Posted on 06/03/2009 10:54:14 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
Spiritually speaking, Mel Gibson is wading through murky waters these days. The 'Braveheart' actor-director, an outspoken cheerleader for the traditionalist Catholic movement who built his own church so he could worship, is expecting a child with his girlfriend despite still being married. Isn't there a Commandment about that?
Gibson is in the midst of divorce proceedings with Robyn Moore, his wife of 29 years and mother to their seven kids. However, even mainstream Catholicism does not tolerate the kinds of dalliances the star has made, and the consequences for his relationship with 39-year-old Russian model Oksana Grigorieva are very real when he steps into his church.
PEOPLE spoke to experts in traditionalist Catholicism, a conservative breakaway movement that worships in Latin among other things, about what Gibson will have to do in order to get back into the good graces of his own church.
Communion: At this time, Gibson is considered an adulterer and is not allowed to take Communion. Members of Holy Family Chapel in Agoura Hills, Calif. confirm he's stopped. If he puts a hold on his relationship with Grigorieva and confesses his sins, he'll be allowed back into the fold.
Annulling His Marriage: In order to re-marry, Gibson has to get his marriage to Moore annulled. But since he was married in the mainstream Catholic church, he has to apply for the request through the Vatican. One problem: the official church does not recognize Gibson's new congregation of traditionalists.
Marrying a Non-Catholic: Gibson would have to get a dispensation from a Catholic bishop to marry someone outside his church. Again, the Vatican does not approve of the actor's congregation.
According to RadarOnline, Gibson lost his cool with congregants at his Agoura Hills church recently in what one source described as a "crazed rant." Angry with the congregation for gossiping about his ongoing divorce, his affair and their baby, Gibson reportedly delivered a furious sermon last Sunday.
A source claimed that Gibson "paced back and forth, furiously telling the congregation that he would not stand by and be judged and scrutinized."
"Mel got up on his stage -- the altar -- and went off. He tried to intimidate the parishioners by staring at everyone with his angry eyes. Mel even threatened to shut down the church if people kept gossiping about him. The bottom line is that if Mel hadn't cheated on his wife and gotten his Russian girlfriend pregnant, there wouldn't be much to gossip about."
With his fast-evolving personal life, it's unclear if Gibson is eroding his clout with the millions of people who helped make his 'The Passion of the Christ' the biggest movie of 2004. Critics, including MSNBC contributor Tony Sclafani, are enraged with the actor, saying he appeared flippant about the whole affair during a recent appearance on 'The Tonight Show.' (He called himself "Octo-Mel" since Grigoriva is having his eighth child.)
"What's worse is that Gibson seems unrepentant, to use church lingo. Even publicity mongers Jon and Kate Gosselin seemed more chastened when confronted with their alleged indiscretions. And that’s saying something."
***I think Marysecretary makes an excellent point.
When one becomes one’s own Pope, the arrogance that inspired such an action is eventually not only self-destructive, but destructive to the “church” such an action created.***
Mary is exactly correct. Mel has taken upon himself the task of creating his own theology. With expected results, I might add. Catholics as a group, after the Passion, were extremely grateful to Mel; the anti Jewish rant and now this: we are gravely disappointed and totally disapprove of his actions.
Sad.
I had to get a dispensation to marry my now-Lutheran, but soon-to-convert husband.
If you don’t remember doing it, it’s probably because your parish priest got it on your behalf after you met with him to discuss the wedding.
Regards,
1633 In many countries the situation of a mixed marriage (marriage between a Catholic and a baptized non-Catholic) often arises. It requires particular attention on the part of couples and their pastors. A case of marriage with disparity of cult (between a Catholic and a nonbaptized person) requires even greater circumspection.
1634 Difference of confession between the spouses does not constitute an insurmountable obstacle for marriage, when they succeed in placing in common what they have received from their respective communities, and learn from each other the way in which each lives in fidelity to Christ. But the difficulties of mixed marriages must not be underestimated. They arise from the fact that the separation of Christians has not yet been overcome. The spouses risk experiencing the tragedy of Christian disunity even in the heart of their own home. Disparity of cult can further aggravate these difficulties. Differences about faith and the very notion of marriage, but also different religious mentalities, can become sources of tension in marriage, especially as regards the education of children. The temptation to religious indifference can then arise.
1635 According to the law in force in the Latin Church, a mixed marriage needs for liceity the express permission of ecclesiastical authority.[135] In case of disparity of cult an express dispensation from this impediment is required for the validity of the marriage.[136] This permission or dispensation presupposes that both parties know and do not exclude the essential ends and properties of marriage and the obligations assumed by the Catholic party concerning the baptism and education of the children in the Catholic Church.[137]
1636 Through ecumenical dialogue Christian communities in many regions have been able to put into effect a common pastoral practice for mixed marriages. Its task is to help such couples live out their particular situation in the light of faith, overcome the tensions between the couple’s obligations to each other and towards their ecclesial communities, and encourage the flowering of what is common to them in faith and respect for what separates them.
1637 In marriages with disparity of cult the Catholic spouse has a particular task: “For the unbelieving husband is consecrated through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is consecrated through her husband.”[138] It is a great joy for the Christian spouse and for the Church if this “consecration” should lead to the free conversion of the other spouse to the Christian faith.[139] Sincere married love, the humble and patient practice of the family virtues, and perseverance in prayer can prepare the non-believing spouse to accept the grace of conversion.
http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/matri.html
That's how you end up with denomination after denomination of non-Catholic churches frankly. Wasn't it Martin Luther who said he got rid of one pope and ended up with 300?
Thanking God for non-Catholic churches. They escaped the bondage.
I feel very sorry for anyone who would post such a thing, even accidentally.
Outside of Christ's Universal Church, there is nothing but misdirected cultish foolishness.
When did his father go nuts? Seems like the same syndrome.
Per folks who knew the Gibson’s in Ozone Park, Hutton Gibson was always a nut.
Much like Mr. Gibson's "REAL Catholic Church" where all bow down to Pope Mel. It annoys me that the media still calls Mel "Catholic" and I haven't been a Catholic for sometime myself.
Mel is a very talented filmmaker, but, like so many other folks in that industry, a narcissistic freak.
That's pretty much the perfect way to put it.
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