You, a leader in the faith community can meet Sylvester Stallone, yes Rocky, today!

The marketing team that told Christians it was their duty to support The Passion and Narnia now wants you to believe the new Rocky film is a Christian event not to be missed.

And today, you can join Sly on the phone (12:30-12:50 Pacific Time), or so an e-mail tells me.

Motive Marketing said, "Sly would like to take some time to talk to you about the faith and values that run through the Rocky films, and share with you about his upcoming movie, Rocky Balboa, the final chapter in the Rocky story (yes, Stallone himself gets back in the ring!)."

Space is limited! (Although, it's a phone call? Huh? This is quite the PR drivel here.)

Here's what Stallone himself is saying, as he shills himself out to the "faith community"

"In Rocky, if he's just a fighter, then it's just a boxing story, and I told the producers in the beginning, 'It's not a boxing story; it's a spiritual journey. It really is about a man that has been chosen to accomplish a role, to be an example for other people.' "
Interview with New Man Magazine

"If you don't have a great relationship with God, you can go off the deep end. The Christian foundation of life is really the perfect ideal which one should base every decision they make on, because it comes from a sense of kindness, a sense of giving, a sense of fairness, and it avoids everything which I'm exposed to every day in my particular industry which is greed, and avarice and jealousy and bitterness . . ."
Interview with Catholic Digest

They've even found pastors to sell this thing to their churches.

"Life is hard, and faith can help us to face some of those challenges and issues in our past and you see Rocky do that throughout the movies but particularly it comes to kind of a peak in this movie and it was exciting to see."
Jud Wilhite
Senior Pastor, Central Christian Church
Las Vegas, Nevada

"I guess if there's one theme that stood out for me was the whole idea of self esteem. And how important that is to be formed in the family, first of all, and then, if it gets lost along the way, that it can be regained. And that's a good message for people to know, and to hear that there's always hope."
Sister Rose Pacatte
Daughters of St. Paul

So you're telling me I should load up the church van and get the kids to see a movie about... self-esteem? Uh, yeah, great. I'm sure kids will jump at that change to see a 60 year old guy get whipped in the ring so they can share a heart-warming message about self-esteem.

They've even got a website (www.RockyResources.com) offering fodder for Rocky-based sermons.

Ah finally, at the end of the e-mail to faith leaders like me, the caveat I've been waiting for:

Though this is not a religious film, we believe there are many themes ("The Heart of a Champion," "Fighting the Good Fight," "Recovery After a Fall," etc.) that relate to faith and values. But don't take our word for it - listen to Sly himself explain how he has woven these themes into his movies.

I hope this one's down for the count.