Pope on Gibson film: It is as it was

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20031218/en_nm/pope_film_dc_3

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope John Paul (news - web sites) has seen Mel Gibson (news)'s controversial film "The Passion" about Christ's final hours and was moved by it, a Vatican (news - web sites) source said Thursday.


He said the pope saw the film with his long-time Polish secretary, Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, about 10 days ago.

The source also confirmed reports that the pope told his secretary after viewing the film: "It is as it was," meaning he considered it an authentic portrayal of Gospel accounts of the last hours in Christ's life.

I like seeing a historically accurate film.

I dread this film.

...shudder...

ON EDIT: I haven't seen it, but word is Gibson is pretty radical RW--but maybe not. I'll rely on the previews from y'all!

Just out of curiousity.

You've never seen it.

Having been raised RC and being still very attached to it despite my decision to no longer be active due to reasons too numerous to go into here.

Let's just say that considering the state of the world right now, where religious fundamentalism, both here and abroad, is so active, that this movie, with its attempt to "show it like it was", makes me very uneasy. Maybe I just dread all the hoopla that is sure to come again if it goes into wide release, etc.

But hey, I get the willies when I see certain bumperstickers, too.

As an RC this will only reinforce the message I was thought, that we did this to Christ, to God Himself, and He forgave us. That's basically been my message from the the entire Bible and specifically from the Passion.

Now... that is said from a mainstream religion POV... the same religions that opposed this decade's wars and the neo-conservative agenda (something else that's rarely reported in the US).

How the more recent fundamentalist religions are going to interpret this?... You may have a point. From a theological POV, I've never understood their biblical reasoning. Maybe someone else can chime in.

The vatican is full of stuff you aren't allowed to know about and some stuff you are but have never heard of.

I was wondering what happened to "Cool Brittania" and "Wavy Gravy".

Now I know.

there are lots of stories about Christ and other gospels not included in the New Testament which many Christians don't even know exist. The Church has a rich history of diversity in the early years and it's never really discussed except in academia.

For all but a few, the day of Christ's death was just another day in occupied Jerusalem. It's a much bigger day for us 2,000 years later and that's the lens we see through.

Maybe I would be more appreciative if the film was about his years of evangelism and not about his death. For me, that is the real story.

follows the "book" (the four Gospels.)

follows the "book" (the four Gospels.)

Sorry for the double post!

have been there personally...:7

he was actually at the crucifixion, so he can confirm that it is "as it was". I think I read somewhere that the Pope was selling cotton-candy at the time.

Hollywood has never produced a biblically accurate portrayal of Jesus' passion. Can't wait to see it. I can't see what all the fuss is about as long as it's an authentic portrayal of Gospel accounts. Unless of course people want to re-write the Gospels.

I bet it will be a great movie.

but it will give us a better understanding of the events of Christ's Passion. The AMA Journal had an article some fifteen years ago about death by crucifixion that made clear what a horrific death Jesus had.

I wonder if Gibson is scheduling it to come out during Lent? It would be appropriate.


More from the Yahoo article:

"Many Vatican officials have seen the film in its latest form and have rejected charges of anti-Semitism.

"I loved it and it is not anti-Semitic," Father Augustine Di Noia, a senior official in the Vatican's doctrinal department, told Reuters Thursday.

Asked if the film was as violent as has been reported, Di Noia said: "It not just violent, it's brutal."

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335345/releaseinfo

I'm up in the air if I want to see this movie or not. Not because of the religious nature, but because I can't stand Mel Gibson

X(

Catholic Priest if he thinks the film is Anti-Semetic????

That's like asking W if he hates poor people. Of course he'd never cop to it!

Also, how can anyone be sure that the bible is an "accurate" record of what happened or even if it DID happen. Sorry if I offend anyone, but I just think that all written history is propaganda.

The ironic thing is, this movie won't generate nearly as much controversy as "The Reagans." And after all, it's about a fictional person, not a real one.

This movie has already generated more controversy than "The Reagans."

And can you prove he didn't exsist?

I don't have to prove Jesus didn't exist. It's up to his followers to prove he did exist. But you're right, that was a pretty inflamatory post.

I apologize for jumping down your throat about it. My fiance and I have a constant debate about faith and religion and one of the points that we debate is if he really did exsist. I say if people believe he exsisted and base their faith from that...who am I to judge?

I might see it.

My word's as good as the Pope's on this matter.

I don't want christ to be the center of a racism debate. It does not glorify the man to be used this way.

The Pharisees were responsible for his death by handing him over to the Romans.

the jews have fought a stereotype that they killed the messiah, since... well, they killed the jesus....

it was a source of a large amount of enmity of towards jews from xtian groups for a lonnnnggggg time... very ingrained, actually...

anyway... i think that jewish groups are afraid that this will reignite the entire "christ killer" crap...

When God is a woman?