'The Passion' stirs debate in religious community

Though it is two weeks away from its release, the controversy surrounding Mel Gibson's film depicting Jesus Christ's death continues to gain momentum and instill controversy.

More than 450 people packed Seattle's Town Hall last night to discuss "The Passion of Christ" slated to open Feb. 25 (Ash Wednesday), questioning how the film may affect relations between Christians and Jews.

Although the film is clearly being embraced by many Christians, local Christian and Jewish critics are concerned the film could perpetuate anti-Jewish sentiments.

Rabbi David Elcott, director of inter-religious affairs at the American Jewish Committee (AJC), organizer of the event, said last night he saw "Passion" at an Evangelical Church in Illinois and left disappointed. He said the film portrayed Jews — with few exceptions — as evil.

"There was no ministry. No gospel of love. It is about horrible, cruel people murdering one man," he said.

The Rev. James Eblen, a Roman Catholic theologian and Seattle University associate professor, said he worries about how viewers will react to the film.

"When you see a movie or a play, you get caught up in the emotions," he said. "I am nervous about the effects of that."

In religious circles, few other movies have inspired the level of debate of "The Passion," which depicts the last 12 hours of Jesus' life purportedly in graphic detail. No film since 1988's "The Last Temptation of Christ" has created such a buzz with the nation's religious leaders.

The film, directed, co-written and produced by Gibson — and financed with $25 million of his money — stars Mount Vernon native James Caviezel as Jesus. It's being hailed by some evangelical Christian leaders as a powerful, moving picture.

The movie also has resulted in unprecedented, grassroots-oriented marketing. Gibson's production company — and the Christian marketing firms it's working with — have taken unusual approaches: holding invitation-only screenings for thousands of evangelical Christian leaders and making materials such as postcards and door hangers available through the movie's Web site.

Gibson is said to belong to an ultraconservative Catholic sect that rejects the reforms of the Catholic Church's Second Vatican Council, a series of meetings in 1962-65 that, among other things, repudiated the idea of collective Jewish culpability for Jesus' crucifixion.

Seattle resident Lynn Greene said she came to the event to hear both sides of the discussion before seeing the movie, which her pastor had encouraged her to do.

"Tonight opened my eyes a bit because they presented a differing view of what I've heard about the film," she said. "Both sides have concerns and reservations, which are legitimate."

Elie Pieprz, of Mercer Island, said he came to the discussion to see if the concerns over "Passion" are appropriate.

"As a member of the Jewish community I wondered if we have created the issue of anti-Semitism or are we trying to make it into a controversy," Pieprz said. "It would be more interesting to me if Christians took the lead to say this film is wrong."

Staff reporter Janet I. Tu contributed to this report.

Nguyen Huy Vu: 206-464-3292 or vnguyen2@seattletimes.com