Gibson's passion film 'too Catholic'

Belfast Telegraph ^ | 19 March 2004 | Alf McCreary

[presidio9]

THE controversial Mel Gibson film 'The Passion of the Christ' has been dismissed by the Evangelical Protestant Society as a 'Catholic' interpretation of events which "does not present the Gospel".

Wallace Thompson, secretary of the Evangelical Protestant Society, said the film displayed "an un-Biblical fixation on Mary, the mother of Jesus. None of this should surprise us, for both Mel Gibson and Jim Caviezel, who plays the part of Christ, are enthusiastic devotees of the traditional teachings of the Church of Rome."

He further claims that Mel Gibson "belongs to an ultra-conservative Catholic group which does not recognise the reforms of Vatican II, and celebrates Mass in Latin".

Mr Thompson says that "this malign influence of Rome ought to cause all evangelical Protestants to reject The Passion of the Christ" and refuse to be swayed by the subtleties of the alleged arguments in favour of it.

Sadly, however, it will be welcomed and praised by many who ought to know better."

Mr Thompson also says that the film is "extremely violent", and that "anyone who watches it will be shaken and possibly terrified by its graphic and bloody scenes."

[GigaDittos]

Hmmmm, I thought it was the Roman Catholic Church.

[Cronos]

He said if anyone comes preaching a message other than I taught let them be accursed.

I agree with that. And the RCC has kept HIS message and has preached HIS message for 2000 years. YOU are coming and preaching something else. What does that curtail?

[Cronos]

Mormons are labeled a cult and you aren't.

Mormons hold the book of Moroni to be scripture. A cult is of apostates from the stream of religion, and since the main strem is the Catholic-Orthodox faith, what does that make?

[Cronos]

Without the Papacy and the succession of Peter there is no Roman Catholicism

Nope, without the word of God there is no Roman Catholicism. There obviously IS the word of God and hence the True Church survives and has survived Arian, Albigensian, Gnostic, Nestorian, etc. heresies. And it survived the Reformation. Where are those churchs that broke away? How many splinters have they broken to?

[Cronos]

My beliefs are founded on the Word of God and not the fallible word of man.

That's the Catholic belief too.

[Cronos]

God bless those CHRISTIAN missionaries out there, whatever church they belong to. But if you want to get into vulgar counting (oooh we had so many martyrs, how many do you have?) you'd see that the Catholic church has been preachign for 2000 years and has had quite a few martyred for spreading the word of God.

[Fury]

Havoc writes: If you want proof, I'll prove it to you.

Still waiting for proof on what has been attributed to the Pope by Havoc concerning Mary and salvation.

[nmh]

So of the beliefs are but many are not hence the conflict, defensiveness etc..

[nmh]

Some of the beliefs are but many are not hence the conflict, defensiveness etc..

[redgolum]

It seems to have been considered canon by some of the Coptic churches, but not "full" canon. By some of the statements made in the first 2 chapters it appears to have been written after the fall of the temple of Jerusalem in 70AD. The bible I have is called the Oxford Study Bible, and I had to get it for some of my college classes back in the day. The compilers put everything that anyone considered canon in to it, and generally had some blatant historical critical commentary. In fact, going through my notes I took during that class, "2 Esdras" or 4th was sighted as an example of why the Bible couldn't be trusted. By the comments in my notes that amused me a bit back then!

I have enjoyed Maccabees since I was in Sunday School and we talked about the revolt.

[Cronos]

The Bishops of Alexandria, Rome, Antioch and other provinces have equal authority.

TRue, the main 7 churchs formed were equally authoratative, being formed by the Apostles in the west. But where is Alexandria, Constantinople, Antioch etc. now? oh, they're under Islam. Shucks. Which divinely appointed body maintained and sustained the church during those dark times? do I hear someone say the RCC? A cookie to the person, they're correct.

The Primacy of Rome as the sole surviving authoratative church is paramount

[Cronos]

Hmmmm, I thought it was the Roman Catholic Church.

The correct term would be The CAtholic church.

[nmh]

Me: My beliefs are founded on the Word of God and not the fallible word of man.

You: That's the Catholic belief too.

Me: Unfortunately yours is not an accurate statement. I wish it was.

[BibChr]

Absolutely correct. And since the Divine nature pre-existed Mary, she obviously was not its source. Simple Biblical Logic 101.

Dan

[redgolum]

LOL! On this side of the Rhine (so to speak!) most orthodox (or as we call ourselves, catholic) Lutherans don't think much of going across the Tiber, we have to big a fight on our hands where we are. No need to sign up for a whole NEW batch of problems.

As to Luther not leaving the church today, I don't know. The Reformation was as much a political event as it was a theological one. Luther really didn't want to break with the church, he pleaded till his death that he wanted a council to discuss and rule on his ideas, but no council was held till after his death (Trent). By that time, the Protestant rulers were afraid to show up, and things had progressed to the point where a split was more permanent.

[Commie Basher]

Their energies would be so much better served hating religious philosophies that truely deserve it. I can think of one especially.

OTOH, I think Christ would rather they spent their time not hating, but rather in loving.

[Happygal]

Can't you just feel the love in Northern Ireland?

*ROFL*. Thanks for that! That just gave me the biggest laugh all day! *LOL*

[Fury]

Again, more general comments from Havoc without citations:

The Catholic Church teaches that at mass, the priest summones Christ down from heaven and into the host and the wine to become really and truly Christ's full body and blood to be offered for sin in an ongoing perpetuation of the sacrifice of Calvary for sin. Over and over and over. It is referred to as an UNBLOODY sacrifice for sin.

Ask Havoc to provide citations - specific citations.

[Cronos]

nmh: Unfortunately yours is not an accurate statement. I wish it was.

It is an accurate statement. Any other belief is driven by propaganda spread by those intent on separation of the church

[Happygal]

About 5 percent of of Irish in Northern Ireland- both Protestant and Catholic- regularly attend church services. I doubt most even know what the differences in theology are between the two sects.

Where'd you pluck that figure out of? And you can be damned sure the people on the Falls Road and the Shankill Road know the difference between their faiths.