Mel Gibson Supports Traditional Catholic Movement?

[BlueRain]

I read this one time and I didn’t even know at the time what the TCM was. I think it’s weird and if it is true I think it was hypocrital of him trying to get the support of Roman Catholics and the opinoon of the Pope.

Also, I was wondering if your view of celebrities changes when they make movies that attack our faith. I liked many movies with Tom Hanks, but isn’t he going to be in the Da Vinci Code? How disappointing.

 

[Shiann]

BlueRain:

I read this one time and I didn’t even know at the time what the TCM was. I think it’s weird and if it is true I think it was hypocrital of him trying to get the support of Roman Catholics and the opinoon of the Pope.

HUH?

Why is it hypocritical of him? He is Catholic after all…

Also, I was wondering if your view of celebrities changes when they make movies that attack our faith. I liked many movies with Tom Hanks, but isn’t he going to be in the Da Vinci Code? How disappointing.

Yup he is in the movie. I enjoy him in movies that are less contraversial, but I do not judge him because of the movies he is in. I just do not attend those movies I disagree with…

 

[Giannawannabe]

Unfortunately, Mel is a schismatic. He has his own “independent” traditional church called Holy Family Chapel. His father was a sedavacanist belongs to a SSPV sect. Mel has similar beliefs, but started his own sect as above.
See this thread for more info:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=57852

You may have to dig for all the links about Mel, but it’s all there

 

[Shiann]

Giannawannabe:

Unfortunately, Mel is a schismatic. He has his own “independent” traditional church called Holy Family Chapel. His father was a sedavacanist belongs to a SSPV sect. Mel has similar beliefs, but started his own sect as above.
See this thread for more info:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=57852

You may have to dig for all the links about Mel, but it’s all there

Thanks for the link. I did read it and did see that Mr. Gibson doesn’t claim to be Roman Catholic nor does he claim to be SSPX. Other than that, the rest is speculation. He left his local church after the local SSPX took over- that’s when he seems to have built his private church in Malibu.

rickross.com/reference/general/general677.html

It seems that at the very least he holds to the traditions prior to Vatican II and takes advantage of the Indult- which was ok’d by JPII. Again, the rest is speculation.

That said, I’m still wondering why the OP thinks that upholding the Traditions of Catholicism is hypocritical when the Indult exists?

 

[BlueRain]

Let me clarify, I thought the Traditional Catholic Movement was some sort of schismatic sect at the time. I read an article that he was supporting something like that and I didn’t know what it was so I looked it up. I came across a site that was basically saying how the Vatican II changes has caused damage to the Church, blaming it for the priests as pedophiles, that there’s no pope, etc. and slandering the Church.

That’s why I thought if it was true, that it was hypocrital of Mel to be supporting such an organization and at the same time visiting the Pope and looking for support from Catholics for his movie.

I’ve been trying to find those sites, but I can’t seem to locate them. It was on a site that was stating how much money the “Passion” had made for the 2004 year. Thanks for the clarifications on where Mel stands. It seems so hard and secretive to find out what kind of Catholic Mel is like. Still I thought he did a wonderful job with the movie.

 

[Saint_Andrew]

Hello

The passion of Christ movie was great to watch. But I was disappointed to find out last year that he is not a vatican 11 person.

God Bless
Saint Andrew.

 

[wcknight]

I thought that I read somewhere that Mel is a Catholic BUT he only follows the latin mass as some other Catholics do.

The “Passion” was based largely on the writings of Blessed Catherine Emerich, an invalid nun in the 1800’s who had visions of Christ’s and Mary’s life.

Many of her visions were written into 6 huge volumes one of which was the “Dolorous Passion of Our Lord, Jesus Christ”.

The level of details in her writings is astounding, and no one can have that active of an imagination. They can only be written by someone who is an eyewitness, present in the locations where the events take place.

In this sense her writing is somewhat difficult to follow, as she sometimes will describe every little detail about the people and places that she sees.
wc

 

[Shiann]

BlueRain:

Let me clarify, I thought the Traditional Catholic Movement was some sort of schismatic sect at the time. I read an article that he was supporting something like that and I didn’t know what it was so I looked it up. I came across a site that was basically saying how the Vatican II changes has caused damage to the Church, blaming it for the priests as pedophiles, that there’s no pope, etc. and slandering the Church.

That’s why I thought if it was true, that it was hypocrital of Mel to be supporting such an organization and at the same time visiting the Pope and looking for support from Catholics for his movie.

Ah, I see. I would agree that if the independent traditionalists could be described this way- I would find it hypocritical as well on a spiritual level. But if he was looking for support for his religious movie- what better place to go than to the head of the Catholic Church for the thumbs up, regardless of your religious philosophies. (Taking a purely business/marketing stance here.)

I’ve been trying to find those sites, but I can’t seem to locate them. It was on a site that was stating how much money the “Passion” had made for the 2004 year. Thanks for the clarifications on where Mel stands. It seems so hard and secretive to find out what kind of Catholic Mel is like. Still I thought he did a wonderful job with the movie.

I think he did a great job too. I feel a little icky saying I enjoyed the movie because I really didn’t enjoy it like I do other movies. But it moved me in ways that no other movie has.

 

[Giannawannabe]

Shiann:

Ah, I see. I would agree that if the independent traditionalists could be described this way- I would find it hypocritical as well on a spiritual level. But if he was looking for support for his religious movie- what better place to go than to the head of the Catholic Church for the thumbs up, regardless of your religious philosophies. (Taking a purely business/marketing stance here.

Shiann,
This is a wonderful explanation of why Mel visited the Vatican for support of “The Passion”. I think it’s clear that Catholics were a big target audience and if JPII gave the move a thumbs up-----it would definitely bring Catholics in to see the film in big numbers.

I also enjoyed the movie----in a deeply spiritual way. I hope that Mel comes home to the One True Church.

 

[jimmy]

Giannawannabe:

Shiann,
This is a wonderful explanation of why Mel visited the Vatican for support of “The Passion”. I think it’s clear that Catholics were a big target audience and if JPII gave the move a thumbs up-----it would definitely bring Catholics in to see the film in big numbers.

I also enjoyed the movie----in a deeply spiritual way. I hope that Mel comes home to the One True Church.

Is he a sedevacantist or someone who believes the pope is the true pope but does not follow the novus ordo(like SSPX)? I thought he was of the second kind.

 

[ridesawhitehors]

Shiann:

It seems that at the very least he holds to the traditions prior to Vatican II and takes advantage of the Indult- which was ok’d by JPII. Again, the rest is speculation.That said, I’m still wondering why the OP thinks that upholding the Traditions of Catholicism is hypocritical when the Indult exists?

Yes, this reflects my questions too.
On what grounds can someone call Mel a schismatic - if he is doing all this?

 

[Giannawannabe]

ridesawhitehors:

Yes, this reflects my questions too.
On what grounds can someone call Mel a schismatic - if he is doing all this?

From what I understand Mel does not practice his faith in full union with Rome. For some reason, trying to get specifics on exactly HOW Mel Gibson practices, is difficult. This is a good article:

religioustolerance.org/chrgibson1.htm

I agree, though, that it doesn’t necessarily make Mel Gibson hypocritical to want a more traditional Mass. I think the OP explained herself, though.
I guess I brought this up as Shiann was wondering why the OP thought Mel Gibson was hypocritical. I figured the OP knew the info about Mel that I have been describing, and since he is not in full union with Rome, that he could be considered hypocritical? I think that’s what OP meant.

 

[surfinpure]

For what it’s worth to the thread…

Regardless of Mel’s affiliation (which appears to be rather unclear, other than that he is more Catholic than any other religion), I believe his film hit right on target. We have to keep in mind that the man gave the world the greatest cinematic depiction of Christ’s death and resurrection to date, and possibly ever. For this I believe he is to be respected and thanked.

Have you ever read C.S. Lewis’s prologue to Mere Christianity? Lewis makes it clear that he is not aiming in his book to represent anything other than the simple Christian faith. He does not elaborate on doctrinal issues that separate the Church, only on those which are common to nearly all who call themselves Christian. For this reason his work is of value to all seeking the Christian faith, not just those wishing to become Lutheran, or Anglican, or Roman Catholic. We as Catholics laud his writing because it lays bare the essence of the faith - that there is one God and Jesus Christ was His only son, who died for us.

I would liken Gibson’s Passion to Lewis’s Mere Christianity because it holds that same quality: It lays bare the essence of our faith for all to see.

 

[Giannawannabe]

surf(name removed by moderator)ure:

For what it’s worth to the thread…

Regardless of Mel’s affiliation (which appears to be rather unclear, other than that he is more Catholic than any other religion), I believe his film hit right on target. We have to keep in mind that the man gave the world the greatest cinematic depiction of Christ’s death and resurrection to date, and possibly ever. For this I believe he is to be respected and thanked.

Have you ever read C.S. Lewis’s prologue to Mere Christianity? Lewis makes it clear that he is not aiming in his book to represent anything other than the simple Christian faith. He does not elaborate on doctrinal issues that separate the Church, only on those which are common to nearly all who call themselves Christian. For this reason his work is of value to all seeking the Christian faith, not just those wishing to become Lutheran, or Anglican, or Roman Catholic. We as Catholics laud his writing because it lays bare the essence of the faith - that there is one God and Jesus Christ was His only son, who died for us.

I would liken Gibson’s Passion to Lewis’s Mere Christianity because it holds that same quality: It lays bare the essence of our faith for all to see.

Beautifully articulated surf(name removed by moderator)ure. I certainly hope I did not give the impression that Mel’s questionable religious affiliation takes anything away from his masterpiece “The Passion”. I apologize if my comments appeared to minimize the impact of this film in any way.