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Mel Gibson to follow up 'The Passion' with Fatima film
xT3 ^

Posted on 02/28/2005 1:28:36 PM PST by nickcarraway

Hollywood A-lister buys the rights to the book ‘Stealing from Angels'

Fittingly, just ten days after the death of Sr Lucia dos Santos, the last survivor to witness the appearances of the Virgin Mary at the Portuguese town of Fatima in 1917, Mel Gibson has bought the rights to the book ‘Stealing from Angels’.

Brian Dullaghan’s novel tells the story of a young Irish man who escapes a dreary life in his hometown only to slip into a life of major crime in New York. Everything changes when he meets Maria and he jumps ship again, this time to Maria’s hometown in Italy. However, blissful happiness does not follow and when the couple are connected to the murder of Pope John Paul and the third secret of Fatima, things really implode.

‘Stealing from Angels’ is a work of fiction that tells the tale of a man who shoulders a huge secret and trusts no one.

The third prophecy

Those familiar with the three prophesies revealed by the Virgin Mary at Fatima will be aware that the first two referred to the two World Wars and the third to the long kept secret that Sr Lucia ultimately revealed that foretold the 1981 attempt on Pope John Paul II’s life.

In 2000, when the Pope visited the shrine at Fatima, Cardinal Soldano, authorised to read a statement on behalf of the pontiff, described the prophecy: "the 'bishop clothed in white' makes his way with great effort toward the cross amid the corpses of those who were martyred. He too falls to the ground, apparently dead, under a burst of gunfire." Pope John Paul II credits the Madonna of Fatima with his survival following the assassination attempt by Turkish right-winger Mehmet Ali Agca in St Peter's Square.

‘Stealing from Angels’ has received rave reviews and is very popular in America, not least, in the same vein as The Da Vinci Code, because people can indulge their desire for church conspiracy theories – especially relating to the Catholic Church.

Mel Gibson’s interest will again stir up the controversy. Gibson is known to practice pre-Vatican II ‘traditional’ Catholicism and much was made amid ‘The Passion’ furore of his father’s Vatican conspiracy theories.

But let’s put this to one side. The film will not hit screens until 2006 and Gibson has proved himself an exceptional actor and director. He has also treated key figures in the Catholic hierarchy with respect and even sought their opinions ahead of the worldwide release of ‘The Passion of The Christ’.

Mel Gibson travelled to Fatima in September of 2003 to show the film to religious institutions. He visited Sr Lucia’s convent in Coimbra and managed to secure an agreement to show ‘The Passion’ to the sisters. Later, Gibson returned to Portugal and made another secret visit to the convent to meet with Sr Lucia.

One thing’s for sure; this film is destined to be a controversial box office blockbuster. But before the conspiracy theories get out of hand, not to mention individual reader interpretations, the author himself has the final say in an interview with The Tribune: “It’s a great story and that is that,” said Dullaghan.

Hollywood holds its breath…


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; US: California
KEYWORDS: 666; catholic; entertainment; faitma; fatima; hollywood; lucia; melgibson; next; portugal; religion; sisterlucia; thepassion; vaticanpayola
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To: johnb838

I'll have to go back and watch the movie again. I don't remember the scene you're referring to. As to Mary putting her head on the floor, I agree with you. It was Mel's artistic license, and a very tender and heart-grabbing scene. It wasn't in the Bible, but kudos to Mel for including it.


61 posted on 02/28/2005 3:40:13 PM PST by My2Cents (America is divided along issues of morality, between the haves and the have-nots.)
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To: NATIVEDAUGHTER

I agree wit you!
That really is the 3rd Secret!


62 posted on 02/28/2005 3:40:36 PM PST by missyme (imho)
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To: johnb838

Thanks for your comments. No offense taken. BTW, as an "evangelical," I have to admit that some of the people who have most influenced my own Christian faith have been Catholic mystics -- mainly from around the 16th/17th Centuries.


63 posted on 02/28/2005 3:41:51 PM PST by My2Cents (America is divided along issues of morality, between the haves and the have-nots.)
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To: Jibaholic
hmmm, I wonder if he is going reach out to the evangelical Protestants like he did with the Passion?

Why should he? If he makes a movie that primarily only interests Catholics, well good for him. Not every movie has to be for the masses.

Personally I think the fatima stuff is dangerously in the realm of false prophets (ala Simon the Sourceror), but this movie is based on a work of fiction, which is perhaps the best way to approach and discuss such a controversial topic.

64 posted on 02/28/2005 3:42:28 PM PST by Diddle E. Squat
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To: nickcarraway

Does America need Fatima? I used to get all these letters in the mail declaring that "America Needs Fatima!"


65 posted on 02/28/2005 3:43:01 PM PST by Clemenza (Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms: The Other Holy Trinity)
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To: johnb838

ABSOLUTELY! Although I do like Hilary Swank - mostly because of her back ground - she is living proof of an American Dream, I agree that the TRUE winner should have been the Passion, and swept every category! After what I saw last night, it was as though the Academy had a very small budget this year, made sure to ride the fence to stay politically correct ( as the recent displays of MM and others mouthing off have made the awards a place that you really do not know who will say what), and as if for some reason they just wanted to hurry up and get this one behind them. I wonder if there was a liberal gun stuck in their back? Too risky to stand up and be a TRUE American these days, I guess.

Generally, I hold out and shush the house quiet so I do not miss a minute, but last night, after seeing Chris Rock, I retired to my bedroom, floated around the computer, and went back just in time to see if Hilary won. Then, I passed out. Such a shame. And my opinion, I think Chris Rock sunk to an all time low - the Awards may be a pat on the back to some undeservings,but the ones who do deserve it - really didn't deserve him showing his butt last night.


66 posted on 02/28/2005 4:07:10 PM PST by Just Kimberly (In God WE Trust...lest we be lost)
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To: johnb838

I know of several protestant churches that rented out the theater for their members, and many who went to see the Passion more than once. Those thousands would not go see a Fatima movie.


67 posted on 02/28/2005 4:12:03 PM PST by LearnsFromMistakes (We know the right things to do, why don't we just do them?)
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To: Ibredd

It might help you if you realize that Christ went through this for YOU and ME. Look at it as the reality of sacrifice.


68 posted on 02/28/2005 4:45:22 PM PST by fish hawk
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To: StonyBurk

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.


69 posted on 02/28/2005 4:54:27 PM PST by Hank Rearden (Never allow anyone who could only get a government job attempt to tell you how to run your life.)
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To: WilliamWallace1999

> Holy Father passed through a big city half in ruins and half trembling with halting step, afflicted with pain and sorrow, he prayed for the souls of the corpses he met on his way; having reached the top of the mountain, on his knees at the foot of the big Cross he was killed by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows at him, and in the same way there died one after another the other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious... and so on.


You know, that's even *worse* of a prophesy if it is supposed to prophesy the assassination attempt on the Pope.


70 posted on 02/28/2005 4:55:16 PM PST by orionblamblam
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To: what's up

Mel's doing a Boadicea movie? Coooool! I bet he'll do a great job of it.

Wonder who he'll cast in the lead?

Regards,


71 posted on 02/28/2005 4:57:34 PM PST by VermiciousKnid
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To: fish hawk

Yes I understand that but I see no reason to dwell on it. It seems some require more and more blood and twisting and turning with more pain. Yes Christ died for our sins, and all that is needed is that we accept that.


72 posted on 02/28/2005 4:58:57 PM PST by Ibredd
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To: sinkspur

IMVHO, the third Secret was about a LOT more than that....we just don't know yet.


73 posted on 02/28/2005 5:04:25 PM PST by Ann Archy (Abortion: The Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: streetpreacher
Why would he lose Evangelicals and Protestants? The story of Fatima is AWESOME! 70,000 people witnessed the "Miracle of the Sun"...The Day the Sun Danced"....read about it....it's fascinating, no matter what religion you are!

Hugh Hewitt just mentioned a website...FatimaCrusader.com

74 posted on 02/28/2005 5:07:47 PM PST by Ann Archy (Abortion: The Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: My2Cents

Why would he lose a lot of audience? Do you know anything about Fatima??


75 posted on 02/28/2005 5:11:11 PM PST by Ann Archy (Abortion: The Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: johnb838

I think70,000 people witnessed the sun dancing that day.


76 posted on 02/28/2005 5:13:51 PM PST by Ann Archy (Abortion: The Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: My2Cents
Could you explain why Protestants and Evangelicals don't revere Mary, the Mother of God?

Notice I said REVERE, not ADORE...we revere Mary....we Adore Jesus.

77 posted on 02/28/2005 5:16:41 PM PST by Ann Archy (Abortion: The Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: nickcarraway
Did you listen to Michael Medvedtonight?

Mel was on for about an hour.

He said the next movie he's going to be in is about an undercover cop that infiltrate a biker gang.

I might be wrong but I think it's the same character that Charlie Sheen played in......


78 posted on 02/28/2005 5:18:17 PM PST by OXENinFLA
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To: k2blader

I would guess that the vast majority of Practicing Catholics know and believe in what happened at Fatima. Read about it.....it's fascinating.


79 posted on 02/28/2005 5:18:43 PM PST by Ann Archy (Abortion: The Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Ann Archy

Yes, I know plenty about Fatima.


80 posted on 02/28/2005 5:19:03 PM PST by My2Cents (America is divided along issues of morality, between the haves and the have-nots.)
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