Posted on 04/13/2005 4:08:22 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The story ricocheted across the globe, was headlined in European newspapers, in India and even in Malaysia: Mel Gibson is making a film about the late Pope John Paul II and even had a crew filming the Pope's funeral in Rome last week.
The problem is, it is not true.
It began with an item in Cindy Adams' gossip column in the New York Post, got picked up by the world's media, and was promptly denied by Gibson's Hollywood office on Tueday.
Gibson's office simply said the story was "false."
The media should have recalled the widely publicized fact that Mel Gibson, a traditionalist Catholic who has not embraced Vatican II reforms in the Church, has been no fan of the late Pope John Paul II.
But the Pope was apparently a fan of Gibson's. Shortly before it's release, John Paul II had a private viewing of Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" and reportedly remarked, "It is as it was."
The Pope made his comment to his good friend Msgr. Stanislaw Dziwisz.
Still, not all is rosy between Mel and the Vatican. In her column even Cindy Adams noted that Gibson, a devout Catholic, had railed against the Vatican in the past, but went on to report that he had even sent a camera crew to the Vatican to film the spectacular crowds and funeral pageantry.
According to Jeannette Walls on MSNBC's The Scoop, a source tried to explain Gibson's failure to attend the funeral by saying that Mel "had hoped to visit to view the body, but the logistics of it all were complicated. You can't have a star like Mel Gibson waiting in line like that — it would have created a scene — but I guess it wouldn't have been appropriate to have him moved ahead of the crowd like a foreign dignitary."
I would disagree.
A movie by Gibson about the Pope would be great; it would draw more money and viewers as it seems more people follow the Pope than they do follow Christ.
Yep, I pray to him every chance I get. Heck, I even have a little figurine of him glued onto my left shoulder just so he can whisper in my ear.
then there's nothing stopping Mad Max IV: Fury Road. get crackin' Mel.
Mel Gibson doesn't recognise the pope or the second Vatican council.
"a movie about our Holy Father no matter how well done would not be something he would want"
There is only one Holy Father. To call a man Holy Father is blasphemy. To allow yourself to be called such is also blasphemy of the sort another blasphemer attempted in ancient times.
(Isa 14:12 KJV) How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!(Isa 14:13 KJV) For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:(Isa 14:14 KJV) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
(Mat 4:8 KJV) Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;(Mat 4:9 KJV) And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
(Mat 23:9 KJV) And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
When the Pope was not assuming the titles and prerogatives of deity for himself, he was attributing such to another human being, Mary.
"When Karol Wojtyla [John Paul II] was consecrated bishop of Krakow by Pius XII in 1958 he took, 'Totus Tuus' (all yours) as his motto, thus presenting himself to Mary. In his first Urbi et Orbi message immediately after being elected pope he said, 'At this difficult hour, full of fear, we must turn our thoughts with filial devotion to the Virgin Mary who always lives in the midst of Christ and exists as his mother. We must repeat the words, Totus Tuus which 20 years ago were inscribed into our heart and soul.'"
On 5/7/97, Pope John Paul II dedicated his general audience to "the Virgin Mary" and urged all Christians to accept Mary as their mother. He noted the words spoken by Jesus on the cross to Mary and to John -- "Woman, behold thy son!" and "Behold thy mother!" (John 19:26,27), and he claimed that in this statement "It is possible to understand the authentic meaning of Marian worship in the ecclesial community ... which furthermore is based on the will of Christ" (Vatican Information Service, May 7, 1997).
This blasphemous dogma [Mary's sinlessness] detracts from the sinlessness of Christ, who ALONE was born of a virgin and immaculate. The Bible nowhere says Mary was sinless. It says 'all have sinned and come short of the glory of God' (Rom. 3:23). The only exception is the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone is 'holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens' (Heb. 7:26). Mary knew her own sin and acknowledged her need of a Saviour (Luke 1:47). None of the Lord's Apostles exalted Mary; none of them applied to her such titles as sinless, immaculate, ever-virgin, Mother of God, Blessed Virgin, Holy Queen, Queen of Heaven, Our Lady, Co-Redemptress, Immaculate Virgin, etc. The Apostles taught us that Jesus Christ ALONE is the Mediator between God and men (1 Tim. 2:5). The Roman Catholic Church's doctrine of Mary is blasphemous error. Mary cannot answer prayer. She cannot aid in man's salvation. She cannot intercede with Christ in behalf of God's people. She is not Queen of Heaven. The only Queen of Heaven mentioned in Scripture is an Old Testament idol (Jer. 44:18-19). Every prayer addressed to Mary is idolatry. If the Roman Catholic Church did not hold any false doctrine other than its dogmas pertaining to Mary, the Bible would require us to reject it as a false church on this basis alone.
It's a shame that criticizing the Pope gets you in more trouble on this board than blaspheming God.
Well, since we are on the subject, here are some quotes by the late pope John Paul ll which clearly promote, not the truth of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and salvation through Him alone, but the false, Christ-denying philosophy of universalism and global spiritual oneness.
"Globalization presents the demand for solidarity(unanimous support) particularly the construction of a more human world for all." John Paul ll May 14 2002, Global Forum in Rome.
"It is the duty of all believers, to whichever religion they belong, to proclaim that we can never be happy pitted one against the other, the future of humanity will never be able to be secured by terrorism and by the logic of war." John Paul ll Sunday remarks from studio window, Feb 23, 2003
"make every effort of avoid new divisions in the world" John Paul ll to Prime Minister Tony Blair at meeting at Vatican Feb 21, 2003
"War must never be allowed to divide world religions" "good inter-religious relations are important at this moment of heightened tension in the entire world community." John Paul ll to visiting Catholic bishops from Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country, Mar 29 2003
"The Holy Father explained the Holy Spirit is mysteriously present in the heart of every person. through the practice of what is good in their own religious traditions, and following the dictates of their consciences, members of other religions positively respond to God's invitation and receive salvation in Jesus Christ, even though they may not recognize Him as their Savior." Vatican Information Service reporting on what the Pope had to say on the 'Seeds of Truth in Non-Christian Religions', Sep, 1998 (ok it is not a quote but second hand reporting from the Vatican.)
"I also entrust myself once again to you (Mary) and with confident affection I repeat to you: Totus tuus ego sum! I am all yours! " John Paul ll on occasion of World Youth Day 2003
(an appeal) "to all persons who profess a religion so that the spiritual and religious sense may be a source of unity and peace, which never confronts men among themselves." John Paul ll Vatican City, when receiving letters of credence of the new ambassadors to the Vatican of 12 countries, May 15, 2003
"International law has been for some time a law of war and peace. I believe it is called ever more to become exclusively a law of peace conceived as a function of justice and solidarity." (The basic principles behind this conviction, states the communique,) "are the same that inspire the Church's commitment in favor of peace" "equality in dignity for every human person and every human community, the unity of the human family..." "international law is called to be an instrument of justice ...the law therefore has the duty of harmoniously regulating international realities...so that conflicts can be prevented without recourse to arms, but rather through mechanisms and structures able to assure justice, removing the causes of potential conflicts."
John Paul ll in annual address to diplomatic corps accredited to Holy See Jan 13, 1997, quoted July 18, 2003 in theme announcement communique for World Day of Peace ("International Law, a Path for Peace") set for Jan 1, 2004.
"all of the just on Earth, including those who ignore Christ and his Church are called upon to build the kingdom of God." John Paul ll at an audience Dec 8, 2000 Electronic Telegraph, story no longer online
" A serious threat to peace is posed by intolerance, which manifests itself in the denial of free conscience to others." John Paul ll
"May all of you-partners in interreligious dialog- be encouraged and sustained by the knowledge that your endeavors are supported by the Catholic Church and appreciated by her as significant for strengthening the bonds which unite all people..." "in doing so (receiving monks of other religions) you offer a setting wherein a meeting of mind and heart can take place, a meeting characterized by a shared sense of brotherhood in the one human family that opens the way of even deeper spiritual dialog. " John Paul ll in meeting between Zen monks and Benedictine monks..he said that they can learn from each other and about their respective meditative practices and spiritual experiences. Theosophical Digest, Dec 1989
(it is) "clear that the future lies in unity and solidarity" (he called for ) "strengthening of the bond...between Christians and other great religions which flourish here." "May the resources of the church...set unity and love as their supreme goal." John Paul ll to Christians in Amman Jordan at a mass. This was part of his week long pilgrimage to the Holy Land to visit Christians, Muslims and Jews for meetings on peace and interfaith dialogue. July 29, 2003
"I come to you as a pilgrim of peace. My presence among you is a sign that the Catholic Church wants to enter a dialogue with the religions of the world." "religion must not be a pretext for conflict" "the peoples of all faiths must shun the path of isolation and division." John Paul ll in New Dehli India at a mass in which he drew parallels between Djwali, the Hindu festival of lights. The mass was punctuated by English and Hindi hymns, traditional dances from across Asia and prayers (to who?) offered in several languages. the stadium service was adapted for Hindu culture, with priests ringing bells and showering petals in traditional temple rituals. He later met with Hindu, buddhist, Sikh, Muslim, Jain, Parsee, Jewish and Baha'i leaders. Nov 7, 1999
" world...will, in fact, be transformed into a world in which the noblest aspirations of the human heart will triumph, a world in which true peace will prevail." John Paul ll quoted by sister Loretto Marie Colwell at Service of World Religions for Peace,at which representatives from 10 faith traditions took part, took placed at Christ the King Catholic Church in Topeka. Jan 27, 2002. The service was inspired by a similar gathering that took place Thursday in Assisi, Italy, in which Pope John Paul ll was joined by more than 200 religious leaders from around the world to pray for peace.
Pope encouraged the bishops of Indonesia to "work together as brothers, committed to peace, with your own people and with those of other religious beliefs, all men and women of good will, in order to ensure understanding, cooperation and solidarity." "Authentic religion does not advocate terrorism or violence but seeks in every way the unity and peace of the whole human family." John Paul ll in address to bishops in Indonesia March 29, 2003.
"We wish to have Christians and Muslims come together to proclaim before the world that religion must never be a reason for conflict, hatred and violence." "in this historic moment, humanity needs to see gestures of peace and to hear words of hope." "It is urgent that a common invocation be raised from earth to heaven, to implore the Almighty...the great gift of peace, the necessary condition for any serious endeavor at the service of humanity's real progress." (He entrusted the success of the initiative to the Blessed Virgin Mary.) John Paul ll , Nov 18, 2001, at meeting of world's religious leaders, announcing International prayer meeting to take place in Assisi on Jan 24. (a Day of Prayer for Peace)
"I have always believed that religious leaders have a vital role to play in nurturing that hope of justice and peace without which there will be no future worthy of humanity." Oct 28, 1999 conclusion of Interreligious Assembly: "On the Eve of the Third Millennium: Collaboration among the Diverse Religions"
"If it is imperative for the international community to foster good relations between people belonging to different ethnic and religious traditions, it is all the more urgent for believers (believers=all religions)themselves to foster relations...leading to the common concern for the well being of the whole human family." "believers are obliged to build together a just and harmonious world." "Interreligious dialog will be especially important in establishing a sure basis for peace..." "contact with the followers of other religions is often a source of great joy and encouragement. It leads us to discover how God is at work i the minds and hearts of people and indeed in their rites and customs."
"May Mary,Mother of Jesus and Mother of the Church, intercede for you all ...and encourage others to follow the genuine path of dialogue." John Paul ll in address to Council for Interreligious Dialogue Nov 11, 2001
And yet, somehow, God still manages to use us sinners, be we Popes, presidents, or more ordinary types, to carry out his will.
JPII, along with Reagan, Thatcher, and others, was selected and ordained by God to, among other things, bring down the iron curtain. They did their job well.
Iohannas Paulus II, Requiescat in Pacem
Thanks (amen!); those were clear and concise. I recently listened to a Pastors message and he touched on some of these things; I will post a link to the online version when it's available.
I also disagreed with him on his opposition to executing murderers and the war to free Iraq. He was also too slow in dealing decisively with the homosexual-pedophile-priest issue.
But I greatly admired the Pope's crucial role in bringing down the iron curtain, AND his outspoken support of the pro-life clause and for Terri Schaivo.
"He is our Holy Father. You are not Catholic so don't worry about it."
I'll take God as my Holy Father any day over any man, as Christ told us to do.
(Mat 23:9 KJV) And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
(John 17:9 KJV) I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine...(John 17:11 KJV) And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. HOLY FATHER, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
(1 Sam 2:2 KJV) There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
I am pretty sure you can get the 4/10/2005 10:30 am service on CD if you like from them, but you might ask before just ordering it. It's worth a listen to, IMO.
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