Mel Gibson builds a $37m church in the Malibu hills

Perth Now ^ | September 5, 2007 | Peta Hellard

[NYer]

MEL Gibson has poured a further $10 million into his controversial sect in the Malibu hills as he oversees construction of a 400-seat church to expand his flock.

A federal tax filing reveals that the troubled actor-director made the large lump sum donation earlier this year to his Holy Family Catholic Church, which is situated in the secluded Agoura Hills.

The private church now has $37 million in its coffers - up from $27 million last year, according to the tax document.

Gibson's secretive sect is not recognised by the Roman Catholic Church because it does not acknowledge the authority of the Pope or the Vatican and rejects the universally accepted teachings of the Second Vatican Council.

The church - which offers a daily morning mass in Latin - follows an antiquated ideology of Catholicism dating back to the 16th century.

Female followers of Gibson's church must abide by a strict dress code, requiring them to wear veils over their hair and long skirts, with a ban on pants for women.

The exclusive parish currently caters for about 70 families, with the existing chapel having seating for only 100 people.

However, the new church, located 400m up the hill from the current building, will seat about 400 when it is completed in the next 12 months.

Visible throughout much of the valley it overlooks, the high-ceilinged church is being constructed in the architectural style of an old-fashioned Spanish mission.

It is understood that Gibson, 51, also owns the construction company that is building his new place of worship.

Planning documents, seen by The Daily Telegraph, reveal that the current church building will become a meeting hall for the parish.

[NYer]

The church was the venue for the wedding of Gibson's only daughter Hannah, who was walked down the aisle by her father in a private ceremony - reportedly conducted entirely in Latin - last September.

[wagglebee]

I’m not sure if this is giving costs in US or Australian dollars. My guess is that it’s in Australian dollars, which are worth about $0.80 each.

[Romulus]

conducted entirely in Latin - last September.

So was ours -- last September.

[Antoninus]

"MEL Gibson has poured a further $10 million into his controversial sect in the Malibu hills"

Hmmm, interesting prose. Were Mel a homosexual liberal, it would have read this way:

"Mel Gibson has bestowed a gift of $10 million on his progressive church in the lovely Malibu hills...."

Funny what a difference a few well-placed words can make.

[Antoninus]

Were I a Catholic in that area, I'd have a real dilemma on my hands--follow the Mahoneyite schism or the Gibson schism.... Hmmmm.

Truly, I'm not sure which is more damaging to one's soul.

In the end, I'd probably end up with either the Byzantine rite Catholics or the Maronites.

[Bosco]

Gibson's secretive sect is not recognised by the Roman Catholic Church because it does not acknowledge the authority of the Pope or the Vatican and rejects the universally accepted teachings of the Second Vatican Council.

Comments, Roman Catholics?

[ArrogantBustard]

reportedly conducted entirely in Latin

OOOOoooooohhhhhhhh ... conducted in Latin

[mtbopfuyn]

He should have first banned skirts on men.

[jjm2111]

Is Mel SSPX?

[JennysCool]

the troubled actor-director

I don't think one very public DUI qualifies one for "troubled" status.

[Argus]

I don’t believe the Society of Pius X (which I believe is Mel’s “schismatic group”) rejects the authority of the Pope, just the liturgical changes that grew out of Vatican II (but were not, contrary to what this article alleges, mandated by it). Maybe better-informed Catholics on this thread can correct me.

But you gotta love the editorializing in this supposed news article - “antiquated ideology” and all that. I can remember women wearing veils and eschewing pants, and men in suits, at the time of my first communion, 1957. I feel like a real antique.

[NYer]

Were I a Catholic in that area, I'd have a real dilemma on my hands--follow the Mahoneyite schism or the Gibson schism....

I believe we already traveled down that road ...

Why Doesn't the Pope Do Something about "Bad" Bishops?

[NYer]

Is Mel SSPX?

From what I understand, he is sedevacantist but not sure if he is SSPX.

[Between the Lines]

The church has an unlisted phone number, keeps its address a secret and has asked members of the congregation not to release the information

30188 W. Mulholland Highway, between Sierra Creek and Kanan roads. Though they have an unlisted phone number the address is no "secret" and it is highly visible.

[Campion]

I don’t believe the Society of Pius X (which I believe is Mel’s “schismatic group”)

I think Mel's involved with a sedevacantist "independent" group, not SSPX.

[marshmallow]

Gibson is clearly searching deeply for a spiritual anchor but he's drifted off into loony tune land, probably caused by a visceral reaction to the lunacy of Mahony, Brown, Niederauer et al.

I pray that he finds his way back home and comes to his senses. I think he has a lot to offer but he's heading in the wrong direction at the moment.

[Dajjal]

Female followers of Gibson's church must abide by a strict dress code, requiring them to wear veils over their hair and long skirts, with a ban on pants for women.

"When I, you know, read that women have to wear skirts of a certain length, ... I think, you know, totalitarian regimes." --Christiane Amanpour 8/24/07

Mel Gibson bumpus ad summum

[BlackElk]

Argus: SSPX was declared schismatic and its leaders and adherents excommunicated by John Paul II in 1988 for the consecration of bishops in direct defiance and disobedience of papal authority and orders. No papal document has modified those rulings since. SSPX apologists claim that there is no schism and no excommunications but the document by which Pope John Paul II declared SSPX scismatic and excommunicated its leaders and adherents was Ecclesia Dei. Several schism sympathizing bureaucrats (notably Dario Cardinal Castrillon de Hoyos) have issued confusing statements useful to the schismatics claiming that there is no schism and no excommunications but he lacks any authority whatsoever to lift either.

Bosco: Despite the self-serving suggestions of the SSPX schismatics at the time that The Passion of the Christ was released, I have seen no evidence whatsoever that Mel Gibson has adhered to the SSPX schism. The cited language about Mel's secretive cult is balderdash. He simply has Tridentine Masses said in his own private chapel. The priest who said daily Tridentine Masses on the set of The Passion of the Christ was a retired priest in good standing from Canada.

[Argus]

Thank you for the correction.