July 23, 2003

THE PASSION OVER THE PASSION

7/17 - The New Republic, Paula Fredriksen
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO GIBSON. Mad Mel
"We already knew that Gibson's efforts to be "as truthful as possible" (his own words in the Times) would be frustrated by the best sources that he had to draw on, namely, the Gospels themselves."

7/22 - Washington Post, Lloyd Grove
Mel Gibson's Washington Power Play
"Yesterday's secret screening at the Motion Picture Association of America included columnists Peggy Noonan, Cal Thomas and Kate O'Beirne; conservative essayist Michael Novak; President Bush's abortive nominee for labor secretary, Linda Chavez; staff director Mark Rodgers of the Senate Republican conference chaired by Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.); former Republican House member Mark Siljander of Michigan; and White House staffer David Kuo, deputy director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives."

7/22 - Boston Globe, Alex Beam
Is Mel Gibson's film passion for Jesus misplaced?
"What these people don't understand, what Mel Gibson and his ilk don't understand, is that the literal truth of Jesus' story isn't what animates Christian belief. Many of us are awed by the figurative beauty of a story that created a system of values and beliefs that has survived for 2,000 years and has a reasonable possibility of surviving even Italian vamp Monica Bellucci's depiction of Mary Magdalene in Gibson's vanity outing."

7/22 Newsday, Laura Eisenberg
Stirring Passions - Gibson's film about Jesus raises Jews' fears
"However high-minded his intentions, the filmmaker appears to have stepped on a theological landmine."

 

7/21 - USA Today, Michael Medved
'Passion' elicits unfair conflict
"Perhaps (Gibson's) efforts may yet achieve an uplifting ending to the story of his production, allowing the ADL to go back to doing what it does so effectively: concentrate on real dangers to Jews from real enemies who wish us real harm. Certainly, the Islamic terrorists and their sympathizers who loathe both "Zionists" (Jews) and "Crusaders" (Christians) can only smile at the utterly gratuitous divisions between the two faiths over an unfinished movie."

7/21 NewsMax.com
New Republic Attacks Mel Gibson
"The smear campaign against Mel Gibson's "The Passion" by people who haven't even seen the movie continues. Gibson's defenders, however, refuse to be silenced."

7/18 - Steve Gushee, Palm Beach Post
"Sadly, the fundamental roots of anti-Semitism, that Jews killed Jesus, persist among the ignorant and the evil. Gibson might fuel their delusions."

7/17 - NewsMax.com, James Hirsen
Mel Gibson's 'Passion' Shakes Up Hollywood
"Mel is actually using Scripture as his source. And he’s telling the literal truth."

7/10 - Christian Science Monitor, Jane Lampman
Capturing the Passion

7/9 - World Net Daily, David Horowitz
Ted Baehr's uncharitable commentary

7/7 - JesusJournal.com
Mel Gibson's New Film "Theologically Accurate"

7/8 - World Net Daily
Mel Gibson's passion for 'The Passion'

7/8 - World Net Daily, Ted Baehr
Beware the bigoted kibitzers

7/4 - Daniel Treiman, The Forward
Report on Mel Gibson Movie Splits Jewish, Catholic Groups

7/2 - The Washington Times, Julia Duin
Mel Gibson looks right for movie on Jesus

6/24 - ADL Statement On The Passion