Germany wary of Passion reaction

BBC ^ | March 18, 2004

[NYer]

Actor Jim Caviezel plays Jesus in the film

German Jewish leaders and church officials have warned that The Passion of the Christ may stir up anti-Semitism when it opens in the country.

Mel Gibson's film will be shown in 400 German cinemas from Thursday.

"The anti-Semites will only have their views on Jews confirmed," said Salomon Korn, vice president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany.

German Protestant leader Wolfgang Huber said the film did not put Christ's suffering into proper perspective.

We urgently warn against using the suffering of Jesus as an instrument for anti-Semitism

German Bishops' Conference

The movie is being released in Germany three weeks ahead of schedule in response to public demand.

Anti-Semitism charges against the film - which portrays the death of Jesus - are especially sensitive in Germany, where the Holocaust was planned.

German Catholic leaders called the film problematic, and the German Bishops' Conference said: "We urgently warn against using the suffering of Jesus as an instrument for anti-Semitism."

Salomon Korn said the film was a "sado-masochist orgy of violence" laden with "kitsch", while Wolfgang Huber described the film's violence as "intolerable".

Leading German essayist Henryk M Broder wrote in Der Spiegel magazine that "those who can't stand Jews will find confirmation in the film".

"Amazingly, Jews will once again be held responsible for a murder that happened almost 2,000 years ago," he wrote.

"While other people don't want to hear anything any more about the murder of millions just 60 years after it happened."

But Mr Broder added that The Passion of the Christ was unlikely to convert people who did not hate Jews into anti-Semites.

Director Mel Gibson has denied the film was anti-Semitic. US Catholic and Christian groups and biblical scholars, have defended the film, saying it sticks closely to New Testament accounts of the crucifixion.

The Passion of the Christ has earned more than $270m (£150m) since its 25 February opening in the US.

[bmwcyle]

Then the Germans will miss the meaning of the Bible again in history.

[NYer]

The movie is being released in Germany three weeks ahead of schedule in response to public demand.

Meanwhile, the media gnash their teeth, and issue warnings, as the power of The Passion of The Christ, rolls into Europe.

Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list

[Mike Darancette]

I thought that Europeans were supposed to be enlightened Million of Americans have seen the Passion with little or no personal acts against Jews by Christians. Yet Europe worried.

[Sabatier]

This rant is getting old. Give it up! Instead of whining about this movie they should be worried about the collapse of Spain to the Islamo-fascists.

[jocon307]

"Instead of whining about this movie they should be worried about the collapse of Spain to the Islamo-fascists."


REALLY! And while they are at it, they should worry about the active and violent anti-Semitism on view daily by the Muslims of Europe and btw, the Middle East. The left, and a large swath of the middle it seems, are so deep in denial that they are actually delusional. Sometimes I think all the sane people are here at FR, and the rest are all looney tunes.

[Jabba the Nutt]

Here's a bit of background info: In Germany, they have the 'Church Tax', which is 10% of your income tax. You are registered as Lutheran, Catholic or Jewish. (Not sure if Islam has been added). The funds are then directly sent to the church organization in that state.

You can declare yourself not a member of the church and get out of paying the Church Tax. If you do, the church will refuse to baptize your kids and you won't be buried in a church cemetery.

This system seems designed to push people out of the church. It also creates a parasitic church leadership, which doesn't have to work to attract congregants. They get their money, whether they do anything or not and you know what kind of people this situation attracts. So, you end up with a church leadership that is self-hating, that doesn't believe in Christianity and ultimately destroys faith.

[Constantine XIII]

"We urgently warn against using the suffering of Jesus as an instrument for anti-Semitism"

Whew, I'm glad someone warned us! :)

[Lion in Winter]

Today, there are some muslim supporters over on the threads about all the RECENT muslim violence going on in KOSOVO, against the NATO/UN peacekeepers and Serbian civilians.

People in the German government ought to be worried about their own suppport for arafat-a$$ and his terrorists..... not about movies about Christ.

[Jaded]

Mr. Broder and his ilk are morons.

[Clint Williams]

German Jewish leaders and church officials have warned that The Passion of the Christ may stir up anti-Semitism when it opens in the country.

German Catholic leaders called the film problematic,

The Hun know their own kind best. If the Germans themselves say anti-Semitism is an essential part of their soul, why should I believe otherwise? The movie shouldn't play there. They can't handle it.

[NYer]

They get their money, whether they do anything or not and you know what kind of people this situation attracts.

How much control does the state have over the churches? Can the state force them to enact policies that are opposed to official teachings? In China, the government regulates and sanctions 'state churches'. There is the 'official' Catholic Church and then there is the underground church.

If these policies benefit the state in other countries, it is just a matter of time before they are enacted here, as well.

[Jabba the Nutt]

It's not control, it's like liberal bias in the media. Everyone they know think the same way, so it must be normal. Dan Rather says that CBS is middle of the road, because the commies attack them from the left and conservatives attack from the right. I'm not aware of any underground churches. My experience is 20 years old. I know the Germans banned Scientology as a cult and Germans have been well represented in cults. Ashram in Poona is a pretty famous documentary over there.

[pepsionice]

The church tax info is true...although there are changes amongst the ungodly. A number of young Germans are just dropping the church tax entireley...and using local halls for wedding ceremonies...and for funerals. Its alot easier to pay some guy $400 to rent his place for a funeral than to pay $4k over 50 years to the church which does little of anything.

One of the key reasons that scientology is really frowned upon by the Germans...is that they don't see it as a real religion. These guys actually go out and recruit folks and drum up support. Nobody else in Germany does that. They actually show up at your door and talk the big talk *all bogus of course* on your personal life. You could be in a village of 400 people and never see the priest except for the yearly parade through the village. This guy gets his money and goes off to Sweden (as our local priest does) each summer for four weeks.