'Passion' shakes North Jersey clergy to the core

The Record of Hackensack ^ | 02.29.04

[Coleus]

'Passion' shakes North Jersey clergy to the core

Sunday, February 29, 2004 By JOHN CHADWICK and BRIAN KLADKO STAFF WRITERS

One Catholic priest in Morris County was so appalled by Mel Gibson's "The Passion of The Christ'' that he described the film as "religious barbarism.''

But a Protestant minister in Harrington Park was so moved that afterward he drove to a park, where he prayed and sat silently for almost an hour.

Meanwhile, a rabbi from River Edge said the movie could bring Jews and Christians closer, despite the film's insistence that it was the Jews who pushed for the execution of Jesus.

Arriving in theaters last week on Ash Wednesday, "The Passion's'' harrowing vision of the final 12 hours of Jesus' life has struck a nerve in the landscape of American faith, inspiring countless believers, polarizing others, and giving fresh focus to interfaith activism.

The bloody, two-hour movie has outraged some Jews with its portrayal of the Jewish high priests as vicious, scheming power barons. And it has turned off some Christians who believe the film's sole focus on Jesus' violent death misses the essence of Christianity.

The film has also delighted millions of conservative Christians - who showed their growing clout by packing theaters coast to coast, helping make the movie a box-office bonanza.

Yet among clergy, the movie's supporters and critics can't be neatly divided along denominational lines.

The Rev. Jack Lohr, a pastor in Franklin Lakes who preaches a liberal brand of Christianity, said the movie startled him personally and raised fundamental questions for all Christians.

"For us who claim to have taken up the cross to follow Jesus, the film challenges any convenient or comfortable reading of the cost of discipleship,'' said Lohr, of the Presbyterian Church at Franklin Lakes. "I shall never again be able to sing the sweetly sentimental lines of 'The Old Rugged Cross' without a dreadful sense of irony.''

And the pastor at one of the most progressive parishes in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson said the film woke him up to the realities of Jesus' death in a way that trumped years of Bible readings.

"It made me realize I've had a pretty sanitized view of what Christ did for me,'' said the Rev. Kevin Downey of St. Mary's in Pompton Lakes. "I've read the story so much, and felt I knew the story so well, that after a while, you take it for granted.''

One thing's for certain, "The Passion'' isn't going away. The movie took in $23.6 million on opening day, a box office showing that suggests the film could wind up in the same esteemed league as such screen classics as "Ben-Hur'' and "The Ten Commandments.''

But unlike those earlier religious blockbusters, "The Passion'' draws razor sharp theological lines that attract and repel.

The movie dwells almost entirely on Jesus' torture and execution, emphasizing that he chose death on the cross to bring salvation to mankind. The movie's violence is now notorious. Jewish leaders call for his death, mocking and spitting on him. Then Roman soldiers take over, whipping him over and over until the flesh is ripped from his back. Finally, his hands and feet are nailed into the cross.

The Rev. Kenneth Lasch, a veteran Catholic priest, said he was repelled.

"I saw it as religious barbarism ... in my opinion, God did not send his son to die,'' said Lasch, of St. Joseph's Church of Mendham. "God sent his son to live, to be faithful. And in being faithful, it cost him his life.''

Lasch, who saw the movie Thursday, also said the film's uncompromising, in-your-face approach reflects a growing divisiveness and belligerence within the major religions.

"As I was sitting at the end of movie I thought, 'This is not bringing us together,''' he said. "This is increasing the separation.''

Others share his fears.

Rabbi Neil Borovitz said he couldn't help but think about "Fiddler on the Roof,'' the classic musical about life in an Eastern European shtetl. The show, which had a revival open on Broadway the same week "The Passion'' reached the theaters, ends tragically with pogroms against the Jews.

"It was the claim of the Jews killing Jesus that inspired people to slaughter thousands of innocent people,'' said Borovitz, of Temple Sholom in River Edge. "I think Mel Gibson has taken a similar approach in this movie, and it's very bothersome.''

But Borovitz also holds out hope. He attended the movie Wednesday with Catholic and Protestant clergymen that he has known for years. And he points to a fresh round of interfaith activism in Bergen County that will make "The Passion'' the main topic of conversation. On Thursday in Teaneck, for example, two scholars, one Catholic and one Jewish, will speak to religious educators and clergy on the complexities of the crucifixion story and how to explain them to students and other lay people.

Borovitz said he respects the story of the Resurrection as the central narrative of Christianity. But he said Gibson has told the story in a provocative, manipulative, and mean-spirited way.

"I feel much more comfortable with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops or the National Council of Churches teaching this story than I do with Mel Gibson,'' Borovitz said. "But Mel Gibson is going to reach more people than they will, and that's what concerns me.''

Many pastors found the movie so compelling they're seeing it again.

The Rev. George Kaden, of Community Church in Harrington Park, saw the movie Wednesday and drove to Van Saun Park in Paramus for 45 minutes of reflection. He is seeing the movie again today with his family.

"It's a film that challenges us to look in our own hearts and ask ourselves about our relationship with God,'' Kaden said. "Each person has to come to grips with what they are seeing and what they are wrestling with in their personal life.''

Others said the movie is transforming the season of Lent, the period of introspection that began on Ash Wednesday and culminates on Easter Sunday.

The Rev. Steve Giordano will preach about the movie in his sermon today. Giordano, of Clinton Avenue Reformed Church in Bergenfield, cited the movie's opening scene in which Jesus decides to face the cross rather than run from it.

"That's the same question that we face at the beginning of the Lenten season,'' Giordano said. "Are we going to accept the challenge of making a significant spiritual season, or is it just going to be business as usual?''

This article contains material from The Associated Press.

[LiteKeeper]

THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST

[hellinahandcart]

And really---"'Passion' shakes North Jersey clergy to the core"? Hyperbole much?

[cmotormac44]

that priest is 'nuts'--he sounds like one of the ones who would sanctify and bless homo marriages--of course being from NJ is reason enough for his liberal slant--the Scriptures clearly tell all that God sent His Son to give His life to save mankind from a sure 'second death' because of sin---what church does he belong to that would be upset with the visual truths??

[Tangerine Time Machine]

The film has also delighted millions of conservative Christians - who showed their growing clout by packing theaters coast to coast, helping make the movie a box-office bonanza.

All they can see is the political angle. That's all they can imagine this being about?

[armyboy]

The Rev. Kenneth Lasch, a veteran Catholic priest, said he was repelled. "I saw it as religious barbarism ... in my opinion, God did not send his son to die,'' said Lasch, of St. Joseph's Church of Mendham. "God sent his son to live, to be faithful. And in being faithful, it cost him his life.''
Note the "my opinion" statement. This guy doesn't sound like he is a true believer.

[Coleus]

All they can see is the political angle. That's all they can imagine this being about? >>

The athiests, secular humanists, paganists, Democrats and satanists in America and in the Motion Picture/News/CNN agency are shaking in their boots. There is going to be a revolution thanks to this movie.

[Coleus]

And really---"'Passion' shakes North Jersey clergy to the core"? Hyperbole much? >>>


Yea, just a little much. Watch, the movie may have the opposite effect and bring us all closer.

[Blessed]

But to say "I persecuted Jesus" is to confuse the message of the cross and resurrection of Christ.<

No to say your sins did not put him their is to say his sacrifice was not sufficient to cover your sins.

>There were those in that day - with the same nature as you and I <

We all have the same nature just as they did - a sin nature.I find it sad that people who are not Christians would begin to make anti-semetic remarks such as that the Jews killed Christ.I only hope that the non-Christians on these threads who are not attempting to tar Christianity will realize these remarks do not represent Orthodox Christianity

[dagoofyfoot]

Heretic


Loud and Clear!

[ultima ratio]

This is where we are nowadays--we have Catholic priests ignorant of the most central of Catholic doctrines and ignorant even of the meaning of the Mass as a sacrifice. Here is the Catholic Encyclopedia on this:
___________________________________________________________
By voluntary submission to His Passion and Death on the Cross, Jesus Christ atoned for our disobedience and sin. He thus made reparation to the offended majesty of God for the outrages which the Creator so constantly suffers at the hands of His creatures. We are restored to grace through the merits of Christ's Death, and that grace enables us to add our prayers, labours, and trials to those of Our Lord "and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ" (Col., i, 24).

[Republican Wildcat]

"...in my opinion, God did not send his son to die,'' said Lasch

This gentleman needs to read the Bible. He obviously never has.

[Waco]

Anyone seen "Greasers Palace" lately?

[Desdemona]

At first I thought, " I and my handbag only need fifteen minutes with this heretic."

Be sure to bring along your hat pins.

That film is an amazing lesson in humility and shame. Not about Christ's shame, but ours. I guess some of the soft "men" can't take it.

[c-b 1]

"I feel much more comfortable with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops or the National Council of Churches teaching this story than I do with Mel Gibson,'' Borovitz said. "But Mel Gibson is going to reach more people than they will, and that's what concerns me.''

Rabbi, is that the Marxist Communist, National Council of Churches, that is leading it's followers into the "one World Church," of Gaia worship?

[winstonchurchill]

wc: But to say "I persecuted Jesus" is to confuse the message of the cross and resurrection of Christ.

Bl: No to say your sins did not put him their is to say his sacrifice was not sufficient to cover your sins.

I don't think we disagree, but we need to be precise in our language. My correction to baltodog's post was merely to try to protect the reality in time-space history of Christ's death and resurrection.

Your comment addresses the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice. I certainly agree that He died for all men in all time. That certainly means that all men in all time may appropriate the benefit of His death and resurrection by accepting Him.

BUT that does not transport all men in all time back to 33 AD so that they could participate in the conspiracy to kill Him. I respectfully think your comment confuses the specific causative agents in killing Christ with the unlimited benefits of His death and resurrection.

In summary, I certainly agree with the universality of the benefits of Christ's death, but that doesn't change the fact that specific men (i.e. Pilate, etc) in space-time history took specific actions in space-time history with real nails, hammers, etc to crucify Christ and after three specific days, He arose again in space-time history. In short, the historicity of these events is very, very important.

I find it sad that people who are not Christians would begin to make anti-semetic remarks such as that the Jews killed Christ.I only hope that the non-Christians on these threads who are not attempting to tar Christianity will realize these remarks do not represent Orthodox Christianity.

"The Jews" (generically) did NOT kill Jesus. [All His disciples were Jews.] BUT some specific men who were Jews (Judas, Caiaphas, etc) DID kill Him in space-time history. The people who call themselves "Jews" today bear no relationship whatever to those who were "Jews" in 33 AD, so "anti-semitism" against today's "Jews" is always unjustified. BUT we can't forget the reality of what the Gospels report actually happened.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

"One Catholic priest in Morris County was so appalled by Mel Gibson's "The Passion of The Christ'' that he described the film as "religious barbarism."

Really, is this Catholic priest a child molester? Just thought I would ask for clarification, nothing intended to impune the fool.

[gogipper]

But our sinfulness is also out of our time.

[nutmeg]

BTTT

[RonHolzwarth]

As with any event described in antiquity, there is NO firm evidence as to EXACTLY what happened at the time.

Assuming that the Gospels really are "divinely inspired", it seems that at least TWO of the four would agree upon exactly what the last words of Jesus were. His last words would have been rather important, you would think.

Sadly, that is not the case. No two of the four "inspired" Gospels agree upon what His last words actually were.

Was the Lord really that confused when He "inspired" the New Testament?

Would you follow a "G-d" that was that confused?

This single fact alone casts serious doubt upon the historical veracity of the entire story.

Not to mention the numerous other serious discrepancies between the four Gospels.

So, from our viewpoint today, we do not know what happened in those times.

We have only oral legends, written decades after the events, written so as to appear to be "fulfillments" of prophecies made hundreds of years ago.

Odd though, that the method of execution was NEVER sanctioned in the Torah, so the idea that the Senhedrin was behind the execution can be tossed out on that single fact alone.

And, remember that the "Prince of Peace" was quoted as saying:

Matt.10
[34] "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

[winstonchurchill]

But our sinfulness is also out of our time.

I have spent my career working with the meaning of words, but I can't make any sense of that statement.

Our sinful nature is shared by others -- all others to be exact -- but always in time. Only Jesus Christ existed outside time and He didn't share it.

What did you have in mind.