Controversy over Gibson film puts spotlight on conservative Catholic movement

Now their ultraconservative beliefs are under scrutiny as the man they count as their most famous adherent, actor-director Mel Gibson, prepares to release a movie about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ that's already stirring controversy.

The movement, known as traditionalist Catholicism, grew worldwide from opposition to the modernizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council, a series of meetings held from 1962-65 that dramatically changed the church.

The council altered Catholic practices and teachings in myriad ways to make it more relevant to the wider world, such as having Mass said in local languages after centuries in which it was recited in Latin, having the priest celebrate Mass facing parishioners and distributing communion in the hand instead of the mouth.

The council decreed that Christians other than Catholics can be saved. It also declared that Jews were not collectively responsible for Christ's death: The notion of Jewish guilt had fueled anti-Semitism for centuries.

Traditionalists believe that only Catholicism is the true path to salvation – and that by adhering to church teaching as it was before the council they are the only true Catholics, according to William Dinges, an expert on traditionalists and a professor at Catholic University of America.

Gibson has refused over the years to describe his exact religious affiliation and declined to do so again last week in an interview by e-mail with The Associated Press.

He has said previously that he attends Latin Mass and recently even built his own chapel near Malibu, Calif., so he could worship closer to home. However, it is not clear what traditionalist beliefs he follows.

The movement is as diverse as the many splinter groups it has generated, from moderates who maintain some contact with the Vatican to the more militant who rejected outright the authority of the late Pope John XXIII – who convened the council – and every pope elected thereafter.

There is another, even more extreme faction that believes the council was a conspiracy between Jews and Masons to destroy the church. Some go as far as considering all the popes elected since that meeting "precursors to the anti-Christ," according to Michael Cuneo, a Fordham University sociologist who wrote "The Smoke of Satan," a book on traditionalists.

Nothing Gibson has said in media interviews indicates he belongs to the far-right fringe. The Italian newspaper Il Giornale reported in 2002 that Gibson had called the Vatican a "wolf in sheep's clothing," but Gibson's representatives said the actor never spoke to the newspaper.

There are no such ambiguities surrounding the affiliation of the actor's father, Hutton Gibson, who told The New York Times Magazine for a March article that the council was "a Masonic plot backed by the Jews."

The actor's personal beliefs are a central issue with critics of his upcoming movie, "The Passion of the Christ," who worry that its depiction of the role of Jewish leaders in Jesus' final hours will revive the idea that all Jews are to blame for his death. The film is set to open on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Gibson has repeatedly denied that his film maligns Jews. Several of his friends who are Jewish have said they see no prejudice in the movie, which has won praise from many prominent Christians including evangelist Billy Graham. An aide to Pope John Paul II said the pontiff felt the film accurately "shows how it was" as Jesus went through anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane, arrest, trial, torture and crucifixion on Golgotha.

Opponents of the film, seeking to find proof of prejudice in his traditionalist ties, will be frustrated.

Dinges has been tracking Gibson's comments and believes the actor is not allied with a specific branch of the movement. Traditionalists are so loosely organized that independent chapels are built around the country with no formal connection to each other.

"I suspect that's the nature of the operation there. He isn't affiliated with a society or any group like that, but he has someone willing to say Mass (in Latin) at the chapel," Dinges said.

The exact number of traditionalists in the United States is unknown. Some experts estimate about 50,000 Americans consider themselves part of the movement, compared to the 64 million U.S. Catholics within the official church.

Mark Alessio, a traditionalist writer who has defended Gibson's movie in the movement newspaper The Remnant, said he welcomes attention to traditionalism despite the controversy.

However, he has been disturbed by some of the discussion of their beliefs, which he said give the appearance that "traditionalists are focused on, 'We've got to blame the Jews.'"

"It's not to blame anyone but to ensure that the Catholic faith is put in its proper place," Alessio said. "If you start saying, 'We can't evangelize this group,' then you've pretty much got a limp Catholicism."

I didn't know any of that was prohibited by Rome. I know that maybe some 'progressive, compassionate, and politically correct' bishop might try to prohibit it.

The secular press is only slightly more ignorant about the Church than most Catholics.

Anyone familiar with the Papal Bull Quo Primum by Pope St. Pius V knows that it is impossible for the Vatican to abolish or restrict the Roman Mass.

Any priest can say that Mass whenever or whereever he so pleases.

The only obstacle to that Mass is our largely corrupt hierarchy, all of whom will one day answer to God for attempting to eliminate that Mass from the altars of the world.

I do not know how they sleep at night.

The liturgy was not supressed, only superceded as the noram by the new mass. But a bishop can forbid the old rite and many have done so, and ruthlessly. At the same time, they allow priests to monkey around with the new liturgy so that it hardly resembles what Rome prescribes.

I think you go too far. One problem has been the way that the new Latin mass has been "Englished " somewhat as Cranmer did
when he wrote his Prayer Book. The first version did not deviat much from the literal translation of the mass. but beginning with his second version he used "plain" English words which could be interpreted in either a Catholic or a Protestant direction. We do have priests who understand the English mass pretty much the same as a Lutheran would. Hence the flying Jesus Crosses instead of a crucifix. You know that
the people are livid because Gibson so clearly presents the Crucifixion as sacrifice.

6 posted on 12/26/2003 12:00:25 PM PST by ex-snook (Americans need Balanced Trade - we buy from you, you buy from us. No free rides.)

They attend Mass in Latin, using a liturgy Rome abolished. They abstain from meat on Fridays and women cover their heads in church. For more than three decades, a small group of American Roman Catholics has been quietly worshipping in ways the Vatican told them to abandon.

What an idiotic way to start off this article. This bozo sounds like a CNN reporter describing anything having to do with the military.

"Who cares what the messenger believes? It is, as it was. That is all that matters."

You are absolutely right in terms of people with a modicum of common sense.

Unfortunately the enemies of the gospel are using Gibson's alleged "theological idiosyncracies" as a means to try and discredit his masterpiece.

Thet will fail in the end because the truth of the gospel is more powerful than all of their lies and innuendo.

The secular press is only slightly more ignorant about the Church than most Catholics.

This is sad but true, and I am continually surprised by what is not known by "Catholics" I am fairly conservative in my beliefs, I grew up with the Latin Mass and do miss it, but I also believe that the new Mass, if it was done the same everywhere would be acceptable but every time I go to a different church I feel like I have to find the instruction booklet on what is going on!

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