[Conservative til I die]

Just as an aside: The Mass offered at Mr. Gibson's private chapel is the Tridentine, in Latin.

Question about Mel's beliefs. I've read conflicting reports, one that he's a schismatic Traditionalist type, thinks Vatican II is illegitimate and the Pope illegitimate as well, the other, that he's just a more Traditional, yet orthodox Catholic. This article seems to support the latter view, since he consulted the Vatican on the film. Anyone know?

[Goetz_von_Berlichingen]

From what I can recall, it is Mel's father that you are describing. I believe the father actually published a (quasi?-)schismatic newsletter (perhaps the inspiration for Conspiracy Theory?). As far as I know, the actor is a Traditionalist in communion with Rome.

[Petronski]

Someone as conservative as Gibson might very well be in schism with the American Catholic Church, but he is completely in line with Rome, rest assured.

[It's me]

Question about Mel's beliefs. I've read conflicting reports, one that he's a schismatic Traditionalist type, thinks Vatican II is illegitimate and the Pope illegitimate as well, the other, that he's just a more Traditional, yet orthodox Catholic. This article seems to support the latter view, since he consulted the Vatican on the film. Anyone know?

Seems that his dad is the schismatic and that's part of the reason he went to Austrailia. Gibson is an orthodox Catholic. He apparently brought his daughter to visit Franciscan University at Steubenville, Ohio a few months ago. If he was a schismatic he certainly wouldn't have considered Franciscan University. (This is the daughter who is interested in becoming a nun. --Which he is very happy about, I might add.)