[m4629]

Just thought I'd introduce you to this Heretic of the Week. Put him on your radars.

There is one role suitable for him in the movie -- Judas

[BlackRain]

All that Catholic school my parents paid for is for naught.

Why didn't they tell me this 30 years ago?

Bishop? Are you are going to tell me that Christ was not a real person next?

[m4629]

Ping -- Heretic of the Week, revisionist

Take notice, warn others.

[Chris Talk]

If these are the bishop's views, he should resign immediately so that someone who DOES believe can be appointed?

You notice that when these hierarchs lose the faith, they never are willing to give up their power and prestige! There they sit, not willing to enter into salvation themselves, nor willing to get out and let someone who WILL feed the sheep, have the position.

[Tantumergo]

"While the primary source material of the film is attributed to the four gospels, these sacred books are not historical accounts of the historical events that they narrate. They are theological reflections upon the events that form the core of Christian faith and belief." ..... bishop Patrick McGrath of San Jose, CA.

Just in case you're keeping a tally of apostate bishops, I thought you might be interested in this one as well!

[Unam Sanctam]

The bishop would appear to be contradicting the teachings of the Catholic Church. From the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Section 126):

The Church holds firmly that the four Gospels, "whose historicity she unhesitatingly affirms, faithfully hand on what Jesus, the Son of God, while he lived among men, really did and taught for their eternal salvation, until the day when he was taken up."

"For, after the ascension of the Lord, the apostles handed on to their hearers what he had said and done, but with that fuller understanding which they, instructed by the glorious events of Christ and enlightened by the Spirit of truth, now enjoyed."

"The sacred authors, in writing the four Gospels, selected certain of the many elements which had been handed on, either orally or already in written form; others they synthesized or explained with an eye to the situation of the churches, while sustaining the form of preaching, but always in such a fashion that they have told us the honest truth about Jesus."

[aikido7]

The question that Gibson's film ultimately raises is: what is really real? Whose perception of reality is valid? Which perspective is closer to the truth? The religious wars that continue to pockmark human history present ample evidence that millions have been willing to fight and die for their perception of the truth. The sad fact is that—contrary to the impression conveyed by Gibson and others whose spirituality is limited to the story of Jesus' crucifixion—Jesus' agony was not the only or even the ultimate Passion. In fact, the reason that Jesus' crucifixion became central to Christian faith was the conviction of his followers that his agony and death were not the end. Rather than focus on his suffering, they looked beyond in the paradoxical conviction that the Creator had already vindicated Jesus and his vision of a world where all forms of oppression can be resisted and human suffering is relieved. What is really missing from the visions of both Mani and Gibson is the vision of the historical Jewish Jesus himself: that the Creator of this world really cares for all creatures, even enemies, and expects everyone who claims to be his child to do likewise (Matt 5:43-48).

It would be a tragic mistake, therefore, to mimic the Manichean worldview by demonizing Mel Gibson or his movie. Rather he is to be thanked for devoting his own considerable cinematic skills and personal resources to bring The Passion of Christ to the center of international interfaith debate. Even the flaws in his vision provide an unprecedented opportunity for a public catharsis, to exorcise once and for all the demon of cosmic dualism which demonizes the Jews and their vision of God.

To the millions of Christians who will flock to theaters this Lent in the conviction that Gibson's Passion of Christ represents the perfect pre-Easter devotion, may I suggest that you also buy a DVD of Schindler's List. For that is a film that really conveys the vision of Yeshua (Jesus) the Jew: that kindness, hope and forgiveness really can triumph over unspeakable brutality and hatred, even in this world.

==Mahlon Smith