"How ironic that when a movie producer takes artistic license with historical events, he is lionized as artistic, creative and brilliant, but when another takes special care to be true to the real life story, he is vilified.
"Actor-producer Mel Gibson is discovering these truths the hard way as he is having difficulty finding a United States studio or distributor for his upcoming film. The Passion, which depicts the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus Christ.
"Gibson co-wrote the script and financed, directed and produced the movie. For the script, he and his co-author relied on the New Testament Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, as well as the diaries of Saint Anne Catherine Emmerich and Mary of Agreda’s ‘The City of God.’
"So committed to portraying realistically what many would consider the most important half day in the history of the Universe, Gibson even shot the film in the Aramaic language of the period. In response to objections that viewers will not be able
to understand that language, Gibson said, ‘Hopefully, I’ll be able to transcend the language barriers with my visual storytelling; if I fail, I fail, but at least it’ll be a monumental failure.’
"To further insure the accuracy of the work, Gibson has enlisted the counsel of pastors and theologians, and has received rave reviews. Don Hodel, president of ‘Focus on the Family’, said, ‘I was very impressed. The movie is historically and theologically accurate.’ Ted Haggard, pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and president of the National Evangelical Association, glowed, ‘It conveys more accurately than any other film who Jesus was.’
"During the filming, Gibson, a devout Catholic, attended Mass every morning because ‘We had to be clean just working on this. I’m not a preacher, and I’m not a pastor. But I really feel my career was leading me to make this. The Holy Ghost was working through me on this film, and I was just directing traffic. I hope the film has the power to evangelize.’
"Even before the release of the movie, scheduled for March 2004, Gibson is getting his wish. ‘Everyone who worked on this movie was changed. There were Agnostics and Muslims on set converting to Christianity. . . . . And people being healed of diseases.’ Gibson wants people to understand through the movie the incalculable influence Christ has had on the world and he grasps that Christ is controversial precisely because of WHO HE IS – GOD INCARNATE.
"Gibson is beginning to experience first hand just how controversial Christ is. Critics have not only speciously challenged the movie’s authenticity, but have charged that it is disparaging to Jews, which Gibson vehemently denies. ‘This is not a Christian vs. Jewish thing. Jesus came into the world, and it knew him not. Looking at Christ’s crucifixion, I look first at my own culpability in that.’
"Jesuit Father William J. Fulco, who translated the script into Aramaic and Latin, said he saw no hint of anti-Semitism in the movie. Fulco added, ‘I would be aghast at any suggestion that Mel Gibson is anti-Semitic.’
"Nevertheless, certain groups and some in the mainstream press have been very critical of Gibson’s ‘Passion’. Boston Globe columnist James Carroll denounced Gibson’s literal reading of the biblical accounts. ‘Even a faithful repetition of the Gospel stories of the death of Jesus can do damage exactly because those sacred texts themselves carry the virus of Jew hatred’, wrote Carroll.
"A group of Jewish and Christian academics has issued an 18-page report slamming all aspects of the film, including its undue emphasis on Christ’s passion rather than ‘a broader vision’. The report disapproves of the movie’s treatment of Christ’s passion as historical fact.
"In our anti-Christian culture, the blasphemous The last Temptation of Christ is celebrated, and ‘The Passion’ is condemned. But if this movie continues to affect people the way it is now, no amount of cultural opposition will suppress its force and its positive impact on lives everywhere. Mel Gibson is a model of faith and courage."
On Thursday, October 9, the Bishops of Caceres, Capiz, Cebu, Jaro and Palo met John Paul II in the Vatican.
Here are some brief excerpts from his talk to them:
"Asians take pride in their religious and cultural values of love of silence, contemplation, simplicity and harmony. There is an innate spiritual insight and moral wisdom in the Asian soul. This is clearly witnessed in the deep religious sentiments of the Filipino people."
"Regular attendance at Sunday Mass, active participation in parish activities and feasts, impressive Marian devotions and the large number of national shrines in your country are examples of the rich Christian heritage which constitutes an integral part of your country’s life and culture."
"Ensure that seminarians and religious houses are training future priests to be dedicated disciples of the Word and Sacrament. It is a complex process that begins with the proper selection of candidates."
"Priestly formation demands a harmoniously blended approach which at all times promotes the priestly virtues of charity, prayer, chastity and faithful celebration of the liturgy, practices unappreciated or even rejected by modern culture and its media."
"Today’s clergy must be careful not to adopt the secular view of the priesthood as a ‘profession’, a ‘career’ and a means of earning a living. Rather, the clergy must see the priesthood as a vocation to selfless, loving service, embracing wholeheartedly the esteemed gift of celibacy and all that this involves."
"Celibacy is to be regarded as an integral part of the priest’s exterior and interior life, and not just as a long standing ideal which is to be respected."
"The scandalous behavior of a few has undermined the credibility of many."
"I am aware of the sensitive way in which you have attempted to address this issue, and I encourage you not to lose hope."
"True discipleship calls for love, compassion and at times strict discipline in order to serve the common good. It should always be just and always be merciful."
John Paul II loves the Philippines, and loves the Filipinos. His talk was gentle and kind. He recognizes problems, faces them, comes to grips with them, and always looks for positive solutions. The Bishops of the Philippines, when they left the Vatican, felt that they had met with a wise leader, who was also their friend.