Catholic Priest Advised Wahlberg to Turn Down ?

Mark Wahlberg said in a 2007 interview that he was "creeped out" by the script for Brokeback Mountain and "thankful" when director Ang Lee didn't call him back to talk more about the film.

Now, The National Enquirer reports that it was Wahlberg's Catholic priest who convinced him not to do the film.

Reads the article: "The 38-year-old reformed bad boy relies on his closest confidante and longtime religious mentor, the Rev. James Flavin, to help him pick and choose his parts. 'Mark is a practicing Catholic, and he never makes a final decision on a starring role until Father Flavin gives his OK,' an insider revealed to The Enquirer. 'Mark says he owes his career to Father Flavin.' ... 'Father Flavin pushes Mark to honor his religious roots,' said the source. 'Even though Mark was offered one of the leads in Brokeback Mountain, he passed because of the gay subject matter, which clashes with Catholic doctrine.'"

In 2007, Wahberg told WENN: "I met with Ang Lee on that movie, I read 15 pages of the script and got a little creeped out. It was very graphic, descriptive - the spitting on the hand, getting ready to do the thing. I told Ang Lee, 'I like you, you're a talented guy, if you want to talk about it more...' Thankfully, he didn't...I didn't rush to see Brokeback, it's just not my deal... Obviously, it was done in taste - look how it was received."

In 1994, when Wahlberg was still performing as Marky Mark and dodging rumors he was homophobic, the then budding actor talked to The Advocate about his gay uncle, his relationship with Madonna, and his love of And the Band Played On.