When a satirical film triggers the ire of the church, you know you must be doing something right. On Dogma's release in 1999, religious groups in the United States described anti-Catholicism as the last “acceptable bigotry,” calling for a boycott of Kevin Smith's alleged sacrilegious comedy. Spurious accusations aside, since then, apart from a historical DVD, Dogma has been in a bit of a re-release purgatory. Owned by Miramax, which basically means owned by Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Smith wouldn't sanction a re-release until he could find a way to do it without putting $5 million in Weinstein's pocket, offering up to $1 million, which Weinstein rejected. The distribution rights have since been purchased from Weinstein – we don't know how much for – as part of a “fire sale” deal of multiple films from his catalogue by an independent producer.

Kevin Smith describes himself as a “Good Catholic”, and that's clear to see here. Addressing the difficult mismatch between religion and faith, Dogma explores the ironies and contradictions of the restrictions placed upon millions of devout Catholics worldwide.

Bethany (Linda Fiorentino) works in an abortion clinic, but attends church every Sunday. Stuck in a cycle of contradicting ideas ever since her husband left her, citing her inability to give him children. She remembers going to church as a child and feeling “moved”, but now she mostly goes out of habit, and in the brief scene we see of the service, it's clear that most other attendees are doing the same.

She is then visited by Metatron (Alan Rickman), an angel and “The voice of God.” He tells Bethany that God needs her to go on a quest to New Jersey, mumbling under his breath something about preventing two angels from entering a church and ending all existence. Like many of us faced with such a ridiculous notion, she wakes the following day, assumes she was dreaming, and carries on as normal.

Meanwhile, Bartleby (Ben Affleck) and Loki (Matt Damon) are two fallen angels who have spent thousands of years hanging out on earth, attempting to disrupt the faith of unsuspecting Nuns in airports (one assumes they spent time in other high-traffic areas before the invention of air travel?). Someone sends them an article about a church in New Jersey, where Cardinal Glick (George Carlin) has declared that anyone who enters has their sins purged and can get a free pass to Heaven. The two angels decide to travel to this church, in the hope that they can finally go home.

There's a lot to Dogma, and Smith's knowledge of his faith is clear to see, along with his affection for God. What Dogma does wonderfully is it never undermines the existence of God, the truth in the Bible, and the power in faith as a concept. However, Catholic guilt, mournful faith, infighting, and bigotry? Not here for it. Of course, it is a Kevin Smith film, so it's crude, rude, infantile, and offensive… but apart from the occasional moments of casual homophobia, it's aged better than a lot of his humour has.

Perhaps more relevant than ever, in view of the US struggling more and more with a separation of Church and State. With the rights of women being further eroded by current political leanings, it's the perfect time for a re-release. Those who watched it 26 years ago will still enjoy the humour and the smart observations, and perhaps it'll find a new audience too?

Dogma is re-released in UK Cinemas on 7 November.