Mel Doesn't Stick To Scripture In Crime Of "Passion"

New York Post ^ | June 13, 2003 | Andrea Peyser

[VermiciousKnid]

June 13, 2003 -- THE film has yet to be released. But top Catholic and Jewish scholars who've read a script for Mel Gibson's $40 million "The Passion" - his self-financed epic about Jesus' death - told me they fear depictions of 1st-century Jews as money-grubbing Christ-killers will foment anti-Jewish violence.

The script has been reviewed by five advisory-board members of the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops, along with four members of the Jewish Anti-Defamation League.

The result was a blistering report, in which the scholars uniformly condemned the script. A copy of the "confidential" report was obtained by Eric Greenberg of The Jewish Week.

One Jewish scholar told me that she got so upset about what she feels are the script's over-the-top depictions of Jewish characters as "wicked, wicked, wicked - scrupulously dishonest, enjoying causing pain" that she plans to throw out her collection of Gibson videotapes.

"I can't look at them," she said.

[VermiciousKnid]

Andrea Peyser speaks her mind.

Of course, if she's ticked off, I'm probably going to LOVE this movie.

Regards,

[stuartcr]

I think the key thing to remember here is....THIS IS A MOVIE...produced to generate revenue and entertain.

[VirginiaBuckeye]

I have, or course, not seen this movie, but wouldn't Jesus and His disciples also be considered to be "Jewish" characters?

[Corin Stormhands]

"There's a level of physical violence done to Jesus that far exceeds what the gospel presents," one said. "Whips, chains, beating, rods. I mean, he's absolutely pulped by the time he gets nailed."

I think that's exactly what scripture tell us. I'm glad Mel isn't bowing to the PC crowd. The crucifixion wasn't just three little wounds and some scratches. It was brutal. It was bloody. It was gory.

I think Mel is attempting to portray the real physical suffering that Christ endured.

Those that would deny it or sugar coat it simply haven't come to grips with the reality of what He did.

[stuartcr]

To include, of course, the tens of thousands, or even more, that have been subjected to similar punishments throughout history.

[Corin Stormhands]

But only one was the Savior of mankind.

[stuartcr]

As some would believe, true, but many have suffered far more for their beliefs.

[Corin Stormhands]

I know you have a different "perspective" stuart, and I'm not inclined to spend the day here discussing this with you.

But, for Christians, Christ's sacrifice was brutal both physically and spiritually. He bore the weight and the sin of the entire world.

Certainly millions have been butchered in far more inhumane ways.

This isn't their story.

[stuartcr]

I agree, but to keep this in perspective, we must remember this is a movie, not a real-time documentary. The producers have every right to create it so it will fulfill their wishes....which is probably to make money, entertain, and present the story as they want.

[Corin Stormhands]

I think you just said what I was saying, but I'm not sure.

[stuartcr]

Me neither, but OK.

[LiteKeeper]

I see nothing in the "claims" of the critics that is inconsistent with Scripture. It was an angry, crazed crowd that called for the crucifixion of Christ. It was lying witnesses before a Sanhedrin that was bent on condemning Christ during the "kangaroo court" proceedings that drove them to continue going from venue to venue until they got a conviction.

Perhaps the brief descriptions of the Gospels, and the gap of nearly 2000 years, has softened the story. I think Mel has got it right...if those who are offended don't like it - tough!

[Blessed]

What needs to be understood is that the facts are as you stated.The heresy is in asigning guilt to the Jews and then using this to promote hate or anti-semitism.I don't believe this is what Mel intends.

[LiteKeeper]

The heresy is in asigning guilt to the Jews and then using this to promote hate or anti-semitism.

"Assigning guilt" is one thing - it was the Sanhedrin and the Jewish mob that called for the Crucifixion. That can't be denied. Using that as an "excuse for anti-Semitism and to promote hate" is an entirely different thing. Even Jesus said "forgive them for they don't know what they are doing."

[Blessed]

This difference is not one all Christians understand.I remember as a teenager reading in the paper that the Pope had just announced that the Jews were not responsible for the crusifixion.My reaction was duh!Who believes that any way.It was only as I got older that I learned this was a teaching in the RC church and was also used by a number of hate groups such as Rockwell's American Nazi Party.

[TotusTuus]

Gibson claimed in a letter last month to the Conference of Bishops - the Vatican's arm in this country - that the script was stolen. .........

Monsignor Francis Maniscalco released a statement in which the Catholic body distanced itself from its scholars - saying they had acted without the authorization of the Catholic Conference.

Well, well. That's a very interesting tidbit! Makes one wonder if the "scholars" have an agenda....

[TotusTuus]

It was only as I got older that I learned this was a teaching in the RC church ...

Incorrect. The problem comes from the Gospel accounts where the term "Jews" is used, referring primarily to the Sanhedrin. Not read in context of the culture, etc., a tendency for some people to apply the term to Jews as a whole took root. The Pope wrote in order to clarify this interpretation because, unfortuanately, the obvious for educated people needed to be done.

[John Locke]

Gibson claimed in a letter last month to the Conference of Bishops - the Vatican's arm in this country - that the script was stolen.

Let's see: a bunch of flaming liberal "scholars", many of them repudiated by their own organization, read a stolen script, write a supposedly "confidential" report, and then deliberately leak it to their flaming liberal shills in the flaming liberal press, who then denounce the script without seeing it themselves and without giving their victim the right of reply.

I think the issue here is not a crime committed 2000 years ago.

[qwertyz]

Gibson has said something like: the bloodier the story, the greater the redemption. From Braveheart to Patriot to We Were Soldiers, there's a river of blood.

[ardara]

The conference of Bishops have played this distancing game before. It is like a newspaper retraction.The harm is done. The Bishops know most people believe the Catholic Bishops oppose Mel Gibson's movie.