'Passion' shakes North Jersey clergy to the core

The Record of Hackensack ^ | 02.29.04

[Siobhan]

bump to my post above

[Coleus]

thanks for the response, and the fact is that all of mankind killed Christ when we decided to sin and turn away from God. By the Roman's hand, yes, because of us all.

And, historically were not the Jews forbidden to execute capital punishment? So how could they have killed Christ? During that period the Romans crucified the criminals.

[hellinahandcart]

You are not allowed to dislike this entertainment vehicle! We sentence you to 100 lashes!

I don't care that he doesn't like the movie. It's a movie. I care that he either doesn't know his priest stuff or has rejected it somewhere along the way, yet he still has his priestly gig, which gives him enough credibility to make him attractive to journalists.

[mgstarr]

You're quite correct. This priest simply decided he knew something the rest of us missed.

[Revolting cat!]

"Prior to making Dog Days (Hundstage), released here in 2002, film-maker Ulrich Seidl built an international reputation with a series of distinctive and original documentaries exploring intimate aspects of people’s lives. In Jesus, You Know he follows six believers into the sanctity of the church, and with their permission films their individual conversations with Jesus. Sometimes beginning as prayers, but frequently turning into confessions, these normally private portraits are deeply revealing. Whilst demographically dissimilar, the worshippers seem united by loneliness and sadness – a young woman trying to work out her relationship difficulties; a young man troubled by the eroticism he finds in the Bible; an older woman sounding stoic but clearly worn down by her husband and family. But as always, Seidl finds the humour in the material and his subjects too, in their contradictions and in their juxtaposing of the seemingly banal with the fundamentally significant. This is direct and daring film-making, all the more so because of its quiet and unforced tone. That Seidl is shaping the material there is of course no doubt; his skill is in doing so without seeming to intrude – always present, never seen, and in that respect nicely attuned with his subject."

You'll all be lining up to see that one, won't you! I can't wait for the countless threads about it, including countless threads about the money take of this "product" (since you don't accept the industry reference "entertainment vehicle".) Oops, excuse me again, I should have said "the money take of the act of love"!

[ml/nj]

historically were not the Jews forbidden to execute capital punishment?

No. There's lots of room for capital punishment in the Torah. The Talmud makes capital punishment much more difficult, but it doesn't eliminate it entirely. My Rabbi teaches that a Sanhedrin that executed one man in 70 years was considered bloodthirsty, but that does imply that there were some executions going on. I don't think they were many crucifixions though. But we do have the Gospels though and we ought not to question the information they present.

ML/NJ

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Thanks.

I'll go back to my original point then. It doesn't bother me so much that he has -- let's be P.C. and say heterodox --beliefs. It bothers me that he'd be shocked people still believe the established beliefs.

It's like Captain Renault in Casablanca -- "I'm shocked --Shocked! -- to find that there's gambling going on here." Only Lasch is either less honest than Captain Renault or just a flaming idiot.

[Coleus]

http://www.patersondiocese.org/

Most Rev. Frank J. Rodimer, D.D., J.C.D.
Bishop of Paterson
shepherd@dioceseofpaterson.org,info@patersondiocese.org

Vicar General, Rev Msgr. Herbert K. Tillyer
spetrapst1@aol.com

Fr. Lasch
Website: http://www.stjoesmendham.org
Email: kel77@aol.com, klasch@stjoesmendham.org

[plain talk]

Just incredible. A Catholic priest who doesn't even understand the essential basics of the gospel.

[vigilo]

"The Jews did not kill Christ."

Read Matthew 21:33-46. Read Matthew 27. Jesus knew he would be killed by the chief priests and the Pharisees. The Jewish leaders conspired together to have Jesus killed. What could be more plain? Have you not read? Good grief. If you won't believe me at least believe Christ Himself. He knew who would have him killed and the fact that they were able to do it through the agency of the Romans in no way frees them from the charge. The Jews DID kill Christ. That's part of what makes His death so hideous, He was done in my his OWN PEOPLE!!! The people who should have recognized Him and followed Him KILLED HIM!! I'm sad to see how little so many 'Christians' understand.

[Jeff Chandler]

Give us all a break and go back to DU, would you?!

[hellinahandcart]

Isn't it basic Christian theology that Jesus was sent to die for mankind's sins?

Yes, that is correct. We're talking the basic of basics here.

I'm not Christian so correct me if I'm wrong. Correct me on the theological point that is, not on my beliefs. 8>)

LOL

What bothers me isn't that this priest has this belief -- I mean, it doesn't matter to me. What bothers me is that he would be -- or at least act -- so shocked that people would actually believe what (I think) is the traditional Christian belief.

That's what bothers me too. Along with the nagging question of HOW these journalists manage consistently to overlook thousands of believing ministers and priests, and find one of this sort.

It does seem that a lot of people are shocked, not so much at the movie as at the people going to see it. They probably thought we'd all caught on to the idea that God is only an archetype and Jesus was only a role model. They were mistaken.

[lone star annie]

Someone who saw the film at the same time as me made the comment that sums it up nicely, "It sure made you feel unworthy."

[winstonchurchill]

What happened 2,000 years ago is the same that is happening today. It was me who persecuted Christ.

I realize that your motives in making such a statement are laudatory in trying to diffuse the responsibility of those who actually put Jesus to death. But we must be careful of taking Christ's death out of space-time history into such never-neverland of 'timelessness'.

His death and resurrection were actually events in time. They occurred at a specific place and at a specific time with real people and real nails and a real cross. You and I clearly weren't there.

It is fair to say "they were just like us" or "I would have had the same predilections that they did" -- if that's the way you feel. But to say "I persecuted Jesus" is to confuse the message of the cross and resurrection of Christ.

By the way, don't forget that Jesus' followers did not kill Him. There were those in that day - with the same nature as you and I -- who followed Him faithfully to cross, to the grave and to the uttermost parts of the world.

[winstonchurchill]

The Jews DID kill Christ. That's part of what makes His death so hideous, He was done in my his OWN PEOPLE!!! The people who should have recognized Him and followed Him KILLED HIM!! I'm sad to see how little so many 'Christians' understand.

Well and truly said. The historical record speaks for itself.

[Jaded]

Some of them need to be excommunicated. They are not Catholic no matter what their title.

[bayourod]

This priest might be one of those type who would prefer a movie about Sodom & Gomorrah.

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

This is so predictable it is scarey.

AP ignores 99% of the priesthood and finds one malcontent and who does it give the ink to?

Boy, I've never seen this happen before...NOT!

[pieces of time]

Thanks so much for the e-mail address for "Father" Lasch. I think he needs a refresher course in Theology.
I saw the movie with my entire family yesterday: ages 15 to 84. All of want to see it again, none had the reaction this "priest" did.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

The Rev. Kenneth Lasch, a veteran Catholic priest, said he was repelled.

"I saw it as religious barbarism ... in my opinion, God did not send his son to die,'' said Lasch, of St. Joseph's Church of Mendham. "God sent his son to live, to be faithful. And in being faithful, it cost him his life.''

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