Posted on 02/07/2004 7:37:41 AM PST by Valin
Mel Gibson's new film about the crucifixion of Christ is arousing the passions of Northeast Ohio faithful more than two weeks before its Ash Wednesday release.
Several Protestant churches are planning major evangelistic efforts, seeing in "The Passion of the Christ" a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reach the unchurched.
But some Jewish and Christian leaders are warning of the film's potential to promote one of history's cruelest anti-Semitic stereotypes: that Jewish people bear a collective guilt for Jesus' death.
The Diocese of Cleveland sent a February memo to all its parishes asking Catholics to be aware of the potential for anti-Semitism.
On Friday, a trio of prominent Jewish, Catholic and Protestant leaders sent a letter to 300 of their colleagues urging them to ad dress the issues raised by the film in their churches and synagogues.
"As fellow clergy and people of faith, we call upon you to be aware of the dangers the Gibson film poses. We urge you to address these risks forthrightly within your denomination and institution and to educate and sensitize those who may see the film so that they do not take away from it the wrong message," the letter said.
The plea was signed by the Rev. Joseph Hilinski, interfaith director of the Catholic diocese, the Rev. Louise Westfall, pastor of Fairmount Presbyterian Church, and Rabbi Richard Block, senior rabbi of The Temple-Tifereth Israel.
However, other churches see the highly publicized film as an opportunity to reach out to their secular neighbors and revive the faith of their own members.
Evangelical pastors and youth leaders are gathering this afternoon at Parma Baptist Church to participate in a national satellite question-and-answer session with Gibson sponsored by Church Communications Network.
One large local church, Cuyahoga Valley Community Church in Broadview Heights, will launch a two-week campaign Feb. 22 hanging movie-related material on the door knobs of about 20,000 of its neighbors. The packet invites people to follow up seeing the film with a visit to the church.
As its Feb. 25 release date draws near, the controversy surrounding the film and the attention commanded by Gibson are creating a national dialogue over artistic portrayals of the Passion that can be profound religious experiences for Christians but have provoked centuries of suffering for Jewish people.
Gibson, a conservative Catholic, has said he made the film as part of a spiritual calling and expressed hope that it could be used for evangelism.
Promotional materials sent to local churches call the Gibson film "one of the greatest evangelical opportunities of this generation."
However, particularly in the post-Holocaust era, many Christian and Jewish leaders have questioned the effects of performances of the Passion.
Historically, performances have led to violence and persecution by portraying Jewish antagonists of Jesus as almost subhuman and fueling the prejudice associating Judaism with deicide.
Some who have seen early scripts and later screenings of the film expressed concern that the movie revives inaccurate medieval stereotypes of a group of hate-filled Jewish people forcing a weak Roman ruler Pontius Pilate to put Jesus to death.
In their letter, Hilinski, Block and Westfall share their "grave concern" about the film. The three said Gibson has disregarded his film's "hateful antecedents," and they criticized the director for suggesting Jewish concerns about the film reflected antipathy toward Christianity itself.
"The shared commitment of Judaism and Christianity is love, not hate," the three wrote.
John Hexter, director of the Cleveland chapter of the American Jewish Committee, said Friday his organization is concerned the movie damages Jewish-Christian relations "in its unnecessary and destructive imagery of Jews."
The Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland on Thursday expressed hope that the film becomes an opportunity to reinforce Christian-Jewish relations by increasing dialogue and mutual understanding.
In the memo sent to parishes serving more than 800,000 area Catholics, the diocesan Interfaith Commission said it is admirable that the messages of the Gospel are found in movies.
But Catholics also should be aware the church "totally and definitively" rejects the false accusation that the Jewish people are responsible for the death of Jesus.
For their part, evangelical leaders say the film is a powerful, moving depiction of the Gospel affirmation that Jesus died in an act of sacrificial love for all people, and that part of the movie's value is to use it as a teaching tool to reject anti-Semitism.
"The biblical answer to that is God crucified Christ for our sins," said the Rev. Rick Duncan, pastor of Cuyahoga Valley Community Church. "It's not the Jews. It's not the Romans. It's all of us."
Evangelical leaders see in this film the potential to deepen faith and increase the capacity of individuals to love one another and empathize with the suffering of others.
"When we look at the cross, we know God is with us," said the Rev. Bob Armstrong of Bay Presbyterian Church in Bay Village. "And in our moments of greatest suffering we can feel closest to God."
Go to this link http://events.vday.org/2004/College/John_Carroll_University
We are proud to present three fundraising performances of The Vagina Monologues. The money raised will go to help prevent and stop violence of women and girls. In addition, we will be holding a V-Day on Wednesday, February 11th which will include speakers,a bake sale, and a t-shirt sale.
Beneficiary: Cleveland Rape Crissi Center
Sponsor: John Carroll University Communications Department
Tickets price: $7.00 in advance
To purchase tickets:
Pre-Sale tickets will be available at V-Day.
____________________________________________________________
Now go to this link http://www.choicecleveland.com/member.html
FOCC member organizations include:
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_______________________________________________________
John Carroll University (OH)
Rev. Edward Glynn, S.J., President
20700 N. Park Blvd., University Heights, OH 44118
Phone: (216) 397-1886
E-mail: eglynn@jcu.edu
I don't think we need to have a bunch of letters after our name to interpret the word of God.
He's a devout Christian trying to share his faith to others. If we were in his position, would we not do the same?
See the film, and then decide for yourself if he has advanced the kingdom of God.
From what I have seen, I think it will be a movie that all others like it will be judged.
God Bless!
That's great. Why don't we just stop going to church as well, surely that would decrease the tension between Christians and the ADL. That is the goal, isn't it?
Bump!
LOL!!!!!
What a great word to describe them.
I'm stealing it so you'll probably see me using it from now on. Sorry but I'm known to be a copycat when it comes to people I admire, especially when they use good words.
Craven.
I found your post above combined with your screenname and tagline appropriate and humorous.
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