MEL GIBSON’S THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
What You May Hear
What You Can Say
1. The Jews killed Jesus.
1. The Romans crucified Jesus with the
collusion of the High Priest and some of
his retainers, and some Jews who came
under their influence. Crucifixion was
exclusively a Roman punishment.
2. Pilate was a weak ruler, who was
manipulated by the High Priest, Caiaphas,
to call for the death of Jesus.
2. The High Priest was appointed and
controlled by Pilate. Historical records
show that Pilate was a stubborn, strong,
and cruel leader. The gospel writers, who
wrote later, portrayed him sympathetically
because they wanted the Roman rulers of
their own day to accept the followers of
Jesus, rather than think of them as enemies
of Rome.
3. The High Priest Caiaphas persuaded the
Jews to ask for the death of Jesus.
3. There was much diversity among the
Jewish people of Jesus’ time. It is
incorrect to imply that “all the Jews”
called for the death of Jesus. Jesus must
have had a great following from among
the Jews for the High Priest and Pilate to
be so concerned about executing him in
order to maintain control and calm.
4. Jesus was brutalized by the Jews as
well as by the Romans.
4. The gospels indicate that Jesus was
mocked and manhandled when in custody
of the High Priest, but the brutality in the
movie goes way beyond the accounts in
the gospels.
5. What the Jews did to Jesus is not so
different from what the Jews are doing to
the Palestinians today.
5. Israel’s response to suicide bombings,
and its policies that affect Palestinians,
which even some of its citizens disagree
with, are actions of an independent,
democratic state dealing with political
realities and its own survival. On human
rights, it rates as well as, or better than,
any country with similar threats.
© New Directions in Catholic- Jewish Dialogue, a joint project of the Anti-Defamation League, New
England Region and the Archdiocese of Boston
6. What is in the movie is taken from
“The Gospel.”
6. There are four gospels, not just one.
Each of the four gospels differs in how it
tells the story. The movie portrays scenes
that are selected from all four Gospels in a
manner that emphasizes Jewish “guilt”. It
has also added many scenes and details
not in any of the Gospels nor supported by
historical knowledge.
7. Christians have a right to tell their
fundamental story, which involves the
crucifixion of Jesus.
7. Telling the story of the Passion does
not require that the gospels be read in a
way that blames the Jews for it. Many
churches today teach just the opposite.
8. The movie renewed my faith in Jesus.
8. With renewed faith in Jesus it is hoped
that Christians will remember Jesus’
message of love and to be prepared to
counter remarks that might encourage
hatred of Jews today.
9. What’s the problem? It’s only a
movie, after all.
9. Dramatizations of the Passion have
historically led to violence against Jews.
Film is a particularly powerful medium
that can be translated into DVD’s, video
and TV and distributed around the world.
A recent renewal of anti-Semitism in
many countries creates particular concern.
In Mel Gibson’s film the Jews are
portrayed in a particularly negative way
and in several scenes they are associated
with Satan.
10. Other
10.
Do you anticipate any other statements that should have clarifying responses?
Fill in number 10.
© New Directions in Catholic- Jewish Dialogue, a joint project of the Anti-Defamation League, New
England Region and the Archdiocese of Boston
MEL GIBSON’S THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
(Activity Version)
What You May Hear
What You Can Say
1. The Jews killed Jesus.
The Romans crucified Jesus with the
collusion of the High Priest and some of his
retainers, and some Jews who came under
their influence. Crucifixion was exclusively
a Roman punishment.
2. Pilate was a weak ruler, who was
manipulated by the High Priest, Caiaphas,
to call for the death of Jesus.
The High Priest was appointed and
controlled by Pilate. Historical records
show that Pilate was a stubborn, strong, and
cruel leader. The gospel writers, who wrote
later, portrayed him sympathetically
because they wanted the Roman rulers of
their own day to accept the followers of
Jesus, rather than think of them as enemies
of Rome.
3. The High Priest Caiaphas persuaded the
Jews to ask for the death of Jesus.
There was much diversity among the Jewish
people of Jesus’ time. It is incorrect to
imply that “all the Jews” called for the death
of Jesus. Jesus must have had a great
following from among the Jews for the
High Priest and Pilate to be so concerned
about executing him in order to maintain
control and calm.
4. Jesus was brutalized by the Jews as well
as by the Romans.
The gospels indicate that Jesus was mocked
and manhandled when in custody of the
High Priest, but the brutality in the movie
goes way beyond the accounts in the
gospels.
5. What the Jews did to Jesus is not so
different from what the Jews are doing to
the Palestinians today.
Israel’s response to suicide bombings, and
its policies that affect Palestinians, which
even some of its citizens disagree with, are
actions of an independent, democratic state
dealing with political realities and its own
survival. On human rights, it rates as well
as, or better than, any country with similar
threats.
© New Directions in Catholic- Jewish Dialogue, a joint project of the Anti-Defamation League, New
England Region and the Archdiocese of Boston
6. What is in the movie is taken from
“The Gospel.”
There are four gospels, not just one. Each
of the four gospels differs in how it tells
the story. The movie portrays scenes that
are selected from all four Gospels in a
manner that emphasizes Jewish “guilt”. It
has also added many scenes and details
not in any of the Gospels nor supported by
historical knowledge.
7. Christians have a right to tell their
fundamental story, which involves the
crucifixion of Jesus.
Telling the story of the Passion does not
require that the gospels be read in a way
that blames the Jews for it. Many
churches today teach just the opposite.
8. The movie renewed my faith in Jesus.
With renewed faith in Jesus it is hoped
that Christians will remember Jesus’
message of love and to be prepared to
counter remarks that might encourage
hatred of Jews today.
9. What’s the problem? It’s only a
movie, after all.
Dramatizations of the Passion have
historically led to violence against Jews.
Film is a particularly powerful medium
that can be translated into DVD’s, video
and TV and distributed around the world.
A recent renewal of anti-Semitism in
many countries creates particular concern.
In Mel Gibson’s film the Jews are
portrayed in a particularly negative way
and in several scenes they are associated
with Satan.
10. Other
Do you anticipate any other statements that should have clarifying responses?
Fill in number 10.
© New Directions in Catholic- Jewish Dialogue, a joint project of the Anti-Defamation League, New
England Region and the Archdiocese of Boston