GIBSON'S PASSION (New York Sun op-ed by ADL National Director Abraham H. Foxman)

The New York Sun/ADL Website ^ | 8/4/03 | Abraham H. Foxman

[DPB101]

Anti-Defamation League Note: This op-ed originally appeared in the New York Sun on August 4, 2003.

Discussions about Mel Gibson's forthcoming movie "The Passion" have taken a disturbing turn. Rather than focusing on an effort to find out whether Mr. Gibson is making a movie on the death of Jesus that is consistent with church teachings and free of the anti-Semitism that haunted passion dramas for centuries, the very raising of questions is now being depicted as a part of the culture wars that have overwhelmed American society in recent years.

Movie critic Michael Medved put the issue in the context of "liberal activists, who worry over the ever-increasing influence of religious traditionalism in American life." And Kathie Lee Gifford writes that Mr. Gibson "is being so tormented for something that he has every right to do - as an artist in a free country where he is supposed to have the freedom to express and practice his own faith."

This is a strange and unfortunate reaction to the legitimate questions that have been raised. Let us remember that the Catholic church itself and Pope John Paul II, hardly a liberal, revolutionized centuries-old teachings about Jews and Judaism related to the death of Jesus. Recognition by the Vatican of the devastating effects of church teachings about Jews - blaming Jews for the crucifixion, delegitimizing Judaism as a religion, not speaking clearly against anti-Semitism - created new Church doctrine which has transformed Catholic-Jewish relations.

Whether one is conservative or liberal, indeed whatever ones views concerning which is best for American society, the issue of portraying the death of Jesus as a Jewish crime has long been rejected.

Why have we been raising questions as to whether Mr. Gibson's movie may be returning to outmoded, dangerous views of the Jewish role in the death of Jesus?

First, because there has been a long history of the passion story i.e., the trials, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, being interpreted as holding the Jewish people responsible for killing Jesus.

According to this interpretation, both the Jews at the time of Jesus and the Jewish people for all time bear a divine curse for the sin of deicide. Throughout nearly 1,900 years of Christian-Jewish history, the charge of deicide has led to hatred and violence against Jews of Europe and America, and various forms of anti-Semitic expression. Historically, Holy Week (the week leading up to Easter Sunday) was a period when Jews were most vulnerable and when Christians perpetrated some of the worst violence against their Jewish neighbors.

In 1965, at the Second Vatican Council in Rome, the Roman Catholic Church took formal steps to correct this interpretation of the passion. In its document, Nostra Aetate, the Church officially repudiated both the deicide charge and all forms of anti-Semitism. Most Protestant churches followed suit, and since 1965 many Christians have worked cooperatively with Jews to correct anti-Semitic interpretations within Christian theology. Understanding the influential role that passion plays have exercised in the spread of anti-Semitism, the Catholic Church today urges great caution in all dramatic presentations of the passion to ensure that they not furnish any impetus for anti-Semitic attitude or behavior.

In 1988, the Catholic United States Bishops Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs issued a pamphlet, "Criteria for the Evaluation of Dramatizations of the Passion," which stresses that passion plays must avoid caricatures of Jews and falsely opposing Jews and Jesus. It quotes Pope John Paul II's statement that, "Catholic teaching should aim to present Jews and Judaism in an honest and objective manner, free from prejudices and without and offenses." The pamphlet concludes that correct Catholic teaching of the passion is one that portrays Jews accurately, sensitively and positively, because "the Church and the Jewish people are linked together essentially on the level of identity."

Second, a group of Catholic and Jewish scholars of the first century examined a draft of the screenplay of the film. In the words of Paula Fredrickson, one of the scholars, "the script, when we got it, shocked us." She noted that the scholars "pinpointed its historical errors and - again, since Mr. Gibson has so trumpeted his own Catholicism - its deviations from magisterial principles of biblical interpretation."

She went on to say: "That script - and, on the evidence, the film -- presents neither a true rendition of the gospel stories nor a historically accurate account of what could have happened in Jerusalem, on Passover, when Pilate was prefect and Caiaphas was high priest.… The true historical framing of Mr. Gibson's script is neither early first century Judea (where Jesus of Nazareth died) nor the last first-century Mediterranean dispora (where the evangelists composed their Gospels). It is post-medieval Roman Catholic Europe."

Third, because Mr. Gibson, a "traditionalist" Catholic, has expressed strong criticisms of the modern church and is supportive of views of church policy that question or reject the many 20th-century changes, including the revolution in attitudes toward Jews beginning with Nostra Aetate in 1965.

This combination of history, an early version of the script, and reports about Mr. Gibson's views understandably raised concerns. We have not, however, reached conclusions about the film because we haven't seen it and because the producers say they have made changes. We have, instead, asked the producers for an opportunity to see a preview of the film. If our concerns would turn out to be unjustified, we will be eager to say so. If problems remain, we will be happy share our suggestions with Mr. Gibson.

In a world when anti-Semitism has undergone a frightening resurgence, one of the hopeful perspectives is the fact that the Church has changed so dramatically. We urge the makers of "The Passion" to continue this important progress that has benefited Christians and Jews.

[dennisw]

I'm very unhappy when I see the Jewish dominated ACLU ganging up against the Boy Scouts, public prayer, 10 Commandments Monument in Alabama and Christmas crèches. Mel Gibson's film will be seen in many countries. It might incite hatred of Jews in some of these places same as the Passion Plays of old incited many a pogrom. From this standpoint Foxman is right to express concern

At the same time Horowitz says the film is great.

[Pharmboy]

Loved it, man!!

Foxman should be playing pinochle and heading for early-bird specials. He'd be doing less damage to us Jews that way...

[Cacophonous]

Has Foxman seen it? I don't recall seeing it in the article. If he hasn't seen it, then he has NO room for criticism.

[Alouette]

the secular humanist liberal Jewish dominated ACLU

Or is that self-understood whenever you say ACLU?

They get just as hysterical whenever Chabad puts up public menorahs for Chanukah.

[ultima ratio]

This is nonsense. There is no new doctrine regarding the Jews. The Catholic Church can't invent doctrines in order to get along better with Jews or anybody else. It can't rescind official teachings which are binding on the faithful, no matter how politically correct it may seem to do so. Catholics, along with other Christians, are obliged to accept the evidence of the Gospels--which explains unequivocally that the chief priests and the Pharisees sought to arrest Jesus to have him eliminated. No public relations ploy by ADL can change this.

And while it is true that crimes have been perpetrated against the Jews on the part of some who have called themselves Christians, the Church itself has never sought to delegitimize Judaism in any way nor to preach anti-Semitism. This is a falsehood tantamount to slander. The ADL should know better. It is also speaking nonsense when it declares there was "no Jewish role" in the death of Jesus. Of course there was--and all Christians know it. But we do not blame the Jewish people themselves for what transpired. The death of Jesus was the fault of all of all of us. THAT has been the perennial teaching of the Church which ADL conveniently ignores.

[DPB101]

Every premise in this op-ed is false.

[kstewskis]

Oh, so true. It needs to be repeated.

And often.

[kstewskis]

...getting sick of this "spew" yet?-PING!!

I need an antedote....quick.

Ahhhh....I'm feeling better now....

(sorry Jay...bear with me!)

[dennisw]

Every premise in this op-ed is false.

Your premises are wrong.

1) That this film will not be seen in places where it might be uh .....  misunderstood.... Where it might serve as potent anti Jewish propaganda.      I'm not talking about the United States but I am talking about certain Muslim countries and certain places in Europe.

2) That because you don't care about #1, people who do are to be heaped with opprobrium. Such as the Jews that raise some misgiving. Abe Foxmann for this thread

3) You forget or plain don't care that Passion plays in the past have lead to programs and riots against Jews. And at times were staged to accomplish this. Therefore Jewish concern is legitimate.

I haven't seen the film so don't know how it stacks up against the Passion plays of old. I think some are still put on?

[dennisw]

And while it is true that crimes have been perpetrated against the Jews on the part of some who have called themselves Christians, the Church itself has never sought to delegitimize Judaism in any way nor to preach anti-Semitism.

Is "the Church" the Roman Catholic Church? It has not preached anti Semitism at any time during the last 2000 years? What was the Inquisition? A mirage?

 

[dennisw]

Here's a book for ya! http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0375406239/qid=1054685031/sr=lmlf-9/ref=cm_lm_asin/103-7423797-8152664?v=glance

[RinaseaofDs]

Amen, Alleluia!

[ultima ratio]

First, the Church had a moderating effect on the Spanish Inquisition--but the inquisitors were appointed by Isabella and Ferdinand.

Second, the expulsion of all Jews from Spain by Torquemada was followed by the expulsion of all Muslims. Jews were not singled out just for being Jews. The issue was religious, not ethnic. In addition, unorthodox Christians suffered just as much.

Third, the charges against the Inquisition are overblown. Modern scholars have determined that in 350 years only about 4000 people perished, an average of about 4 people per year. (According to Will Durant.)

Fourth, because of the Inquisition, Spain never suffered the religious warfare experienced by the rest of Europe--conflicts which took hundreds of thousands of lives.

[ultima ratio]

Where have riots ever broken out after the performance of Passion Plays? I have heard this claim--but have never seen any credible evidence that this has ever actually occurred. Perhaps in Nazi Germany--but surely not elsewhere--and surely not in modern times.

When the ADL and other Jewish organizations make this charge, they fail to see how aggressive and offensive this sounds to Christians who have an altogether different take on such matters. To Christians this sounds like interference by those outside the faith. When ADL denies outright any Jewish role in the death of Jesus, this sounds to Christians like a challenge to the veracity of the Gospels themselves. This can only injure Jewish-Christian relations.

[ultima ratio]

It is this sort of anti-Catholicism--claiming the Vatican waged an anti-Semitic war against the Jews--that most Catholics find outrageous. Over the years I've read a great deal of this propaganda--half-truths, outright lies, and carefully manipulated journalistic distortions not unlike the nonsense being written about Mel Gibson's movie and by extension about the Gospel accounts themselves--purporting to find evil where none was ever intended. Why should this kind of anti-Catholic bigotry be any more tolerable than anti-Semitism?

[Northern Yankee]

Excellent points you make!

In the Gospel of John Jesus also tells Pilate, and all who were present, "You would have no authority over me unless it were given to you by my father."

Again over the centuries the Catholic Church has understood this meaning, and has not leveled charges against anyone. This would only counter all that Jesus has said.

I certainly feel that these accusations against Mel's movie have more to do with shutting him up, than actually charging anything based on anti-semitism.

[Northern Yankee]

In regards to post # 28...

Not a problem.

BTW... who's the guy in the chair? (Grins)

[GirlShortstop]

If our concerns would turn out to be unjustified, we will be eager to say so.

ROFLMAO!    

Thanks kstew for the *pic* and the ping!

[Sloth]

1) That this film will not be seen in places where it might be uh ..... misunderstood.... Where it might serve as potent anti Jewish propaganda. I'm not talking about the United States but I am talking about certain Muslim countries and certain places in Europe.

I'm not Catholic, but everything I've heard says this movie attempts to stick as closely as possible to the gospel accounts. If it can be used as "anti-Jewish propaganda", then presumably so can the New Testament.

So would you condemn a Christian for ignoring the "misgivings" of non-Christians about the New Testament? Why? Should a Jew be worried about my "misgivings" concerning the Talmud?

[wimpycat]

I certainly feel that these accusations against Mel's movie have more to do with shutting him up, than actually charging anything based on anti-semitism.

Me, too. There's more anti-Christianity at work here than anti-Semitism. The ones screaming the loudest over this movie seem to hate religion in general, overt expressions of devotion specifically, and overt expressions of Christian devotion most of all.

I wonder how often Ms. Fredrickson, a "scholar", actually observes the Sabbath according to her faith. I wonder if she believes in anything she studies. I simply don't believe she's genuinely concerned or genuinely expects a new wave of "pogroms" against Jews due to this movie. I think their report was a hit piece by religion-haters and Christian-haters in particular.

These synagogue burnings and beatings of Jews around Europe certainly aren't happening because of Mel Gibson's movie.