'THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST'

February 2004
		Mel Gibson's controversial movie, "The Passion of the Christ," opened Ash Wednesday to mixed reviews. Two theology professors take your questions on the religious and philosophical questions surrounding the film.

Forum Introduction What viewpoint does the Vatican have on Sister Anne Catherine Emmerich? Why would her book on the Passion be or why should it not be a source for depicting the story on film? I am confused about the movie's depiction of the central idea of Christianity as the crucifixion of Jesus. Do you recognize modern-day movies as the new art form in the 21st century in communicating religious messages/themes and specifically the Christian message? If Mel Gibson is in a conservative movement within Catholism that rejects the reforms of Vatican II, wouldn't it follow that he would reject the declaration of that body that Jews were not responsible for Jesus' death? What evidence would you give that Protestant theology has minimized the crucifixion; and would it therefore follow that Catholic theology has minimized the resurrection? Mel Gibson claims the movie is historically accurate but in actuality, isn't the story of Jesus' crucifixion portrayed in the Gospels? So aren't there 6 or so different versions of the story? Where is he getting his historical evidence? Do you feel comfortable with the artistic license Mel Gibson exercised in the dialogue, and a number of events, not found in the Gospels, both personally and theologically?	Sharon Machiz Spielmann of Fairhope, Alabama asks: If Mel Gibson is in a conservative movement within Catholicism that rejects the reforms of Vatican II, wouldn't it follow that he would reject the declaration of that body that Jews were not responsible for Jesus' death? Dr. Robert Johnston responds: This is a misplaced question. The question is not what Gibson might think, but what he has publicly stated (the clearest was in the Diane Sawyer interview). Gibson has been very clear that he does not hold the Jews responsible. For him there are no scapegoats. To nail down his point, he used his own hands in the movie to show someone driving the spikes into Jesus' hands. Dr. Philip Cunningham responds: The Council of Trent in the 16th century taught that Jews cannot be blamed collectively for the crucifixion of Jesus. Therefore, a "Tridentine" Catholic - one who believes the Council of Trent to be more normative than any other subsequent ecclesiastical council - might not hold all Jews liable for Jesus' death and yet still reject such things as the Second Vatican Council's insistence that the New Testament be read in its historical and literary contexts.