One Temptation of the Rev. R.L. Hymers

You’ve probably read/seen/heard enough already about the furor over “The Last Temptation of Christ.” Here’s another item about news that might have been:

It started with the Rev. R.L. Hymers Jr.--easily the most demonstrative of the protesting fundamentalists.

Hymers, pastor of the Fundamentalist Baptist Tabernacle of L.A., put in calls to reporters and editors at the National Enquirer headquarters in Lantana, Fla., and offered the tab an “exclusive.” That is, if the paper would cover it, with cameras and all, he’d accost Lew Wasserman while the MCA studio chief was breakfasting at his favorite Sunday morning noshery!

The Enquirer nixed the idea. As Senior Editor Paul Levy put it: “It’s not the kind of thing we do. It’s irresponsible. We’re not out to embarrass anyone in public.

“And basically, what the good reverend wanted to set up was an ambush--to embarrass the hell out of the man whose studio made the movie.”

Asked about the scheme, Hymers was upfront: “You’re right--I was going to confront Lew Wasserman. I still might!”

The scenario: “I was going to go into (the restaurant) and tell him, to his face, that the film is blasphemy--and that it represents a cheap shot at Christians the world over. I was going to point my finger at him and bawl him out.

“I thought that it would be very interesting: A Baptist preacher in a black suit, with a Bible tucked under his arm, reaming Lew Wasserman.

“I wanted the Enquirer to take exclusive photos. I think it would have made quite a picture.”

Hymers stressed that his attack would have been strictly verbal. One Enquirer reporter thought Hymers planned to throw a cream pie in the MCA face; Hymers denied it but said, “It’s not a bad idea.”

Hymers stressed that he’d like to (again) apologize to the Jewish community for what were perceived as anti-Semitic allegations during his protests: “I never, ever intended for the anti-Semitism to arise. I’m so sorry it came out that way.”

In fact, Hymers added, if the Enquirer had gone for his idea, and had offered to pay for the pictures, he would have donated the money to a Jewish organization, “possibly B’nai B’rith or the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles.”