John Prizer seems unable to make up his mind about what he wants to say about Spider-Man (“Spider-Morals,” May 26-June 1).

He makes a mistake when he compares Spider-Man to both Titanic and Lord of the Rings. To compare it with Titanic is an insult to the many morals that it promotes throughout. And The Lord of the Rings was written by a good Catholic who was a master of fantasy. Who can expect a comic strip written for kids to even attempt to reach the level of one of the greatest epic fantasies ever written?

Far from being a movie with “two hours of consumer fun that leaves no lasting imprint on our consciousness,” Spider-Man continues to provoke me to thought. The words of Peter Parker's Uncle —“With great power comes great responsibility” —frame the moral theme that runs throughout the movie. This line echoes the words of Jesus in Luke 12:48: “To him who is given much, much will be required of him.” Peter must learn how to apply this principle to his own situation.

Peter is also very humble. Despite his new power, he does not exploit it as a means to get to Mary Jane. Rather, his identity remains concealed, and he waits to pursue her when his friend breaks up. His hidden identity for the sake of the common good is more important that his personal interests. He also resists the urge to pride when he is offered power by the Green Goblin and, when the people of New York turn on him and do not appreciate his help, he does nothing to clear it up.

Finally, the end of the movie reaffirms something that the Catholic Church has taught for centuries, something that is under attack in our own times. Peter Parker walks away from Mary Jane, leaving her crying, as the words echo in his head: “With great power comes great responsibility.”

Because of his duty of service to the people, he cannot get caught up in a relationship outside of friendship. This hurts him and her, but there is no way around it, and he accepts this willingly. This is a great parallel to the celibate life of the priesthood. This is the reason that St. Paul recommends celibacy, for the sake of service. Thus, this movie that John Prizer says is so interested in the romantic aspect is willing to ditch a crowd-pleasing ending in order to opt for the harder route of virtuous service. This is a theme that should remain imprinted on our consciousness.

NATHAN HALLORAN

Vado, New Mexico