Krauthammer: "Gibson's Blood Libel"

Washington Post ^ | Mar. 5, 04 | Charles Krauthammer

[churchillbuff]

Gibson's Blood Libel

By Charles Krauthammer Friday, March 5, 2004; Page A23

Every people has its story. Every people has the right to its story. And every people has a responsibility for its story. ...[snip]

Christians have their story too: the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Why is this story different from other stories? Because it is not a family affair of coreligionists. If it were, few people outside the circle of believers would be concerned about it. This particular story involves other people. With the notable exception of a few Romans, these people are Jews. And in the story, they come off rather badly.

Because of that peculiarity, the crucifixion is not just a story; it is a story with its own story -- a history of centuries of relentless, and at times savage, persecution of Jews in Christian lands. This history is what moved Vatican II, in a noble act of theological reflection, to decree in 1965 that the Passion of Christ should henceforth be understood with great care so as to unteach the lesson that had been taught for almost two millennia: that the Jews were Christ killers.

[Just mythoughts]

"Of course she is. Mel has this Ouija board you see... and his rewards were guaranteed! It's plain as day to me, as Mark Twain would say."


I think we should call this "rural legend" right out of the garden.

[man of Yosemite]

When it comes time to kill Christians, this man will join the happy throng. How did this country become so stupid?

[hobbes1]

Nor are you objective, but at least I tell the truth. And the truth of the matter is, Lefebvre, was ex-communicated for the ordination of priests, outside of the Authority of the Holy See, and that is a schismatic act,but it is a far cry different than being excommunicated for delivering the Sacrament of the Mass, which is always your implication.

Further, the very next day, The Pope himself issued a decree at the end of Ecclesia Dei, which states the following,

6. Taking account of the importance and complexity of the problems referred to in this document, by virtue of my apostolic authority I decree the following:

a) A commission is instituted whose task it will be to collaborate with the bishops, with the departments of the Roman Curia and with the circles concerned, for the purpose of facilitating full ecclesial communion of priests, seminarians, religious communities or individuals until now linked in various ways to the society founded by Archbishop Lefebvre who may wish to remain united to the successor of Peter in the Catholic Church while preserving their spiritual and liturgical traditions in the light of the protocol signed on last May 5 by Cardinal Ratzinger and Archbishop Lefebvre.

b) This commission is composed of a cardinal-president and other members of the Roman Curia, in a number that will be deemed opportune according to circumstances.

c) Moreover, respect must everywhere by shown for the feelings of all those who are attached to the Latin liturgical tradition by a wide and generous application of the directives already issued some time ago by the Apostolic See for the use of the Roman Missal according to the typical edition of 1962.[9]

So it follows logically, that any Bishop not providing an Indult mass, where the demand exists, is in violation of Papal Decree.

Looking at a Map of Traditional Parishes Flourishing in the U.S. that would roughly be damn near Every Bishop in the country.

[Publius6961]

Only if Gibson very publicly gives every dime he makes off this movie to charity.

Must brainless liberals be so transparent?
Of course, you live in a cardboard box because your socialist purity compels you to donate all your income to charity, as that is the only path to intellectual and moral honesty.

Wait... in order to do that, one must be productively employed, creating something useful.

Never mind...

[churchillbuff]

Now they're being persecuted for denying Mel Gibson.

No, bigots are being PROTESTED AGAINST for trying to persecute Gibson for depicting the Gospels- - they're trying to shut him up, and some people - myself included - won't let such bigotry and totalitarianism go unanswered.

[Seeing More Clearly Now]

You claim that most soldiers in WWII were Christian. That is of course true. There are a lot more Christians in the world. The Western world had systematically killed a large percentage of the Jews generation after generation, leaving only a small number left in the world. Those left, however, fought and died along side the Christian soldiers in WWII, in the very same proportion to their population in the U.S. as did Christians, serving as both officers and enlisted men and women. The Jewish War Veterans association is just as stong in support of a strong U.S. military and just as proud as any other veterans association. Their 2004 calendar is on my wall as I write this.

[dennisw]

Yes, the Jewish view of proselytizing is poaching. I far prefer it when Christian missionaries try to convert Muslims and tribal heathens in the 3rd world. If American Christians were 3% of the population you would resent poaching too.

[hobbes1]

I'm ragging on Christians who will brook no disagreement with their point of view.

Sink, you're a hell of a guy, but the absolute lack of self awareness in that post, even has ME shaking my head...lol

[veronica]

Dittoes to this one--but in no wise to we need to be treated as if we are some sort of barefoot, toothless evangelical bumpkins rec'ing wisdom at Krauthammer's sophisticated intellectual feet.

There is so much irony in the paragraph I can hardly stand it. :))

I have to admit I have always been a devoted fan of Krauthammer. It's swell that you think he is smart. Heck, you admit that even his feet are sophisticated and intellectual.

[Just mythoughts]

"The Western world had systematically killed a large percentage of the Jews generation after generation, leaving only a small number left in the world. Those left, however, fought and died along side the Christian soldiers in WWII, in the very same proportion to their population in the U.S. as did Christians, serving as both officers and enlisted men and women."

If what you claim were true then it would make that PROMISE to Abraham NULL & VOID, and our Heavenly Father a liar.

[Mamzelle]

Emmerich is the "bete noir" , unless you want to use Gibson's dad to condemn him. Choose one, Pa or Saint. --

Saint Taint

; )

[churchillbuff]

the vitriol displayed by the Liberty Forum types

Sir, the "vitriol" is coming from a columnist who accuses Gibson of hideousness, with a title about "blood libel." People are talking back to this bigoted columnist and apparently you'd prefer they weren't

[veronica]

When it comes time to kill Christians, this man will join the happy throng.

A comment of such stupidity, that the mind reels.

[ultima ratio]

"I shouldn't blame (in part) a church that named Jews as Christ killers for 15 centuries"

Now the truth comes out--you are a plain old-fashioned bigot--and ignorant as well. The Catholic Church has always condemned the notion of collective guilt--and the Council of Trent made this explicit long before Vatican II. This has been a perennial doctrine of the Catholic Church. I challenge you to show me where in fifteen centuries the "church" has named Jews as "Christ killers". You can't. It's a lie--a libel, like Krauthammer's.

[Sabertooth]

I can understand your suspicion, as I, too, wonder about the veracity of a lot of so-called first hand accounts I read on the Internet. Believe it or not, however, what I recounted about the professors and their talk was absolutely true. I'm hesitant to name them because I fear you will start to flame them, too.

Either you're lying, or they are.

You've used these mystery professors to launch a uniquely ugly and inflammatory charge against Mel Gibson. You have a burden, now meet it.

Put up or shut up.

They are female professors of religion at a large public university and they are articulate and well-versed (biblical echo unintended)and they said they were sharing what they said is main stream reaction to the movie in their field of Christian scholarship. They said they are writing a book together that should be ready in about 6 months, so you will be able to read all about their views and them.

Put up or shut up.

The line itself they said is well known in Christian tradition and is said in Aramaic in the film, presumably translated correctly - I don't read Aramaic. The two women did make a big point of their deep fear of what it can set loose directly and indirectly even today throughout the world, since they know how much hate has been wrought over the centuries by the line.

You made this claim:

Well for starters, New Mexico and Mexico for example. This movie is going worldwide and the Aramaic line in the film that says "The Jews, because they 'killed Christ,' must be pursued and punished for all generations" and which Gibson was convinced by critics not to include in the English translation in the U.S. release of the film might very likely be translated for other countries showings of the film.
LINK

This line doesn't appear in the Gospels.

This accusation against Mel Gibson is itself a blood libel.

You are spreading hateful things about him, and his intentions, and about Christianity.

As I said, either you're a liar, or these Professors are lying.

Post their names. Put up or shut up.

[dennisw]

1. Christians DESTROYED the Holocaust. The soldiers of the allied armies were overwhelmingly Christian - as the crosses above their graves at Normandy attest. Churchill and Roosevelt sang "Onward Christian Soldiers" at the Atlantic Conference.

If you want to look at it that way, then Christians created and DESTROYED the holocaust before the numbers went past 6 million Jews killed off. And won WW2 from the Nazis.

DISCLAIMER: Yes, Nazis exterminated many others besides Jews

[SJackson]

:)) Great post. Might go over a few heads, though.

On a forum to elect Republicans, never, they're just helping the cause.

[veronica]

Agreed. But the vitriol displayed by the Liberty Forum types perplexes me the most, since they profess to follow Jesus' teachings.

Yep. Same mindset. Rather transparent they are, though. Agenda-driven, and not Christian in the least.

[churchillbuff]

When it comes time to kill Christians, this man will join the happy throng. A comment of such stupidity, that the mind reels.

What's stupid about it? There are more Christians being systematically persecuted today than Jews - in the sense of being imprisoned and executed for their beliefes (in China, Sudan and elsewhere), yet Krauthammer's column stokes anti-christian sentiment.