The Rev. Chuck Currie

Come What May: I'm Invited To Screen "Pro-Life" Movie

Will President-elect Obama and Congress "make life more difficult for the unborn?"  That's the charge made by Household of Faith Community Church, which is promoting a new "pro-life" film entitled "Come What May."

The Oregon-based congregation sent my office an invitation to a screening of the film.  Read their hyper-partisan invite and my response calling on them to support common ground approaches advocated by the president-elect to reduce the number of abortions and to support families.

Response from Rev. Chuck Currie to Household of Faith Community Church.    

(Note how they assume all pastors are men).

Bobby

Tonight I watched the award winning film Bobby. The movie chronicles Robert Kennedy’s final day in 1968 and the lives of some of those he touched. RFK has always been a political hero and (unfairly perhaps) I judge other candidates for public office by his leadership. Of course, I was not yet born when the senator was killed. But in reading of his history what has always impressed me most was his willingness to change course and to try new ideas when policies and ideas failed the challenges of the moment. He was an early architect of the war in Vietnam who became a chief critic. During his brother’s administration he was uneasy about the political impact of the civil rights movement but by the time of his death he had become the moral heir of Martin Luther King, Jr. He campaigned in 1968 to bring an end to a disastrous war and to bring reconciliation to a nation deeply divided along racial and economic lines. Our time echoes his. The most cynical among us will say that politicians cannot bring change but I believe differently. There is still a chance that our political system can produce leaders capable of inspiring the nation to heal the rifts that continue divide us and to end another immoral war. What will it take? All of us. The people of the nation. Once again we need to look past our own cynicism and engage in the political system knowing that it is broken and with a goal of fixing it. Soon I plan to add my voice to one of the presidential campaigns. It won’t be because I think the candidate I have chosen is perfect but because I believe that candidate has shown some of the same moral courage that Robert Kennedy, another imperfect person, did. And it won’t be because I think a president can solve every problem. Hardly. In fact, I think the issues we face today are as much a spiritual crisis as a political one. But democracy will wither away unless we all participate. So I will participate and hope that the forces of progress win this time.  I hope everyone who has been disappointed in the past will join the fight again in 2008.  There is so much at stake.

IRD: The Movie

Talk to Action notes that a new documentary is out about the Institute on Religion and Democracy, the group set-up by far-right political groups to fight the Gospel-centered advocacy efforts of mainline churches in the United States.  IRD, unlike Biblical Christianity, argues for economic policies that benefit the wealthy at the expense of the least of these, favors military intervention to solve nearly every problem, and opposes efforts to protect the environment.  This is a group so far to the right that Neo-Nazis once republished their materials bashing gays.

Related Post:  Institute on Religion on Democracy Report Written By Bush Campaign Worker

What is the difference between Chuck Currie and Chucky Currie?

Chucky is faster on his feet. 

Roundup

We had a good turnout tonight for the showing of THE GROUND TRUTH at Parkrose Community United Church of Christ. The film lets veterans tell their own stories about combat and their difficult journeys re-entering American society. All of us were struck by the imagines of dead children and other "non-combatants." It breaks your heart to watch children die.

It is fair to say that most who watched this film left with anger and with a sense that we have all been called in these times to be peacemakers.

Tomorrow I'll be leaving for The Dallas, a city along the beautiful Columbia River Gorge. The reason for my trip: the fall gathering of the Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ. The Rev. Dr. David Greenhaw, president of Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO., is our keynoter and I've been asked to introduce Dr. Greenhaw.

Saturday night I've been invited to play poker - a rare treat for me - and will make it back to Portland in time for that.

Then I will be back to preaching this Sunday morning.

On Sunday afternoon, I will also be guest of Air America's State of Belief program. Visit their site for additional information.

Thursday Night In Portland: The Ground Truth

Parkrose Community United Church of Christ (4715 NE 106th Ave) will host a special screening of the new film THE GROUND TRUTH on Thursday, October 12th at 7 pm and we are extending an invitation to other churches and people in the community to join us. Please pass this invitation around to those in your congregations and to other friends.

“THE GROUND TRUTH stunned filmgoers at the 2006 Sundance and Nantucket Film Festivals.

Hailed as "powerful" and "quietly unflinching," Patricia Foulkrod's searing documentary feature includes exclusive footage that will stir audiences.  The filmmaker's subjects are patriotic young Americans - ordinary men and women who heeded the call for military service in Iraq - as they experience recruitment and training, combat, homecoming, and the struggle to reintegrate with families and communities. The terrible conflict in Iraq, depicted with ferocious honesty in the film, is a prelude for the even more challenging battles fought by the soldiers returning home – with personal demons, an uncomprehending public, and an indifferent government. As these battles take shape, each soldier becomes a new kind of hero, bearing witness and giving support to other veterans, and learning to fearlessly wield the most powerful weapon of all - the truth.”

To RSVP for the film please click here.

Or call 503-253-5457.

To see a preview of the film visit: http://www.thegroundtruth.net/

A discussion will follow the screening.

The screening of this film is co-sponsored by the offices of the United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries. Visit www.ucctakeaction.org to learn more about their work.

Parkrose Community United Church of Christ is a neighborhood church. Worship services are held on Sunday mornings at 10 am. All are welcome.

Watch "The Ground Truth" In Portland

Parkrose Community United Church of Christ (4715 NE 106th Ave) will host a special screening of the new film THE GROUND TRUTH on Thursday, October 12th at 7 pm and we are extending an invitation to other churches and people in the community to join us. Please pass this invitation around to those in your congregations and to other friends.

“THE GROUND TRUTH stunned filmgoers at the 2006 Sundance and Nantucket Film Festivals.

Hailed as "powerful" and "quietly unflinching," Patricia Foulkrod's searing documentary feature includes exclusive footage that will stir audiences.  The filmmaker's subjects are patriotic young Americans - ordinary men and women who heeded the call for military service in Iraq - as they experience recruitment and training, combat, homecoming, and the struggle to reintegrate with families and communities. The terrible conflict in Iraq, depicted with ferocious honesty in the film, is a prelude for the even more challenging battles fought by the soldiers returning home – with personal demons, an uncomprehending public, and an indifferent government. As these battles take shape, each soldier becomes a new kind of hero, bearing witness and giving support to other veterans, and learning to fearlessly wield the most powerful weapon of all - the truth.”

To RSVP for the film please click here.

Or call 503-253-5457.

To see a preview of the film visit: http://www.thegroundtruth.net/

A discussion will follow the screening.

The screening of this film is co-sponsored by the offices of the United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries. Visit www.ucctakeaction.org to learn more about their work.

Parkrose Community United Church of Christ is a neighborhood church. Worship services are held on Sunday mornings at 10 am. All are welcome.

The Ground Truth

The United Church of Christ is partnering with others across the nation to premiere The Ground Truth, a new film that tells the stories of American soldiers returning from Iraq.

The Ground Truth stunned filmgoers at the 2006 Sundance and Nantucket Film Festivals. Hailed as "powerful" and "quietly unflinching," Patricia Foulkrod's searing documentary feature includes exclusive footage that will stir audiences. The filmmaker's subjects are patriotic young Americans - ordinary men and women who heeded the call for military service in Iraq - as they experience recruitment and training, combat, homecoming, and the struggle to reintegrate with families and communities. The terrible conflict in Iraq, depicted with ferocious honesty in the film, is a prelude for the even more challenging battles fought by the soldiers returning home – with personal demons, an uncomprehending public, and an indifferent government. As these battles take shape, each soldier becomes a new kind of hero, bearing witness and giving support to other veterans, and learning to fearlessly wield the most powerful weapon of all - the truth.

Learn more about the film here.

The Passion Of Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson wrote and directed one of the most anti-Semitic movies of all time.  This week the man behind The Passion of the Christ was arrested for drunk driving.  Gibson has long maintained that his movie (a favorite among the Religious Right) was not anti-Semitic and neither was he.  But guess who got blamed for his arrest?  Jews.  The website TMZ.com reports (link via a CNN story):

Once inside the car, a source directly connected with the case says Gibson began banging himself against the seat. The report says Gibson told the deputy, "You mother f***r. I'm going to f* you." The report also says "Gibson almost continually threatened me saying he 'owns Malibu' and will spend all of his money to 'get even' with me."

The report says Gibson then launched into a barrage of anti-Semitic statements: "F*g Jews... The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world." Gibson then asked the deputy, "Are you a Jew?"

The deputy became alarmed as Gibson's tirade escalated, and called ahead for a sergeant to meet them when they arrived at the station. When they arrived, a sergeant began videotaping Gibson, who noticed the camera and then said, "What the f** do you think you're doing?"

A law enforcement source says Gibson then noticed another female sergeant and yelled, "What do you think you're looking at, sugar tits?"

Gibson apologized for the incident today and issued this statement:

"After drinking alcohol on Thursday night, I did a number of things that were very wrong and for which I am ashamed. I drove a car when I should not have, and was stopped by the LA County Sheriffs. The arresting officer was just doing his job and I feel fortunate that I was apprehended before I caused injury to any other person. I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested, and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable. I am deeply ashamed of everything I said. Also, I take this opportunity to apologize to the deputies involved for my belligerent behavior. They have always been there for me in my community and indeed probably saved me from myself. I disgraced myself and my family with my behavior and for that I am truly sorry. I have battled with the disease of alcoholism for all of my adult life and profoundly regret my horrific relapse. I apologize for any behavior unbecoming of me in my inebriated state and have already taken necessary steps to ensure my return to health."

Alcoholism is a terrible disease that changes people in terrible ways.  But it doesn't make you anti-Semitic...or racist...or sexist...or homophonic.  I suspect what officers heard was Gibson's true passion coming out.    

Read the comments on this post from Street Prophets:

Superman Returns: I'll Be There

Since our kids were born (nearly two years ago) we haven’t been to many movies. Over the last year the only films we’ve caught have been Walk the Line (great) and X-Men 3 (so-so). Sometime next month we hope to see Superman Returns. I’ve always been a Superman fan. One of my favorite television programs as a kid was The Adventures of Superman. When the first Superman movie with Christopher Reeves came out I spent hours in line to see the film again and again. How could you not love a hero who fights for truth, justice and the American way?

Crazy people have been debating whether or not Superman in this film is gay and / or Jesus. But Worldwide Pablo will tell you that the superhero from Middle America is really just a good old United Methodist. I concur.

What is on your list of films to see this summer?

An Inconvenient Truth

One of the critical moral and political questions facing Christians today is the care of creation (or the environment).  Mainline Christians and some conservative evangelicals have called on the United States and other world bodies to do more to stop global warming (use these links to see how the Christian community is addressing these critical concerns).  But is anyone listening to that message?  They might after seeing Al Gore's new film.  An Inconvenient Truth opens soon in selected theatres:

Humanity is sitting on a ticking time bomb. If the vast majority of the world's scientists are right, we have just ten years to avert a major catastrophe that could send our entire planet into a tail-spin of epic destruction involving extreme weather, floods, droughts, epidemics and killer heat waves beyond anything we have ever experienced.

If that sounds like a recipe for serious gloom and doom -- think again. From director Davis Guggenheim comes the Sundance Film Festival hit, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, which offers a passionate and inspirational look at one man's fervent crusade to halt global warming's deadly progress in its tracks by exposing the myths and misconceptions that surround it. That man is former Vice President Al Gore, who, in the wake of defeat in the 2000 election, re-set the course of his life to focus on a last-ditch, all-out effort to help save the planet from irrevocable change. In this eye-opening and poignant portrait of Gore and his "traveling global warming show," Gore also proves himself to be one of the most misunderstood characters in modern American public life. Here he is seen as never before in the media - funny, engaging, open and downright on fire about getting the surprisingly stirring truth about what he calls our "planetary emergency" out to ordinary citizens before it's too late.

With 2005, the worst storm season ever experienced in America just behind us, it seems we may be reaching a tipping point - and Gore pulls no punches in explaining the dire situation. Interspersed with the bracing facts and future predictions is the story of Gore's personal journey: from an idealistic college student who first saw a massive environmental crisis looming; to a young Senator facing a harrowing family tragedy that altered his perspective, to the man who almost became President but instead returned to the most important cause of his life - convinced that there is still time to make a difference.

How important is this film?  Big oil (friends of GWB) is running television advertising attacking the claims made in the film.  They reject that global warm is caused by human actions.  Scientist disagree and Gore's film provides a platform for their voice to be heard.

This is a film everyone should see.

Check out the film's blog for more.

"The Saint of 9/11"

I don't know about you but it rips my heart out to see the clip from that new movie about United Flight 93.  So many emotions for all of us are still raw from September 11th.  You have to wonder if there will ever be a time when the memories will fade.  I hope not.  On that day a group of radical fundamentalists betrayed their God - our God - with a terrible act of violence.  Muslims, Jews and Christians have all killed and been killed by those who think their actions are sanctioned by God.  What fools God must think we all are.  Even now our president - who seems to believe he is on a divine mission - wages war and justifies his actions by invoking God. 

Will you see this movie about the United flight?  I'm not sure I ever will.  People keep asking if it is too soon to make a movie out of the events of 9/11.  I'm not at all concerned about the timing of the film.  The people on that flight really were heroes.  All of them must have been terrified and known that their efforts would end in death.  They knew, however, that if no one took action and many more people would die.  Whenever I go to Washington, DC now and see the Capitol Building and the White House I remember what those citizens did for our nation - what they gave.  A movie that reminds us of their heroism should be welcomed by us all.  It just breaks my heart to think about watching it.

There is another 9/11 - related movie coming out:  The Saint of 9/11.  This is a documentary about one more hero from that day.  Father Mychal Judge was a Roman Catholic priest and a chaplain for the New York Fire Department.  He was killed after rushing into the World Trade Center with other fire fighters.  Judge was listed as the first casualty of 9/11 and is regarded by many as a saint.  Others, because of his unconventional style and because of his homosexuality, view(ed) him quite differently. 

A profile in New York Magazine from November 12, 2001 reads in part:

"There's a very old postcard of a giant Jesus looking in the window of the Empire State Building in those long, long robes," says McCourt, in a brogue as thick as potatoes. "And that was Mike Judge in New York. He was everywhere. Over the city. And ooohhh, how good it was to know he was there."

Judge was gregarious, mischievous, a luminous presence; he thrived on movement and kept a preposterous schedule, as if he'd found a wormhole beneath the friary on West 31st Street that allowed him to be in six places at once. On any given evening, he might be baptizing a fireman's child, ministering to an aids patient, or listening to Black 47, a Celtic rock band that had a regular gig at Connolly's on West 47th Street. Judge got 30 to 40 messages a day on his answering machine. Every six months, he'd wear another machine out.

"He was the busiest person alive," says Joe Falco, a firefighter with Engine 1-Ladder 24, the company across the street from Judge's home. "He'd come back at all hours of the morning, blowing his siren so we could park his car. No one knew how he did it. No one understood how he maintained his energy."

The firemen loved him. He had an encyclopedic memory for their family members' names, birthdays, and passions; he frequently gave them whimsical presents. Once, after visiting President Clinton in Washington, he handed out cocktail napkins emblazoned with the presidential seal. He'd managed to stuff dozens of them into his habit before leaving the White House....

Obviously, Mychal Judge was not what one might call a conventional priest. But he was, arguably, a typical New York Franciscan -- earthy, streetwise, thoroughly engaged with the characters and chaos of the city. If times required it, Judge would hold Mass in the most unlikely places, including firehouses and Pennsylvania Station. This drove certain literalists in the clergy crazy, but no matter -- Judge pressed on. (To one of his antagonists, a certain monsignor in the chancellery who frequently phoned to admonish him, Judge once said: "If I've ever done anything to embarrass or hurt the church I love so much, you can burn me at the stake in front of St. Patrick's.")

The other pillar of Judge's spiritual philosophy was Alcoholics Anonymous. Once, at the White House, he told Bill Clinton that he believed the founders of AA had done more for humanity than Mother Teresa. "He was a great comfort to those with troubles with the drink," says McCourt, who usually saw Judge twice a month at AA. "He'd always say, 'You're not a bad person -- you have a disease that makes you think you're a bad person, and it's going to fuck you up.' " McCourt pauses a moment. "He had no compunction about language. Not with me, anyway."

Back in the early eighties, Judge was one of the first members of the clergy to minister to young gay men with aids, doing their funeral Masses and consoling their partners and family members. He opened the doors of St. Francis of Assisi Church when Dignity, a gay Catholic organization, needed a home for its aids ministry, and he later ran an aids program at St. Francis. Last year, he marched in the first gay-inclusive St. Patrick's Day parade, which his friend Brendan Fay, a gay activist, organized in Queens.

Cardinal O'Connor wasn't exactly a fan. "I heard that if Mike got any money from the right wing," says McCourt, "he'd give it to the gay organizations. I don't know if that's true, but that's his humor, for sure."

We lost all kinds of people on that day.  Democrats, Republicans, the rich, the poor, Christians, Jews, Muslims, gays, straights. 

All God's children.    

What should be the overarching lesson from that dark day in 2001? 

Don't let the fundamentalists - wherever they are - rule.  They always seek to divide and God calls us to reconcile. 

Movies are great and powerful tributes.  Standing up - as Father Judge did - for God's peace is even better.   

Photo credit: The St. of 9/11 -  Reuters   

Son Of Man: How Do You See Jesus?

Since Frances and Katherine were born we've only made it out of the house three times to see movies (and only one of those, Walk the Line, was worth the time). But I'm always interested in hearing about new flicks and my interest doubles if the movie deals with religion in some way. So this story from Ecumenical News International, republished in UCCNews, caught my eye.

Has anyone seen this film yet or know much about it?

A new film from South Africa eschews an often-popular image of a meek, white European Jesus and replaces it with one of a strong-willed, black African Jesus who preaches hope to the poor and questions political authority.

The film, "Son of Man", has been showing at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah where it premiered on 22 January. Its creators are seeking worldwide distribution of the movie.

Filmed mainly in the black townships of Cape Town, "Son of Man" places the story of Jesus in a shantytown and brings a political flavor in depicting the Gospel narratives. It is a collaboration between director Mark Dornford-May and Dimpho Di Kopane, a theatre company from the South African town of Stellenbosch.

Dornford-May says that in other portrayals of Jesus, "Christ has been hijacked a bit - he's gone very blond-haired and blue-eyed," adding that the initial response to the film among church audiences in South Africa was favourable. "We wanted to look at the gospels as if they were written by spin doctors and to strip that away and look at the truth," Dornford-May told the Reuters news agency in an interview. "The truth is that Christ was born in an occupied state and preached equality at a time when that wasn't very acceptable."

The image of a black Jesus had emerged in the 1960s and 1970s with the development of black theology in the United States and Africa. The film adheres to black theology tenets - including the depiction of Jesus as a champion of the powerless.

"It feels a bit like apartheid, people living in fear that soldiers could come into the house at any time and kill children," said Pauline Malefane, who plays Jesus' mother, Mary, and is also the movie's associate producer, in an interview with South Africa's Mail and Guardian newspaper.

But the film also depicts the authorities Jesus opposes as black. To some, that might evoke comparisons with the government of President Robert Mugabe in South Africa's neighbouring Zimbabwe, Malefane told the Mail and Guardian.

How we literally see the image of Jesus shows the tremendous differences in how we understand our Christian faith. Every culture adopts Jesus. In the United States, Jesus is a superhero and most often portrayed as white with blond hair. In other parts of the world he is seen as black, or Asian, or even in images that depict him as female or powerless to affect events as he hangs from the cross. Some people see Jesus as gay and others as a brash - even sexy - warrior.

Whatever from you pick for what you think Jesus looks like speaks volumes about what your own theology sounds like. There are those afraid of all these differences. You hear them protesting at films that Jesus could never have looked or acted the way the film suggests. After all, we've created Jesus in our image so we should know what he acted like (or looked like).

Such a debate over Jesus doesn't make me frightened. We know a lot about what the historical Jesus might have looked like based on our understandings of human looks from that time in history. But the post-Easter Jesus speaks to a much broader audience than the historical Jesus did. It makes sense that Jesus would speak differently to people from one context to another. And it makes sense that we in the US, for example, have a lot to offer and a lot to learn from people in Southern India who have experienced and imagined Jesus differently than we have. God is still speaking to all cultures and we should be taking part in the conversation.

A movie like this makes us ask questions.

What are the images of Jesus that you grew up with?
How have those images changed?
Have your life experiences, readings of the Scriptures, or interactions with other cultures changed the ways in why you understand Jesus?
Would it matter if Jesus were a black African rather than a white American?

Don't be surprised to learn the Religious Right is already at the gates ready to fight the film. The Republican Party-aligned Institute on Religion and Democracy recently took aim at the director of the film:

"We wanted to look at the gospels as if they were written by spindoctors and to strip that away and look at the truth. The truth is that Christ was born in an occupied state and preached equality at a time when that wasn't very acceptable."

- Mark Dornford-May, director of Son of Man, a movie which retells the passion of Christ by placing Jesus in a modern African state in a state of civil war.

IRD placed Dornford-May's statement on the "Outrageous Quotes of the Week" section of their web site. IRD's Jesus is one who read the Republican Party Platform word for word during the sermon on the mount (forgetting all the parts about love and justice). IRD supports war, opposes anti-poverty programs, and charges that Christians that disagree with the President's Iraq war are un-American. IRD' staff and board are made up of many prominent Republican activists and funders.  They don't want anyone to ever mess with their Repubican Jesus.   

I'm looking forward to seeing this film. We just need a babysitter.

The Passion of the Christ: How To Make Up Your Own Gospel Story & Blame The Jews In The Process For How The Story Ends

The re-release of Mel Gisbon’s interpretative film on the death of Jesus is out in theatres this week. The Passion of the Christ made lots of money for Gibson and his associates but it was a flawed filmed that took the four basic gospel stories and made them into a composite story– and then added extra-Biblical material never heard in the Bible. The Passion story has been used for thousands of years to blame Jews for the death of Jesus and Gibson’s film promoted that anti-Semitic viewpoint. The National Council of Churches USA has information on their web site that will help viewers of the film and churches assess the theological message Gibson has been working to spread. Click here to learn more.

Catholic League: Hollywood Controlled By Jews Who Hate Jesus

The same national group that labeled this blog “anti-Catholic” because of my advocacy on behalf of women in the church has now claimed that the “Passion of the Christ” won’t win an Oscar because Hollywood is controlled by Jews. Frank Rich reports in the New York Times:

Will it be the Jews' fault if "The Passion of the Christ," ignored by the Golden Globes this week, comes up empty in the Oscar nominations next month? Why, of course.

"Hollywood is controlled by secular Jews who hate Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular," William Donohue, president of the Catholic League, explained in a colloquy on the subject recently convened by Pat Buchanan on MSNBC. "It's not a secret, O.K.?" Mr. Donohue continued. "And I'm not afraid to say it. That's why they hate this movie. It's about Jesus Christ, and it's about truth." After the show's token (and conservative) Jewish panelist, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, pointed out that "Michael Moore is certainly not a Jew" and that Scorsese, Coppola and Lucas are not "Jewish names," Mr. Donohue responded: "I like Harvey Weinstein. How's that? Harvey Weinstein is my friend."

How’s that? Weird. Sad. Another example of the anti-Jewish sentiment stirred up by this film. Why anyone takes the Catholic League seriously is a mystery to me. Unfortunately, they have become a leading champion of conservative Catholics.

When the film was released Father John T. Pawlikowski, Professor of Ethics and Director of the Catholic-Jewish Studies Program at the Catholic Theological Union and Rabbi David Sandmel, Crown-Ryan Chair of Jewish Studies at the Catholic Theological Union, wrote:

Gibson has embellished the Gospel text in order to intensify Jesus' suffering. But in so doing, he draws on his own imagination and a variety of non-canonical sources, including the visions of a 19th century German nun who lived at a time when anti-Semitic homilies were a common tool for rallying mobs against the Jews.

The Holocaust compelled many Christians to examine the historic role of churches in fomenting anti-Semitism. Christian sensitivity in these areas has fostered significant changes in traditional church doctrine and practice on the part of both Roman Catholics and Protestants, such as those stemming from the Second Vatican Council's landmark Nostra Aetate (1965), and the Declaration of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to the Jewish Community (1994).

A primary focus of this investigation is a single verse in Matthew (27:24-25): "So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, 'I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.' Then the people as a whole answered, 'His blood be on us and on our children!'" (NRSV)

In the history of Christian anti-Semitism, this verse serves as biblical warrant for holding all Jews at all times responsible for the death of Jesus. Augustine, John Chrysostom, Thomas Aquinas, and Martin Luther all use it in this way. Yet the verse occurs only in Matthew. It is not found in Mark, Luke, or John, and is thus not essential in depicting Jesus' death.

After a group of Catholic and Jewish scholars objected to the presence of the verse in an early script, Gibson said he would take it out. But the film as screened on Tuesday, January 21, 2004 here in Chicago and the following night in Orlando includes the verse, thus repeating for millions of movie-goers around the world a classical indictment of the Jewish People for deicide….

Important Christian leaders such as Pope John Paul II have forcefully condemned anti-Semitism as a sin. The release of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ challenges Christians to address this topic frankly from the pulpit. Christians, especially, must honestly confront the history of anti-Judaism that is tied to the Passion. This challenge must be at the forefront of any evaluation of Mel Gibson's film.

Donahue’s words are a clear reminder that anti-Semitism is alive and well within some Christians (Catholic and Protestant). His words and the actions of the Catholic League must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

Christopher Reeve

Hearing the news about Christopher Reeve was really disheartening. He was one of my real first movie heros and posters of Superman littered the walls of my boyhood bedroom. Reeve showed amazing courage after his accident and became a powerful advocate for stem-cell research. He was a Unitarian-Universalist and his faith grew with his experience of being disabled. Lots of people go the other direction and understandably loose their faith during such times. Make sure you visit his foundation web site to learn how you might support his work. John Kerry was also a friend of Reeve’s (he actually mentioned him during the last debate) and the senator has a good statement up on his web site about Superman’s passing.

Bush’s Brain: The Karl Rove Story

A new documentary is coming to a theatre near you (at least in Portland and 12 other cities) and is available on DVD. Bush’s Brain follows the life and times of Karl Rove, the chief political advisor to the president. Rove is a legend for his dirty campaign tactics. Many independent observers have noted his close association with the contributors and producers of the so-called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. The promoters of this film, which is based on a book by journalists James Moore and Wayne Slater, provided me with an advance copy. It is worth viewing. Knowing the history of how George Bush has run his past campaigns and who is behind them is key to understanding the viscous nature of his 2004 effort.

Casino ejects Ronstadt over 'Fahrenheit' praise

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Singer Linda Ronstadt was thrown out of the Aladdin casino in Las Vegas on the weekend after dedicating a song to liberal filmmaker Michael Moore and his movie "Fahrenheit 9/11," a casino spokeswoman said Monday.

Ronstadt, who had been hired for a one-show engagement Saturday night at the Las Vegas Strip casino, dedicated a performance of "Desperado" to Moore and his controversial documentary, which criticizes President Bush and the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

That dedication angered some Aladdin guests who spilled drinks, tore down posters and demanded their money back, said casino spokeswoman Sara Gorgon.

Full story

This kind of corporate censorship of artists is a worrisome sign that signals the decline of open democracy in a free society.

Messages are pilling up on her homepage attacking her. You might considering visiting the site and leaving a message of your own defending her patriotism.

#1

'Fahrenheit 9/11' breaks records

Waiting for Babies

Our doctor has scheduled July 9th for Liz to have a caesarian section to deliver the twins. Both babies are still breach and that doesn’t look like it will change (hence the need for a c-section). Of course, Liz could still go into labor on her own before July 9th (just two weeks from today), but we’re hoping the girls stay put a bit longer to grow as strong as possible. They’ll be at 37 weeks around the time we deliver.

In the meantime, we continue our movie going marathon as we wait for the babies. We figure we won’t be able to see movies again for at least another 18 years after they arrive.

Today we saw Fahrenheit 9/11. Go see this movie! It was the first film we’ve seen this summer that has a) been packed for a matinee b) received long applause at the end. Bring any of your friends / family who are on the fence about the war and George W. Bush.

Update: See Liz's picture at 35 weeks.

Fahrenheit 9/11

Friday we’re planning on hitting the theaters for Fahrenheit 9/11, Michael Moore’s new film which recently won the Best Picture Award at the Cannes Film Festival. Republican operatives have launched a campaign to scare theatres into not showing the movie. The Fahrenheit 9/11 web site bills this film this way:

One of the most controversial and provocative films of the year, Fahrenheit 9/11 is Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore's searing examination of the Bush administration's actions in the wake of the tragic events of 9/11. With his characteristic humor and dogged commitment to uncovering the facts, Moore considers the presidency of George W. Bush and where it has led us. He looks at how - and why - Bush and his inner circle avoided pursuing the Saudi connection to 9/11, despite the fact that 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudis and Saudi money had funded Al Qaeda. Fahrenheit 9/11 shows us a nation kept in constant fear by FBI alerts and lulled into accepting a piece of legislation, the USA Patriot Act, that infringes on basic civil rights. It is in this atmosphere of confusion, suspicion and dread that the Bush Administration makes its headlong rush towards war in Iraq - and Fahrenheit 9/11 takes us inside that war to tell the stories we haven't heard, illustrating the awful human cost to U.S. soldiers and their families. Lions Gate Films will release the film nationwide on June 25th.

Click here to watch the trailer for the film. MoveOn.org is asking people to pledge to see the film on the opening weekend so that those on the right trying to shut it down don't win their fight (thanks to Heather Hyland for pointing out the MoveOn.org link).

The Hunting Of The President

A new documentary has been released on the Clinton years and what is billed as a “ten year campaign to destroy Bill and Hillary Clinton.” The Hunting of the President is based on a book by the same name by Joe Conason and Gene Lyons which was first published in 2000. The film isn’t playing yet in St. Louis, but I read the book when it was released and if the film is anything like the book it will be worth viewing. The authors outline a web of right-wing activists with ties to white supremacists, Republican Party operatives, and the office of the Independent Counsel that were clearly bent on destroying the presidency of Bill Clinton. Was there really a right-wing conspiracy? At the very least there was a concerted effort unlike any partisan campaign in recent times. Watch the film and read the book.

"The Day After Tomorrow"

The new fictional disaster movie "The Day After Tomorrow" comes out on Friday and we’re planning on seeing it ASAP (we need to get in all the summer movies before the twins arrive). The film details what would happen if global warming continues to go unchecked. Is the science behind the film sound? My guess is no. But at least the film might get people to start asking more questions about the impact global warming has on our weather and the environment in general.

The Indianapolis Star notes the film comes out just as Congress is set to vote on legislation that “would regulate carbon dioxide emissions and other man-made gases that some blame for the shift in climate patterns.” James Patterson writes:

Senators received a letter Wednesday signed by an unusual alliance of environmentalists, clergy, Nobel laureates and presidents of national scientific associations urging reconsideration of the Climate Stewardship Act, which would establish the nation's first regulatory system for carbon dioxide emissions.

"Among the predicted consequences of climate change are more frequent occurrences of heat, waves, drought, torrential rains and floods; global sea level rise of between one-half and three feet; increase of tropical diseases in non-temperate regions; significant reduction in biodiversity," the letter states.

It is co-signed by 30 prominent American academics and clerics, including professors from Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, Rice, Duke and Princeton universities, the California and Massachusetts institutes of technology and the universities of California and Michigan.

Other signatories to the letter, titled "A Plea From Religion and Science for Action on Global Climate Change," represent the National Council of Churches, U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops, Jewish Theological Seminary of America, United Methodist Church, the Union for Reformed Judaism, Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

You can read the letter here. Congress can be contacted here.

Growing Numbers Hold Jews Responsible For Jesus’ Death

In the wake of Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ there are a growing number of people who believe Jews are responsible for the death of Jesus. Roman authorities actually executed Jesus, but Gibson’s film includes scenes not written in the New Testament that attempt to place blame on the Jewish people.

Those who have seen the film, according to polling done by The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, are more likely to consider Jews responsible than those who have not seen the film.

Generally, there is a correlation between seeing the movie, and expressing an intention to see it, with holding the view that Jews were responsible for Christ's death. This is especially the case among younger people. Of those age 18-34 who have seen the movie, 42% believe Jews were responsible for Christ's death. Similarly, 36% of those age 35-59 who have seen "The Passion of the Christ" express that view.

This data points to a need for improved Christian education programs targeted at young people. We cannot afford to allow a generation of Christians to hold false opinions – fostered by theological conservatives like Gibson – holding Jews responsible for something they did not do.

Lord of the Oscars

The Return of the King, the final film of the three-part Fellowship of the Rings, is winning a lot of Oscars tonight. Peter Jackson was just named Best Director. And now the film has been named Best Picture. Wow. What a night for Mr. Jackson and company. These films represented something special in film making.

Watching The Passion Of The Christ

Today I saw The Passion of the Christ. It was, at times, moving. I was most taken with how the film portrayed Mary’s witness to the death of her son. On the whole, however, I agree with critics who charge that Pontius Pilate was depicted as reluctant to harm or kill Jesus. It was only the Jewish leaders and their crowds of followers who forced Pilate to crucify Jesus. Not to crucify him would have meant a Jewish rebellion. In Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ it is clearly the Jews who are at fault for Jesus’ death. This film is not an accurate portrayal of the Gospel stories or history.

A note on the violence in the film: it is gratuitous. The New Testament accounts of Jesus’ death are obviously violent. But this is Gibson’s made up version. It is his vision of what occurred. You can tell the star of Lethal Weapon wrote and directed this film.

Who Likes The Passion?

The author of the OCA's new anti-gay ballot measure - that's who. Big surprise.

The Boggs Blog: 'The Passion' & me

Rabbi Michael Lerner's The Gospel of Love

Rabbi Michael Lerner has an excellent essay in Tikkun urging Christians to respond to Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ with what he calls the Gospel of Love. Lerner takes the view that the issues raised by the film are much broader than just anti-Semitism.

So let's understand that the attempt to revive Christian enthusiasm around the part of the story that is focused on cruelty and pain is not only (or even primarily) a threat to the Jews, but rather a threat to all those decent, loving, and generous Christians who have found in the Jesus story a foundation for their most humane and caring instincts. It is these Christians who are under assault by Mel Gibson's movie, and by the particular form of Christian evangelicalism that it is meant to stimulate. Yet, in a deeper way, the Gibson movie is likely to stimulate a broader assault on all of us who seek to build a world based on caring and love, cooperation and generosity, by giving strength to the part within each of us that despairs, the voice within each of us that tells us that cruelty is what is "really how the other is, really how the world is," the voice inside each of us that feels that there is no point in struggling to transform the world because it is too hopeless and too dominated by craziness (and that is the point of the Jews in the Gospel calling for Jesus to be killed, because it is saying "even the Jews, his own people" do this, because evil is dominant in the world and always will be, and the only way out is to believe in Jesus and find salvation in another world, and despair of changing this one). So, part of the struggle is to reclaim and reaffirm the Jewish Jesus, the Jesus who retains hope for building love right here, the Jesus who unabashedly proclaims that the Kingdom of Heaven has arrived (which is to say, that it is here on earth, that the world right now can be based on love and kindness, and that we don't have to wait for some future time or "the end of days" as described by Isaiah, because it is here now, we can make it happen right away by the way that we live our lives). And it is this voice of Jesus that The Passion movie seeks to marginalize or make invisible.

This is another article worth the read.

Statement by the Rev. Dr. Robert W. Edgar

Statement by the Rev. Dr. Robert W. Edgar
General Secretary, National Council of Churches USA
New York, N.Y., February 20, 2004

Speaking on behalf of the National Council of Churches, I condemn in the strongest terms the recent anti-Semitic remarks of Hutton Gibson, father of film producer Mel Gibson, including his bizarre assertion that the Holocaust did not occur. The Holocaust is a tragic historical fact.

The elder Gibson’s comments are offensive in the extreme, not only to Jews, but also to all persons of good will. I understand that Hutton Gibson has made similar remarks in the past. However, the controversy surrounding Mel Gibson’s film “The Passion of the Christ” now has attracted substantial media attention to his father’s vitriolic tirade and it must not stand unchallenged.

The leadership of the Council’s 36 member denominations, who are the spiritual leaders of some 50 million U.S. Christians, deplore hate speech of any kind. Along with them I work toward a nation in which interfaith harmony and understanding among all our people may grow and flourish.