www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Mel Gibson interview on Primetime

This from ABC's Primetime:

In an exclusive interview with ABCNEWS' Diane Sawyer on Primetime, actor and filmmaker Mel Gibson will discuss, for the first time on television, the controversy surrounding his new film, The Passion of the Christ.

Gibson's latest directorial effort, which chronicles the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus Christ, has sparked intense debate even before its release.

The interview will air during a special edition of Primetime on Monday, Feb. 16, from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET on the ABC television network

Thanks for the 'heads up'
Sam

ABC is not being totally honest as EWTN had the first "exclusive" interview about two weeks ago on The World Over. It is to be rebroadcast Feb 20 at 8:00.

Dear Lance,

As you know, one of the media's leading tactics is EXAGERATION. Not too bad in entertainment, but it's hideous when it come to news reporting.

Christ's peace be with you,

Paul

All interviews where no other interviewer is present are "exclusive." It doesn't mean that person has never given an interview before.

It's TV hype, but it's accurate.

--Tim

"Exclusive" can mean either "single, independent, not shared with others" (i.e., Mel's interview was not attended by a press mob) or it can mean "a news item released to only one person or publication" (i.e., an exclusive interviews regarding all the accusations that Mel's movie is anti-Semitic, not an interview about the movie in general).

In a way, ABC is correct because the interview was one-on-one with Dianne Sawyer and in regards to charges that his movie was anti-Semitic, now a timely news item. But it's still a bunch of hype.

Joe

Thanks for the info I will try to watch it. I dont turn on the TV anmore as I dont find anythis worth watching --- So I especially appreciate being informed so that I can Watch the Interview Yours in Christ

Hello, fellow Clevelander!

If it wasn't for cable we probably would not have a TV. The food channel is great!

But I know what you mean by the worth of TV shows.

Joe

Well, I watched the Primetime interview of Mel Gibson with Diane Sawyer. It addressed all the major issues about the Passion of the Christ movie and Mel Gibson. It was pretty good.

Dr. Abraham Foxman, head of the ADL, stated after seeing the movie himself (uninvited though) that it was "powerful." Many viewers were crying and emotional at the end. Dr. Foxman stated that Mel Gibson was not anti-Semitic nor was the movie. He did express concern that the movie "... has the potential to fuel anti-Semitism, to reinforce it."

I believe that was the message that the Cleveland Diocese made the other day: the movie has the POTENTIAL to fuel anti-Semitism.

Mel made a point that he saw Schindler's(sp?) List, but did not come away from the movie hating Germans.

Matthew 27:25 ("his blood be on us and on our children") is still in there, but in Aramaic in the background. No English subtitle actually quoting it. Mel didn't believe that a few seconds to a highly theological verse would do it justice and that it would be taken out of context. Dr. Amy Jill Levine commented that "erasing history is not good" in referring to the issue of removing it.

Mia, a Romanian Jewish woman, who portrays Mary, the mother of Jesus, read the script with her father (a survivor of the Holocaust camp) and agreed that it was poetic.

One of the two main critics of the movie was former Catholic priest Dominic Crossan. He pointed out two problems: (1) that the movie "put brutality at the heart of Christianity" and (2) the context was missing - that "the teachings of Jesus were revolutionary and threatening to the Jewish leaders and the Romans" and that Jesus just had somebody kill him, which made no sense.

But unlike Crossan's version of the crucifixion, at least Jesus doesn't get eaten by dogs ...

Mel stresseed the future hope-oriented message of Jesus' Passion early on in the interview. Crossan seems to think the only message was to be found in the teachings. Period.

Mel responded to the complete story in the Passion itself. The "Twelve" Hours.

Mel was inspired by reading about the Passion by Sr. Anne Catherine Emmerich, who was notorious for being considered anti-Semite by some. Mel claims he never read anything that was anti-Semitic and that his film was based on the Gospels. Emmerich's visions entailed a lot of gory details.

Questions about his motive came up. Basically, despair was threatening him to consider taking his life. He had it all. He became addicted to many things. But HOPE entered the picture via his wife. Mel stated that "she's the best friend I've ever had."

Conclusion about pain: Pain is the precursor of change.

RE: Mel's traditionalist Latin Catholicism. "Catholics," he said, "are confused." He helped build a traditionalist Latin parish that reflected his form of Catholicism: pre-Vatican.

RE: The Vatican flip-flop on what the Pope said. We've heard about the Pope's endorsement and the later denial. Mel states that he received a private email (as well as a number of other reporters) from the Pope's personal press secretary that the Pope saw it and apparently stated "it is as it was." Then they "backpedalled" and later denied it.

RE: Mel's second main critic. The interview then addressed on one who seemingly started all the ruckus, New York Times Associate Editor and Writer, Frank Rich. His complaint was that Mel was inviting only "token Jew" to his previews. (Frank wasn't invited) Stories abound about how Mel was quoted saying that he wanted to kill him. But Mel stated that he was blowing off steam and it was just a joke. (read: Frank Rich called Mel's publicist, who's parents were Holocaust survivors, and told him over the phone, "Hey! Holocaust denier, defender!") Mel was p*ssed with Frank's comment.

Frank Rich's second hot topic was about Mel complaining about Jewish criticism that didn't yet exist. Frank wrote in his article that Mel was bating Jews to stir controversy and publicity. Diane Sawyer commented on how a review of the transcript of that TV show demonstrated that Mel's complaint was about the New York Times, not Jewish criticism that didn't yet exist. The question was about "journalistic integrity."

Of course, Mel's 85-year old father, Hutton Gibson, came up, especially about his views on the Pope and the Holocaust. Doubts were put on a serious understanding on him.

So, who killed Jesus? Mel stated unequivocally that "Everyone did" and that "Christians are more culpable than nonbelievers." In fact, symbolically, it was Mel's left (sinister) hand that is seen spiking the nails in Jesus' hands making that point.

Moral of the story: The question of conspiracy. In summary, Mel stated that, "That's what people do, they conspire." He also stated, "If you can't get the messenger, get the man." And also, "I think that is what we are engaged in here ... we're engaged in character assassination."

Sounds like the Passion story to me. What do you think?

Joe

The movie stands by itself. I am happy that Mel Gibson made it.

After hearing the Diane Sawyer interview I'm still not sure what Mr. Gibson's relationship is with the Holy Father. Is Mel Gibson in communion with Rome?

Then there was the part of the interview where Mr. Gibson said the Vatican endorsed then retracted its endorsement of The Passion of the Christ.

I read that the Holy Fther gave the movie a "thumbs up." I believe that is true because it appeared in the Catholic News Service.

Paul

Dear Friends in Christ,

After seeing the full interview, all I can say, is that whether I or anyone else will like the movie or not is inconsequential. I came away from the interview with was a state of sheer awe for a brother in Christ, a fellow sinner, who has the guts to speak up for his faith in the manner that he did (and not one time did I pick up anything that was even remotely theologically askew), to a very secular world.

To speak as he did on the medium that imposes the most selfish, materialistic, hedonistic, and immoral life styles known to man, was so highly commendable that I don't even have words to describe how impressed I am.

Without wanting to be negative, Mr. Gibson spoke out and witnessed for our Lord and for our faith more articulately and more bravely than I have EVER seen any cleric or hierarch speak out, East or West...except for the Pope.

Speaking of the Pope...I sensed, (I have generally been gifted with an empathy that reads people fairly well) that when he spoke of the retractions of the Vatican, that he was deeply hurt and confused, and that he desperately wants the spiritual blessing of the Holy Father for this commendable undertaking. I pray that he gets it.

Just some thoughts about last night's interview.

In Christ our Lord,
Alice

We don't have network TV, so a friend at work taped the interview for us to watch.We viewed it just now. I agree, Alice, and kudos to Joe for a fine synopsis of the interview.
But does anyone out there know Mel Gibson's position as a Catholic? I am assuming that the traditionalist chapel he built is not offering the indult Latin Mass. But is he SSPX [which I doubt]? Or does he have one of those independent traditionalist Latin priests? Or is he hooked up with one of the smaller traditionalst groups? The video had some footage of a Latin Mass, but I could have sworn that it also showed communion in the hand, which would seem a little incongruous...I'm just a little curious; not that it changes my initial impression of Mr Gibson as a brother in Christ, if a bit quirky and intense. [Of course, my bride says he reminds her of me! Yikes!]
-Daniel

The footage of the Mass shown in the interview was Novus Ordo in Latin, so I think it was stock footage, not Mel's private chapel.

As to his affiliation it is anyone's guess, his comments tend to align him with SSPX but during the movie he attended Mass said by priests who were in good standing with Rome and not in the SSPX. He also had many non-SSPX priest as advisors, Jesuits, I think.

Fr. Deacon Lance

� Mel Gibson will build his own parish church (or it might have already been built, I believe) called Our Lady of Malibu in � Malibu, CA.
� Mel Gibson will privately fund its building for $2.8 million.
� The church is not in the Catholic Directory or affiliated with any known Catholic diocese.
� The parish will be for its 70 members.
� The church building will be 9,300 square feet.
� The property was purchased by a group called the Holy Family.

� Gibson�s father, who lives in Texas, is a critic of the Catholic Church.
� Gibson�s father is a member of the sedevacantist movement.
� Mel Gibson told Diane Sawyer that he was Catholic as it was before the mid-1960s (pre-Vatican II).
� Mel�s father wrote a book entitled, �The Enemy is Here,� which considers all the Popes since John XXIII as illegitimate.
� Mel�s father also wrote that conspirators supposedly infiltrated the Vatican and caused a legitimate Pope, Guiseppe Siri, from being picked in 1958.
� Marcel Lefebvre is considered just as bad.
(Can we rule out the SSPX?)
. These books are private publications or the like and cannot be ordered through conventional booksellers.
� Though Mel belongs to the same movement that his father, Hutton, belongs, he doesn�t agree with him on many things.

Joe,

Our Lady of Malibu parish in Malibu, CA is a parish of the RC Archdiocese of LA and is listed as such on its website

Archdiocese of LA [la-archdiocese.org]

The parish has existed since the 1940s, with the church building having been erected in 1950 and a school opened in 1955.

Our Lady of Malibu [olmalibu.org]

Many years,

Neil