‘Forgive us as we forgive…’
The Mel Gibson story has taken on a life of its own, and is still building. It’s a predictable script, unfortunately, and lots of folks are unrelenting in lashing out at the Producer of the Passion, which is really lashing out at the Passion of the Christ as depicted according to Gospel accounts.
Quick posts for now, more late. Matt Abbott sent along a good piece on the first response of the Anti-Defamation League to Gibson’s first apology. They didn’t accept that one.
Here’s what ADL national director Abraham Foxman had to say regarding Gibson’s arrest:
Mel Gibson’s apology is unremorseful and insufficient. It’s not a proper apology because it does not go to the essence of his bigotry and his anti-Semitism.
Abbott follows up with the reaction of Fr. Tom Euteneuer of Human Life International, a friend I always count on for clear-spoken truth on faith and life matters. His remarks can be startling, but that’s what makes them bold.
Father Euteneuer’s response is as follows:
Mr. Foxman claims that Mel Gibson did not give a ‘proper apology.’ Can this man ever be satisfied? Gibson said that he disgraced himself and his family by his behavior and apologized for his anti-Semitic remarks which, by his admission, he spoke in an altered state and does not believe to be true. And that’s not enough? According to Catholic principles Mel exhibited all the elements of a proper reconciliation: contrition with a firm purpose of amendment, confession and (he is in the process of doing) penance. The greatest penance is that this all came out in the public forum: Foxman and the ADL should get off his back.
Gibson apologized more profoundly, which you no doubt know. And that satisfied the ADL…sort of.
Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:
This is the apology we had sought and requested. We are glad that Mel Gibson has finally owned up to the fact that he made anti-Semitic remarks, and his apology sounds sincere. We welcome his efforts to repair the damage he has caused, to reach out to the Jewish community, and to seek help.
Once he completes his rehabilitation for alcohol abuse, we will be ready and willing to help him with his second rehabilitation to combat this disease of prejudice.Â
Thanks to Matt for that update, too, with the report of a Hollywood producer who is defending Gibson, and this statement:
As Catholic League president Bill Donohue points out, ‘Mel’s enemies will never cut him a break. Their real goal is to discredit ‘The Passion of the Christ.’ How ironic it is to note that the core message of his film — forgiveness — is sorely lacking in his critics.’ Yet, ‘In 2003, Roman Polanski, the convicted child rapist, received a standing ovation when he won an Oscar for ‘The Pianist.”
I hear a man that is taking full responsibility for his self-described ‘belligerent’ actions. I hear a man who is grateful no one else was injured. I hear a man crying out for help in his fight with alcoholism.
Our faith is not testified to by living a perfect life. In spite of how Mel’s critics present themselves as they take careful aim and cock their arms, the last time I checked, Christ was the only perfect man to walk the earth. Our greatest witness can be how we react or respond when we fall — and Mel has stood up, brushed himself off, repented, and asked for help.
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This story should not be still developing. But since it is, we’ll stay on those places it goes and analyze the event and the fallout. There’s a lot to learn here. Stay tuned…
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I have two reflections on the apologies and the consequences. First, of all, most “apologies” offerered by the rich and famous after they’ve said something disgraceful, really say nothing more than, “Sorry you were offended by what I said” with no acknowledgement of the wrong-ness of the statement itself; I’ve never seen a more complete and unqualified apology than Gibson has offered.
Second, I believe that the lack of forgiveness Gibson is experiencing is delayed retaliation for making “The Passion of the Christ”. In one scene in “Lethal Weapon”, Gibson’s character, Martin Riggs says,”: “We’re going to get bloody on this one.” The statement could be applied to the making of “The Passion.” Gibson’s may not be physically bloody, but he’s experiencing an emotional scourging because he made the movie. I hope that all who saw the movie and were inspired by it will pray for his recovery and deliverance from the continued attacks.