Mel isn’t a traditional Catholic. He made his own church, kind of like others have.
Sure, but he’s also not on this thread, arguing with other Catholics.
Please understand, I respect the opinions of everyone on this list, even if I disagree- that is, if I know enough TO disagree. But I make a point of making a point when I see all our “Brothers and Sisters in Christ” turning on one another, for any reason.
And then I’ll join the fray.
I’m Anglican. I’m not “Catholic” in the minds of almost every member of the Roman Catholic Church. That’s fine, it doesn’t bother me. I consider myself Catholic in the sense that I do my best to keep the Eucharist, observe many Catholic traditions, etc. So, despite the fact that most members of the Roman Catholic Church don’t consider me Catholic, I do. And I’ll side with my RCC buddies 9 times out of 10.
But it is disturbing to see such infighting. Even though I know it’s not going to stop, I’m still going to say something. After all, you never know who might be reached. “The works of the spirit are invisible,” someone once told me.
As for Mel Gibson and his particular brand of Catholicism... I don’t care. He’s Catholic. Not Roman, not Anglican, but whatever. Personally, I don’t care. His behavior was unacceptable and he should be held to task for it. That said, I don’t think his behavior was fully his own, and I’m confident there’s more at play here than we’ll ever know.