Reply #13: Is this the result of Gibson's traditionalist views? [View All]

[mjjoe]

Forgive me if I don't get this exactly right, as I'm not Catholic. But as I understand it, Gibson belongs to a small group of Catholics that does not recognize the reforms of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. Notable among them is the Church statement that Jewish people of today do not bear a blood responsibility for those who crucified Christ. That blood responsibility was a frequent justification for centuries of anti-Semitism.

I think those reforms also sought to place focus where it should have been for almost 2000 years: Christian teaching is that Christ died for the sins of all people, and who put him on the cross is irrelevant. Moreover, focusing in his death obscures the reason for the holiest of Christian holidays: Easter, which celebrates the resurrection.

Having said all that, I can't be certain Gibson is anti-Semitic because I don't really know him and I haven't seen the movie. But I would be curious to hear the views of any Catholics in the DU Forum who recognize the Second Vatican Council (ie, not part of this smaller ultra-traditionalist group). Is Gibson's movie at all reflective of what most Catholics have learned from the Church? Where does he diverge?

Any thoughts from those of you who aren't Catholic are naturally welcome too!

(on edit: Changed second-to-last sentence)