Qld: Archbishop Bathersby rejects Passion's violence

AAP General News (Australia)
04-10-2004
Qld: Archbishop Bathersby rejects Passion's violence

Brisbane Catholic Archbishop JOHN BATHERSBY says the explicit violence in MEL GIBSON's
controversial film The Passion of the Christ detracts from the story of Jesus.

Archbishop BATHERSBY has praised the film in general but says the amount of violence
in its portrayal of the last hours of Christ takes away from its effectiveness.

But other church leaders disagree.

Cardinal George Pell, Australia's most senior Catholic priest, says the debate over
violence in the film has drawn attention to the story of Christ.

And the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne, PETER WATSON, says criticism of the film's
depiction of Christ's suffering ignores the awful reality that this this is what life
is like for many people in today's world.

AAP RTV jtl/wjf

KEYWORD: PASSION (BRISBANE)

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.