Critical remarks on Gibson's movie by dignitaries of
various German denominations
The
head of the Catholic German Bishop's Conference Cardinal Karl Lehmann, the head
of the Protestant Churches of Germany (EKD) Bishop Wolfgang Huber
and the President of the Central Committee of the Jews in Germany Paul Spiegel
have published a common statement, in
On
We
recognize the extent of the many brutal scenes of cruelty as offensive. The raw
and noisy scenes of the flagellation, of carrying the cross and others demand a
lot from any person and transgress in many cases the limits of what is
tolerable. If the usual atrocities in our media are to be surpassed on and on it
will definitely end with an irresistible spiral of violence. In this way however
the film minimizes the message of the bible dramatically. Thus the picture is
likely to increase the danger of reducing the whole life of Jesus to the last
twelve hours before his death.
According
to the worldwide discussions up till now a further problem of the picture lies
in the description of the Jews present. Irrespective of the intention of the
producers to create an anti-Semitic film or not there remains a great danger of
misusing the whole picture for anti-Semitic propaganda. Parts of the film are
certainly appropriate in dealing with various aspects of Jewish people and
Jewish life in those days. In most parts however it is not free of exaggeration
as far as the Supreme Committee of the Jews and the better part of the Jewish
people are concerned. The presentation of the film is likely to increase the
danger of revitalizing anti-Semitic prejudices. This is especially precarious as
tendencies of increasing anti-Semitism are to be watched all over
Together we warn in earnest against any misuse of the film and against
any misuse of the passion of Jesus in order to encourage anti-Semitism.
Christian churches have expressively declared that anti-Semitism belongs to the
Christian history of guilt. They deject any thesis of a collective guilt of the
Jewish people and any form of anti-Semitism and racism. The relations between
Christians and Jews are being supported today by mutual respect and
acknowledgement. We demand of all people in charge to support our challenge that
these good relations will not be affected by misusing the passion of Jesus.