Peggy Noonan: 'Passion' and Intrigue- The story of the Vatican and Mel Gibson's film gets curiouser

Opinion Journal ^ | 01/22/04 | Peggy Noonan

[Pokey78]

On the matter of the pope, "The Passion" and the famous papal quote, you are perhaps perplexed. You are not alone. This is a story marked by, among other things, a certain amount of intrigue, and some of it is like something out of "The DaVinci Code."

[Pokey78]

Peggy ping

[Peach]

Peggy Noonan writes about The Passion.

[over3Owithabrain]

Well I'm not Catholic, so I don't care what the Pope thinks (especially after Iraq). I'm going to see the film and I'm betting it will be great. Too bad for honest Catholics like Noonan their Vatican can't get their story straight.

[chicagolady]

It really would not matter to me what the Pope thought to tell you the truth. I am gonna see the movie and judge for myself.

It is interesting there is all this controversy around the man who is supposedly representing Christ on earth. Can't he give a statement if he has not already given one? It is about the person he represents!

Billy Graham already gave it 4 thumbs up. That is good enough for me. In fact that's better for me.

[GOPJ]

Strange and getting stranger...

[Hoosier-Daddy]

IMHO I've seen some of the creepiest and unholy things I've ever experienced at the Vatican.

[Polycarp IV]

curiouser and curiouser...

[dangus]

You know, I hate to say it, but there are no lies here, only spin.

Pay close attention to the assertion: "The Holy Father watched and enjoyed the film. His comment afterwards was, 'It is as it was.'"

Now play attention to the denial: "There was no declaration, no judgment from the pope."

To be positively precise, there is no actual disagreement between these statements. Noonan never referred to any "declaration" or "judgment." The assertion was that aVatican insider related the Pope's *personal* experience of the film. Words like "declaration" and "judgment" refer to official, public proclamations. The denial even goes so far as to say, "The Pope doesn't make judgments about art." The Pope certainly expresses *opinion* about art! What he doesn't make official proclamations about art.

What we have here is a producer who was a little eager to prove that his work was acceptable, and a weasel-wording bastard in the Vatican out to stomp out expressions of religious faith which don't fit into his own personal agenda.

[Endeavor]

I think the concern here is two-fold. On one hand, it is a matter of journalistic ethics and integrity - Noonan went with info from the Pope's right hand man and then it appeared that she was ill-informed at best when the Vatican started denying the Pope's alleged comment. So her journalistic integrity is questioned, however indirectly.

On the other hand, I imagine there is some concern that perhaps the Pope's feelings are being kept from world by certain folks within the Vatican - not a comforting thing.

Wait, there's another hand (I know I know, how many hands can there be? {grin}): Ms. Noonan's personal faith in the goodness of the Pope and her personal desire to not misrepresent him is of particular concern to her, and understandably so.

So, while I'm not Catholic and just figured somehow the Vatican PR machine was changing its tune and that Noonan just had a bad source, ie, it's a tempest in teapot to me, I can certainly see why it isn't for her. So, while I had hoped for a pithy dissection of the democratic race in this column, I'll cut her some slack. She's more than earned that from me.

[drstevej]

Well I give up. I don't know what the Pope said or if Mel's a "real" Catholic or not after reading these threads. I do anticipate the film however.

[Hoosier-Daddy]

Walking into St. Peter's cathedral, when you get to the center of what I guess is a Cross (when viewed from above) is the pulpit which was designed by an Italian (name escapes me) artist which has four twisted black columns in the middle of the cross. You actually have to see it to see how odd and out of place it is. Around the corner to what I think is the southeast is a door to the Gates of Hell which is carved out of monolithic sheets of black marble (granite?) and gold that truly seem to have life of their own. Quite striking. When you're in there, it's a juxstapose between the light streaming from the glass above and some of these... dark carvings which populate the interior of St. Peter's. If it was meant to show the dark side it is very effective. But it seems so out of place... definitely creepy to me.

[ontos-on]

Your analysis best so far. Thanks for actuall paying attention to the words. Unless there is a shift in the Vatican, there will be no statement or owning up to the initial report --which is no doubt accurate and authorized by the hyphenated guy who later regretted his authorization of the use of the quote.

It is tiresome and those forces in the Vatican who quibbled with the inital report are kerphunklpte. It is part of the general demise of the Church despite having had a great pope for 25 years. It shows how institutions are doomed and cannot speak truthfully.

[hole_n_one]

I guess this would be the wrong thread to mention how Noonan, oddly enough, gets better looking with each day that passes.

[Mike Darancette]

Why would some higher ups in the Catholic Church want to deny that Christ suffered and died on the cross?

[lainde]

bttt

[sweetliberty]

"isn't about hatred but love, and love's continuing war with evil. It is a film that engenders awe, gratitude, and no small amount of self-examination."

Which is precisely why it is so threatening to those who so vehemently oppose it.

[onyx]

'BUMP'