www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall 'It Is as It Was': Mel Gibson's "The Passion" gets a thumbs-up from the pope

Well, looks to me that the "liberal media" has lied to us once again.

The Vatican has responded to this and said that the Pope has given no review either way!

A small excerpt follows:

Pope's Passion verdict denied


VATICAN CITY�Although Pope John Paul II watched at least part of Mel Gibson's film, The Passion Of The Christ, he made no comment about it, said a senior Vatican official.

"The Holy Father saw it, but he made no comment. He watched in silence," the official told the Catholic News Service on Wednesday. "The Holy Father does not comment, does not give judgments on art," the official said. "I repeat: There was no declaration, no judgment from the pope."

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Co...pageid=968867495754&col=969483191630

Is one of many URLS for the full story.

Interesting, no?

Second: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/20031224.htm is another source of this information.

This new message makes me very sad, especially if someone is hopeful of making more $$$ from the original statement.

james

I'm just looking forward to seeing the film. Incognitus

Perhaps it is the cardinals who are lying about the Pope's response because, if admitted and flaunted, might put the good relationship with the Juden on the rocks.

Logos Teen

Hal...
I don't have a flame thrower with me, so you are safe(I wouldn't use it if I had one anyway...everyone is entitled to their opinion), but I think movies are a good teaching tool, especially for children(that's how my mom, who is Jewish, taught us the faith that she wasn't too sure of). Some people are very visual...they need to see what it is you want them to learn. Isn't that, after all, the reason for Icons and religous paintings, statues and stained glass? My mom and sister visited recently for my daughter's b-day and when my mom walked in and saw my Icons and religous art she quipped that she felt she had to be on her best behaviour because of the all the 'eyes' on her...and considering the trouble my mom can get into sometimes, not to mention cause, it actually did work that way...childish, yes, but if it gets the point across, if it serves the purpose...

As for the movie containing details that the Gospel doesn't...too often people tend to take the Crucifixion for granted...they are used to clean statues and Icons that don't show the full extent of what the Romans did to those they beat and crucified...they are used to the Gospel accounts that really aren't very bloody...might it not be a good thing that this movie will show a crucifixion in all it's gory detail to make people stop and think about exactly what our sins costed Him and how much He loves us?

Vie

Admin and others...
I heard recently that some Bishops are putting a spin on the Holy Father's statements and are claiming that he didn't in fact say anything...is this someone just trying to downplay his approval of the film or has there been an another official statement released by the Vatican?

Considering how against this film some American Bishops were in the beginning, I wouldn't be surprised if the Holy Father's comments disturbed them...

Vie

Dear Vie:

Your comment regarding icons is certainly well-taken, but I would urge you to remember that icons (if properly written) have a specific theological content and message. Everything in the icon means something - from its use of color to the exagerated facial features and body positions, etc. etc. etc.

As for statutes and painted depitions of religious scenes, well, they're great art and I do greatly apprectiate them on an artisitic level, the Byzantine in me finds that they also lose something of the theological message.

Now that you have given me a chance to reflect (thanks ), this is probably the problem I have with the movies. Specifically, it is impossible for a motion picture to give us the theological richness of a (properly written) icon.

Once again, it may be great art on one hand, but I humbly feel that it also "dumbs down" our Faith.

Yours,

hal

Hal...
you are certainly welcome and yes, I can see your point now as well. I mean it might be great art, but as a theological truth, it is only as faithful to the Truth as the person who is creating it(if that makes sense). Over the years there have been blasphemous images of the Sacred that the Public has protested...the images might have been considered as great art(standards have sunken I think ), but they did not contain any sense of theological truth and did nothing to further the understanding of the faith.