Blogging Religiously

You have to figure that a Birmingham, Ala., pastor who is interviewed by Sacha Baron Cohen is in big trouble.

In Cohen’s new movie, “Bruno,” the ambushed minister is Jody Trautwein, youth pastor at Point of Grace Ministries in Birmingham.

You’ve probably seen the TV trailers, in which Cohen’s Bruno character, a rather flamboyant fellow in absurd costumes, puts himself in positions where an openly gay (and bizarre) man is likely to be ridiculed.

Apparently, Bruno sits down for a “counseling session” with Trautwein, who explains that Christian faith can help one change their homosexuality.

According to the Birmingham News, Trautwein did not know he had been tricked until he saw commercials for the movie. It’s kind of hard to believe, as you would think that the Bruno character would be quickly dismissed as a goof of some sort.

Trautwein told the News: “He proceeded to ask me many vile, repulsive questions. It obviously turned out to be just deception and perversion, but the message in my heart is actually going to be shared with millions. It’s turning out to be a positive thing. If nothing else, people will hear me sharing Jesus.”

Cohen likes picking on Alabama, it seems. For his “Borat” movie, a dinner party in Borat’s honor—which turns out to be predictably repulsive—is held in Helena, Ala.

Trautwein doesn’t mind being duped.

“I see this turning around and being used for good,” he said. “There are people all over the world who may not go to a church. Somewhere in the middle of this movie they’re going to hear about the name of Christ.”

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