The Pope's Thumbs Up for Gibson's 'Passion' (Liberal Jewish writer accuses Mel of using the Pope)

NY Times ^ | January 18, 2004 | FRANK RICH

[Land of the Free 04]

the archbishop quoted the pope not only as saying "it is as it was" but also as calling the movie "incredibile."

So the story is true---yet the liberals whine on and on and on and ....

[OpusatFR]

"Such us-vs.-them religious oneupmanship is more about political partisanship than liturgical debate. Its adherents practice what can only be called spiritual McCarthyism, a witch hunt in which "secularists" are targeted as if they were subversives and those who ostentatiously wrap themselves in God are patriots.'

Stretching that point, buddy. I notice that on the left, the only good ideologues are those ideologues who approve of blasphemy in art. But then again, they aren't termed ideologues by the left. They are visionaries, protesters, AR-TEESTS instead of what they truly are: hateful bigots. The only ones I see wrapping themselves in the Almighty are those on the left who are not imbued in a faith tradition, nor are they religious, but use religion like the flag, as a Clintonian talking point.

I fully expect Kerry, Dean and Edwards to borrow that bloody big Gutenberg Bible from Bill Clinton. Makes a wonderful prop.

[cake_crumb]

Gee...the POPE, enjoying a PASSION PLAY. THAT can't be...he HAS to be a member of the VRWC!

[goldstategop]

A Jewish liberal who defended a painting with dung plastered around the Virgin Mary as "free expression." But a movie that respectfully portrays Jesus' final hours is bigotry and intolerance. And he hasn't even seen the movie! Liberals like Frank Rich can be such hypocrites with the First Amendment.

[tallhappy]

I drove past a local theater complex yesterday and "Passion of Christ" was on the marquee.

I guess it was a sneak preview or something.

[cake_crumb]

Shame on you too.

[ladyjane]

Shame on you.

No shame on the writer of the article?

[sinkspur]

This is the very reason the Vatican will not comment on what the Pope said, because it would be used by opponents and proponents of a commercial venture.

[presidio9]

Rather than blame individuals for their actions, you'd condemn an entire race for the sins of a few. THAT is the definition of prejudice and the cause of death of MILLIONS of Jews throughout history. Shame on you

Shame on you for your knee-jerk accusation of racisim. Nowhere did MP condemn the entire race of Jews. Instead, his anger was focused at the specific segment of "hateful Jews" who attack Christianity in general and this film specifically. Lots of Jews have been vocal in their support of this film.

[kstewskis]

Evil rears its ugly head yet once again.

[apackof2]

Well I will personally do my part to make sure Mel's movie is a blockbuster, first in line to see it and recommend it to everyone I know!

Will love to see the egg on the collective faces of all these godless leftisits when Mel's movie breaks box office records!

[SJackson]

Shame on WHO?

Why do Jews try to kill the Truth? What do they want to gain?

JEWS KILL THE TRUTH?

Yup, clear to me it's only certain Jews being discussed, not Jews as a whole. So, what do they have to gain.

I've rather sympathized with Jews so far. This time my viewpoints have changed completely. I am a Christian and I'm not going to sit and watch Christ being savaged by the group of hateful Jews.

Jews! Leave Christ and Christians alone!!!

No, no bigotry here. It's likely clear to any illiterate that Rich is the topic, no Jews. To me, I just see the hate. A clear demonstration of the misuse some will put this film to.

[drjimmy]

So the story is true

Anyone who actually reads the article will know that you left three important words out of the sentence fragment you lifted. There's a world of difference between "the archbishop quoted the pope..." and "Mr. Michelini says the archbishop quoted the pope..."

Here is a quote directly from the archbishop, which came out after this article was printed and is not filtered through the producer of the film:
"I said clearly to McEveety and Michelini that the Holy Father made no declaration," Dziwisz said. "I said the Holy Father saw the film privately in his apartment, but gave no declaration to anyone. He does not make judgments on art of this kind; he leaves that to others, to experts."

[presidio9]

I think you are missing the point. As another poster mentioned on this thread, Catholics do not tend to think about Jews much until a small concentration of outspoken liberals presume to tell them what they can and can't do, then accuse the Catholics of bigotry when they tell them to stuff it. Unless Mark Rich has seen this film (he hasn't) he has no right to any opinion whatsoever on its virtue. And he is not the only Jew who has been unable to keep his mouth shut. That small minority today, not events that took place 2000 years ago, are much more likely to foster antisemitism among Catholics.

[cake_crumb]

Plenty of shame for the writer of the article. His ilk helped Hitler's extermination. However, we know this is just another rabid leftist who hates everyone and everything. It's far worse that there are still so many people who believe in condemning all for the actions of a few, rather than blaming the individual who's actions are reprehensible. I shouldn't have to explain that to you.