bearer of traditional morality is likely to rise rather than wane. "The last acceptable prejudice" may be even more "acceptable" in the future than it is today—and, if so, derogatory Hollywood depictions of Catholics and other Christians are likely to become more prevalent rather than the reverse.

In the end, one of the more subtle dangers of pejorative depictions of Catholics and other Christians, particularly for believers, may be making too much of them. Movies like Angels & Demons may perpetuate unfair images of the Catholic Church, but is that really where the most harm is done?

"When The Da Vinci Code comes out, the faithful have their guard up," DiCerto noted. "It's when they lower their guard, when they're just watching some inane sitcom—not when they're doubting Christ's divinity, but when they're doubting the value of chastity—that's the real danger."

Steven D. Greydanus, a regular CT Movies critic, writes weekly for the National Catholic Register and is the founder of Decent Films.

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