MOVIES - Dec. 28, 1989

Blasphemy Ruling in Britain: The visions of St. Teresa of Avila, a 16th-Century Spanish nun, have run afoul of Britain’s film censors, who have invoked a little-used blasphemy law. The producers of “Visions of Ecstasy,” a 20-minute video about the saint, lost an appeal to the Video Appeals Committee. Producer John Stephenson said his company is considering a further appeal. The video shows Teresa caressing the body of Christ on the cross and in amorous embraces with another woman. The producers say the scenes are clearly depicting Teresa’s imagination. It is the first time in 77 years that the board of censors had rejected a film because of the blasphemy law.