Diocese of Cleveland Steps Up Its Losing War Against "The Passion of the Christ"

http://theclevelandcatacombs.blogspot.com/ ^ | March 13, 2004 | Brother Solanus

[Knock3Times]

Saturday, March 13, 2004

Diocese of Cleveland Steps Up Its Losing War Against "The Passion of the Christ"


A few weeks back the Cleveland Plain Dealer featured a front page story, 'Passion' movie raises religious fervor, fears. The article informed readers that "The Diocese of Cleveland sent a February memo to all its parishes asking Catholics to be aware of the potential for anti-Semitism."

In addition to this memo, there was a letter sent out to area religious leaders by Father Joseph Hilinski, the Director of the Interfaith Commision, Diocese of Cleveland.

In this letter, Father Hilinski expresses "grave concern" over the movie and states that "to stimulate intolerance in order to promote a movie is reprehensible."

Catholic World News responded with the following commentary:

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Ponder this

The Diocese of Cleveland issues a warning to Catholic parishes that seeing a movie which illustrates the events of the Gospels, may lead to the rise of anti-Semitism in churchgoing Catholics. Meanwhile, a local Catholic university allows the production of the "Vagina Monologues" on campus with proceeds going to a pro-abortion group. The diocese's response when told about this immoral play supporting the murder of babies? "No comment."

Evidently, according to the Diocese of Cleveland, the greater threat to society is a movie about the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, not a play that promotes sexual immorality and the funding of pro-abortion groups.

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe (in me) to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea." (Mark 9:42)

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Now, the Diocese of Cleveland is at again.

The Diocese is bringing to town Sister Mary Boys perhaps the most hyperbolic and ridiculous critic of "The Passion of the Christ."

And if you don't believe me, the Catholic League has the quotes to prove it.

But first, brought to you by the Diocese of Cleveland website, here is the information on the upcoming diocesan sponsored appearance by Sister Mary Boys:




http://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/parishlife/schedule_and_events.htm

Catholic-Jewish Colloquium, Monday, April 19, 2004, 7:30 pm at Tifereth Israel

Sr. Mary Boys of Union Theological, as part of the Catholic-Jewish Colloquium, will speak on Monday, April 19, 2004 at 7:30 pm. The presentation will be at Tifereth Israel, 26000 Shaker Blvd., Beachwood. She will speak on the theme of the challenge of dealing with anti-Semitism in dramatizing the passion narratives of the Gospels on stage and screen. In part, this will be a Catholic response to the Jewish communities questions concerning Mel Gibson's movie, Passion. For more information, contact the Interfaith Commission at (216) 696-6525, Ext. 5110.



WHAT SISTER MARY BOYS HAS TO SAY ABOUT "THE PASSION" AND MEL GIBSON

Cybercast News Service, November 7, 2003;
Sister Mary C. Boys:

"Boys noted that the movie is already 'dividing evangelicals and Catholics—Catholics and Catholics, and Christians and Jews.

"'I don't believe that [given the divisive] result that he [Mel Gibson] could claim that the Holy Spirit is behind this. ...

"'Our concern is what happens after people see the film? Will anti-Semitic actions happen or will attitudes against the Jews be exacerbated by this film?'"

The Jewish Week, September 19, 2003; Sister Mary C. Boys:

"'One of the problems is people are going to see this film and are going to conclude that's the way it is because they don't know anything different, it's part of the religious illiteracy in our country,' Sister Boys said. 'We really have to find ways to educate them about interpreting Scripture more thoughtfully.'"

The Times Union (NY), September 19, 2003;

Sister Mary C. Boys:

"'It's not understanding,' she said of Gibson's script. 'He wouldn't know a scholar if he ran into one.'"

The Evangelist (Diocese of Albany, NY), September 11, 2003;

Sister Mary C. Boys:

"The average Christian goes to see this film, which is going to be incredibly graphic, and [thinks] the people that do this to Jesus are the Jews. This does not do well for Christian-Jewish relations."

National Public Radio, "All Things Considered," September 3, 2003; Sister Mary C. Boys:

"Will this film exacerbate divisions between Christians and Jews? Will this film exacerbate differences between traditionalist Catholics and those who see themselves more in the mainstream? Will this film exacerbate divisions between, say, Catholics and evangelicals? And I think if it does any of those, then I find it difficult to believe that the Holy Spirit is at work."

Associated Press, August 9, 2003; Sister Mary C. Boys:

"For too many years, Christians have accused Jews of being Christ-killers and used that charge to rationalize violence.... This is our fear."

Kansas City Star, August 9, 2003; Sister Mary C. Boys:

"Our fear is that if the film is based on the script we read—which is possible but not necessarily the case—it could promote anti-Semitic sentiments."

The New York Times, August 2, 2003; Sister Mary C. Boys:

"When we read the screenplay, our sense was this wasn't really something you could fix. All the way through, the Jews are portrayed as bloodthirsty. We're really concerned that this could be one of the great crises in Christian-Jewish relations."

Dramatizing the Death of Jesus: Issues that Have Surfaced in Media Reports about the Upcoming Film, The Passion; by Mary C. Boys, Philip A. Cunningham, Lawrence E. Frizzell, John T. Pawlikowski, June 17, 2003:

"We understood from the outset of our review of the script that our report did not represent an official statement of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops….

"Anyone who composes a script for a dramatic presentation of the death of Jesus must draw upon four distinct passion narratives in the four gospels in the New Testament. One cannot assume that by simply conforming to the New Testament

The Jewish Week, March 28, 2003; Sister Mary Boys:

"As a member of the Catholic Church, I regard his thinking as bizarre and dangerous, and suggest that Jews judge them similarly. ...

"We seem to have at best fringe Catholics if not heretical with ... a tragically twisted understanding of the relationship between Judaism and Christianity. It is compounded by the arrogance great wealth makes possible in producing a film that will reopen wounds of history."
that antisemitism [sic] will not be promoted."

# posted by Brother Solanus : 4:47 AM

|

[Diago]

Interestingly enough, if you read post 19, you will see that a priest actually did receive a response from an e-mail to the Diocese of Cleveland:

Enter another reader, a priest from the state of Washington. Yesterday, he emailed the various Cleveland chancery officials noted in the original post, citing the above-quoted sentences, and asking, "is this true?"

He received a reply from Father Lawrence Jurcak, who appears from the diocese's web site to be the recently-named Secretary and Vicar for Clergy and Religious. He forwarded the correspondence to me. Fr. Jurcak's reply read:

You details are not true at all. There is no "warning issued by the Diocese" about not seeing The Passion of the Christ."

[Knock3Times]

You the man.

[Knock3Times]

Cathedral Square Personnel and Phone extensions to 216-696-5625

Office of the Bishop:

The Most Reverend Anthony M. Pilla ex 2030 Fax (216) 696-6547 bishop@dioceseofcleveland.org

Rev. Ed Estok, Administrative Assistant to the Bishop ex 2000 Fax (216) 696-6547

Eileen Von Alt ex 2030



Secretary for Parish Life: Liturgy Office:

Sr. Rita Mary Harwood ex 2200 Rev. J-Glenn Murray ex 4120

rmharwood@dioceseofcleveland.org;



Interfaith Commission: Chancery Office:

Rev. Joseph Hilinske ex 5110 Rev. Ralph Wiatrowski ex 2080 night: (216) 521-8379

Fax (216) 621-7332
Clergy Personnel Vice Chancellor: Rev. David J. Walkowiak ex 2120
Rev. Larry Jurcak ex 2440
ljurcak@dioceseofclevelandorg


Auxiliary Bishops:

Most Rev. A. James Quinn (440) 244-2120 / (216) 579-0326 / Fax (440) 899-1122

Most Rev. Roger W. Gries (216) 361-0873 / Fax (216) 361-0877

Most Rev. Martin J. Amos (330) 762-9651 / Toll Free 1-877-406-1049 / Fax (330) 762-9655



________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo

Apostolic Nuncio to United States of America

3339 Massachusetts Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20008 (202) 333-7121

[churchillbuff]

I assume they're cancelling Palm Sunday and Good Friday Services, because the Passion story would be read?

[Knock3Times]

Here is another story that may interest you.

[Diago]

Some very enlightening information on Sister Mary Boys, who not only hates Mel Gibson and "The Passion of the Christ," but (surprise, surprise) also is linked to Call to Action and support Women Priestesses.

From http://www.runningoff.blogspot.com/:

Saturday, March 13, 2004

SR. MARY BOYS AND ANTI-SEMITISM

Check out Brother Solanus's evaluation of a program being presented to address the anti-Semitism "fostered" by The Passion of the Christ. You know, that (non-existent) anti-Semitism that are are all sharing.

Here is the way that Paul Likoudis characterizes Sr. Mary Boys in a report on Cardinal Mahony's Religious Education congress 2001, "A Parold of Faith":

More Dysfunction

Other speakers at the congress include:

- Sr. Mary Boys of Union Theological Seminary in New York, Call to Action activist, proponent of women's ordination to the priesthood, and a signer of the April 29, 2000 Madeleva Manifesto "envisioning a church future beyond patriarchal domination."

[Diago]

See post#23 for contact info.