Mel Gibson's film will melt hearts of stone, says priest

High-ranking Vatican priest watches controversial movie — and loves it, reports Christina Farrell A SENIOR VATICAN Official has watched Mel Gibson's film about the death of Jesus Christ and declared there is "absolutely nothing" antiSemitic about it.
Gibson turned down a request for a screening of his controversial movie, "The Passion of Christ," at a Vatican-sponsored film conference.
But the Australian star did allow a select audience of senior officials from the Vatican Secretariat of State, the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to view the film in a private screening.
The 7th Congress on the Church and the Cinema had hoped to show the film behind closed doors to conference participants. Organisers were 90 per cent sure they had Gibson's agreement but at the last minute he turned down the request because editing on the film's final version was not yet complete.
Gibson is believed to have toned down some of the film's most violent scenes though he has promised a preview screening before the film goes on general release next year.
Andrea Piersanti, one of the organisers of the conference, said it was a missed opportunity to publicly dispel criticism against the movie.
"It's too bad, because this was a perfect occasion and the film would have been seen by the best experts from Catholic universities gathered at the conference," Mr Piersanti said.
Fr Augustine di Noia, undersecretary of the Doctrinal Congregation, was among the specially selected audience to view the film.
The American Dominican, who taught theology in Washington DC for over 20 years, said the film was an "intensely religious experience" and a production of "exquisite artistic and religious sensitivity".
"In a way that only great art can do, Mel Gibson's film helps us grasp something almost beyond our comprehension," he said.
"There is a powerful sense, sustained throughout the film, of the cosmic drama of which we are all a part. There is no possibility of neutrality here, and no one can remain simply an onlooker in these events. The stakes are very high indeed — something that, apart from Christ himself, is most clearly untuited only by his mother Mary, and by the ever-present devil."
Fr di Noia said he was especially stuck by the American actor Jim Caviezel's "outstanding portrayal" of Christ. Speaking on British television last week Caviezel said it had been an incredible experience. People on set came up to him crying "Jesu. Jesu". visibly moved by his portrayal of Christ's agonised walk to Golgotha.
Fr di Noia denied that the film was excessively violent. He said it was brutal but not gratuitous. "The artistic sensibility at work here is clearly more that of Grunwald and Caravaggio than that of Fra Angelico or Pinturrichio."
An early draft of the film's script was condemned for its anti-Semitic portrayal of Jews.
But the American priest said emphatically "there is absolutely nothing antiSemitic or anti-Jewish about Mel Gibson's film". He said it showed "we are all to blame" for the suffering and death of Christ".
Fr di Noia added: "We must acknowledge that our sins arc among those Christ bore, in order to be included in his prayer, 'Father forgive them for they know not what they do'."
He said the film would enable audiences to deepen their understanding of the passion and death of Jesus of Nazareth. Throughout Christian history the faithful have been encouraged to meditate on the passion of Christ and Fr di Noia said Gibson's film Would move people "to this kind of love".
"Your heart will have to be made of stone for it to remain unmoved by this extraordinary film and by the unfathomable depth of divine love it endeavours to bring to life on the screen."
'The Passion of Christ" will premiere on Ash Wednesday next year.