Priest dies at Passion screening

[Pert_UK]

"A Brazilian priest has died during a screening of Mel Gibson's controversial film The Passion of the Christ.

Jose Geraldo Soares, a 43-year-old Presbyterian, had booked a whole cinema to view the film with his congregation.

Halfway through, his wife noticed that he was no longer awake, and a doctor in the audience confirmed that he had suffered a heart attack. "

From:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3559753.stm

The Lord moves in mysterious ways.

[RobertSeattle]

1. I wonder if anyone's done any statistics on this

I've heard of two deaths that have occurred while watching the Passion. But given the tens of millions who've seen the film x 2 hours, I wonder if it is just something thats "going to happen" and it's just reported because it is the the Passion of Christ.

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. Personally, I never heard of anyone dying at a movie before.

Or maybe the stress from booking the movie got to him?

[Barrett808]

9. Guess they should advertise like those old '50s horror flicks

So terrifying, a doctor is on the premises!

[nodehopper]

11. it happens

Statistically, people dying at the movies is by no means frequent, but also not comeletely uncommon. It happens; it just does not get written about unless it's Passion or Faces of Death or whatever.

[R Hickey]

3. They'll always be the nay-sayers...

Can't you just accept a miracle for what it is? This priest's death was God's punishment for falling asleep during His movie.

Let that be a lesson to anyone who dares to fall asleep during any future 'Passion' showings...and for anyone who falls asleep during a church service, take heed!

[Supormom]

8. HaHaHa

Guess I'll stay home then- don't want to take any chances!

[Art_from_Ark]

4. Since when are Presbyterian ministers called "priests"?

They certainly never were at my church.

[Pert_UK]

5. "A person having the authority to perform and administer religious rites"

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=priest

Admittedly there is also a technical usage of the word, but it's a pretty generic term for any hands-on member or any religion really....

P.

[Art_from_Ark]

6. My minister would have cringed if you called him a priest

He was a pastor or minister, but never a "priest".

[xchrom]

7. apostolic succession

in the christian faith aren't those in the liturgical churches{i.e. catholic, episcopal, etc} called priests because of how they believe the person receives the call?

[IronLionZion]

12. he's a pastor

protestants tend to be called pastors and the article calls him a pastor.
Catholics tend to be called priests.

[PATRICK]

10. On the other hand

there are the large majorities of viewers who are very healthy and invigorated after that film. So much so that quite possibly they flocked to see "The Dawn of the Dead" with it's exciting religious symbolism and heartpounding apocalyptic conflict. If there is a larger audience for gore movies post-Gibson passion just think of the newly attuned viewer market out there that may have been created.

[progressivebydesign]

14. Well.. that's a great point.

All satire aside, I have no doubt that there are many, many more religious bloodbath movies in the pipeline in Hollywood right now. Very original thinkers! Of course, heaven-forbid children seen a breast... better to see someone's flesh ripped off their body.

[progressivebydesign]

13. Extreme stress CAN trigger a fatal heart attack..

It's a fact otherwise healthy people have died during car accidents, earthquakes, robberies, etc.. due to extreme stress on the heart. I don't understand why people are making excuses for this gore-fest of a movie? Because it's supposedly a true story? It's Mel Gibson's idea of a true story, based upon a book that no one knows if it's a true story... if it's all true.. then why hasn't the Red Sea parted, or anyone been turned to salt, or animals marching two-by-two onto a ship, since we've become more civilized, and beyond supersticious tales?

The guy died from the stress of seeing that brutal movie. It happens. When movies were still young, I think it was Harold LLoyd that appeared to have climbed onto a clock tower and was dangling dangerously toward the streets below (an illusion), many, many theater goers back then passed out during the movie from sheer shock of it (we were a gentler people). It happens.

[robertpaulsen]

15. I know Mel wanted his movie to bring people closer to Christ...

but this is ridiculous!

Or maybe it's just the Rapture in slow motion.

[Desertrose]

17. hey... the guy already paid his $15 movie ticket before he died

so thats good.....but its one less DVD sale, Mel.

Not good to have your audience die in your film...I hope he wasn't counting on repeat business .

The whole thing is just nuts...why focus on suffering ...like there isn't enough of that already in this world?


scary scary....


Peace of mind & peace of heart...not to be found in Mel's movie methinks...
DR

[Red State Rebel]

16. Saw a woman have a heart attack and die at the grocery store once

I wonder if it was Nabisco's fault?

[Twenty3]

18. Guy next to me in church died once

(well he didn't die twice, anyway)

My grandfather the Esteemed Charles Woodbridge (famous once, don't know if he still is) was doing his hellfire & brimstone schtick. Then came the whole "Is there a doctor in the house??" business. I was a little kid. It was the only time I ever heard Granddad preach (whew).