Self-deprecating Irish and Jewish funnies are the cornerstone of American humour. But when outsiders tell the same jokes they are not half as funny.

That seems to be the message from the storm of protest which has followed the opening of Monty Python's latest foray onto the big screen, Life of Brian, which is showing to record-breaking audiences in New York.

For those who may have forgotten, or not got around to seeing it yet, Life of Brian tells the tragic story of Brian of Nazareth, a reluctant Messiah born on Christmas night, who joins the People's Liberation Front of Judea and ends up being crucified by the Roman Army.

In the words of the New York Times' film critic the film demonstrates "that it is possible to go even further in delirious offensiveness than Monty Python's earlier offering, Holy Grail. Bad taste of this order is rare but not yet dead."

The Catholic archdiocese of New York, plus three distinguished Jewish organisations - the Rabbinical Alliance of America, the Union of Orthodox Rabbis and the Council of Syria and Near Eastern Sephardic Communities - have condemned the film.

The Catholic archdiocese has called Life of Brian a "blasphemy", adding that it was a "crime against religion which holds the person of Christ up to comic ridicule."

The Jewish groups are equally damning. They regard the film as "grieviously insultlng," and have described it as "a vicious attack on Judaism and the Bible, and a cruel mockery of Christian religious feelings as well." The three Jewish organisations speak for more than 1,000 rabbis.

Ever sensitive to what such distinguished opposition might do to receipts Orion Pictures and Warner Brothers, which put the film together and are distributing it, have answered: "The public has been enthusiastic, having flocked to every theatre now showing the picture. It is entertainment and, to many, Monty Python's Life of Brian is an enjoyable movie experience. It was never our intention to offend anyone's belief. The film is a satire. It is a spoof and should be viewed in that context."

The words of New York's film critics and distributors clearly weigh more with the public than those of the Catholic archdiocese and the rabbinical community.

In the first four days at Cinema 1, in New York, one of the city's biggest auditoriums, the film recorded the biggest receipts taken by any film, which will no doubt have Brian, alias Graham Chapman, rubbing his hands with glee.

It may be the foulest-spoken Biblical epic made, but it also looks like becoming the best-selling.