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ALLENTOWN, PA—Nearly one hundred Christian leaders have issued a critical response to the blockbuster film, “The Passion of the Christ,” in conjunction with its release in DVD and video format.  Focusing on the “pain and concern of the Jewish community” about the film, as well as “the film’s misrepresentations and insinuations,” the statement tries to “make plain some of the film’s problems” and encourages Christians “to work to overcome them in their own settings.”  Many of the signers were active in educational efforts when Mel Gibson first released the film last winter amid enormous media and popular interest.

In the statement entitled “’The Passion of the Christ,’ Jewish Pain, and Christian Responsibility: A Response to Mel Gibson’s Film,” they express concern that similar efforts to educate and to encourage discussion will not be available “in private showings in years to come.”

 “What is there to stop a group of young teens from just popping this into the DVD player some afternoon,” asked John Merkle of the Jay Phillips Center for Jewish-Christian Learning in St. Paul and Collegeville, MN.  Merkle teaches theology at the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University in Collegeville and is one of the statement’s promoters.  The film carried an R rating in theatrical release, precluding children under 17 from seeing it without adult supervision.

“Then we have one more generation that will have to unlearn these despicable images and accusations against the Jewish people,” Merkle continued.

Noting that “the scourge of antisemitism is real and present,” the signatories to the statement say that “we must do all we can to prevent poison from the well of Christian anti-Judaism from deepening its deadly effects.”  The problems noted in the film include the use of extensive nonbiblical and fictional material that is indistinguishable from more accurate historical portrayals and the use of anti-Jewish elements that “exemplify the hateful tradition” in Christian Passion plays.  The statement also voices “dissent” from other Christians who commend Gibson’s film, saying that insensitivity to Jewish pain and suffering “is inexcusable.”

Responding by e-mail to a copy of the statement, Professor David Berger of Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York wrote, "This is an impressive statement for which Jews can only be grateful."  Several rabbis indicated a willingness to sign the statement, but the signatories include only Christians, according to Peter A. Pettit, director of the Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding of Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA.

As Merkle’s partner in releasing the statement, and its principal author, Pettit explained that “this is a Christian issue; we as Christians need to take responsibility for the ways in which our central stories and images are used in public.”  He acknowledged that Jews have their own legitimate concerns and that they have taken initiative in confronting Mr. Gibson about his film.  Nevertheless, he said, “it shouldn’t fall to the Jewish community to monitor the use of a Jesus film in churches and private Christian homes.  If anyone is going to address the dangers that come with viewing this film, it should be pastors and Christian leaders.  That is why we quote ‘love thy neighbor’ – which Christians learned from Jews, anyway – in the statement; this is a matter of Christian honesty about Christian shortcomings and Christian responsibility.”

The statement acknowledges that there have been many viewers of the film who “are honestly unaware of its anti-Jewish elements.”  The signatories are careful to say they “do not mean to attack Mr. Gibson personally or to call into question any viewers’ faith.”  They also acknowledge that there has been some positive effect from the release of the film, which they say “forced Christians to confront anew the issues of Christian anti-Judaism, antisemitism, and the responsibility of public figures for nurturing just and peaceful communities.”  The statement expresses appreciation for individuals who “have risen to the challenge in a timely way,” and goes on to say that “many responses to the film have demonstrated the strength of the Jewish-Christian partnership that has grown over the past half-century.”

 Give Sight to the Blind and Freedom to the Captives

We, as members of the Anglican Peace and Justice Network, representing 23 Provinces of the worldwide 75,000,000 member Anglican Communion, have visited the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem over these last 8 days, and during that time have been inspired by the faith of the people in the diocese, while also being exposed to the draconian conditions of the continuing Occupation under which so many Palestinians live.  We have heard from Israeli Jewish voices, and from Palestinians, both those who reside in Israel and those who live under Occupation.  We note the continuing policies of illegal home demolitions, detentions, checkpoints, identity card systems and the presence of the Israeli military that make any kind of normal life impossible.  We have seen and heard the effects of the overwhelming presence of settlements or colonies in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and in Gaza, and the bypass roads and highways that connect them while disconnecting Palestinian villages, one from another. We have seen the destruction of precious arable lands and restrictions on precious water resources.  Finally, and shockingly, we have been exposed to the separation wall that violates international boundaries, causing mayhem in Palestinian daily life and further defines Israeli intentions to appropriate land from the Palestinians.

We conclude from our experience that there is little will on behalf of the Israeli government to recognize the rights of the Palestinians to a sovereign state to be created in the West Bank - which includes East Jerusalem - and Gaza. Israel, with the complicity of the United States, seems determined to flaunt international laws, whether they are the Geneva Conventions, United Nations resolutions or the most recent decision of the International Court of Justice in declaring the separation wall illegal.   In fact, we note that this latter decision is based on building the wall on Palestinian territory, which once again demonstrates the illegality of the Occupation itself.  

We deeply respect and honor those Israelis who are prepared to end this miserable Occupation and recognize a Palestinian State, people courageously committed to justice and who work against home demolitions, who promote human rights and oppose settlements, bypass roads and the separation wall. And we pay tribute to the courage, endurance and hope of the Palestinian people who suffer the dreadful injustice of the Occupation. 

We deplore the unwillingness of the Israeli government to implement United Nations resolutions 242 and 338. At the same time, we want to assure the Israeli Jewish community of our concern for their security and safety, to be able live without fear.  We deplore the unbroken cycle of violence, which has claimed too many innocent lives on both sides.  We condemn violence whatever the source.  We reach out to Palestinians and Israelis of good will, assuring both of them of our love and support in ending this long and troubled conflict.  We embrace all those who have lost loved ones in the violence and extend our deepest sympathies.

We offer not only our solidarity for a just peace, but also our observation that it is the Occupation in its many facets that foments the violence and fuels the conflict. Collective punishment of the Palestinian people must be brought to an end. 

We therefore urge the following steps in order to achieve a sovereign and independent Palestine living alongside a secure Israel recognized by and at peace with her neighbors:

·        The withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from all occupied areas in accordance with 1967    borders and a complete halt to settlement building, both new or expanded, to be followed by a process of phasing out settlements altogether

·        The immediate dismantling of the separation wall in compliance with the ruling of the International Court of Justice wherever the wall violates West Bank land

• The introduction of an international peacekeeping force under the auspices of the United Nations into the Occupied Territories charged with maintaining security so that both sides may be free from further attacks

• A humanitarian effort led by the United Nations to provide relief to the suffering Palestinian people

• The immediate resumption of negotiations involving Israel and the Palestinian Authority under the umbrella of the United Nations, European Union, Russia, the United States and the Arab League (while we support a total withdrawal from Gaza, we urge it to be part of an overall resolution of the conflict)..

• That negotiations be based on United Nations resolutions 242 and 338 that results in a viable and sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital as well as the capital of Israel, and assures the right of return for Palestinian refugees

• The unconditional recognition of the state of Palestine must be implemented if peace is to prevail in the Middle East. 

As an aside, we are deeply troubled by the use of United States made weapons and aircraft provided to Israel and being used for attacks on civilian targets, which occur with increasing frequency.  We urge a moratorium on the use of such weapons, which violate U.S. law.

And we address a word to the wider conflict in the Middle East.  The war in Iraq further fuels anger and hatred during these already volatile times. We urge the withdrawal of U.S. forces to be replaced with an international presence led by the United Nations.  Further, we believe that a much more constructive course would be for President Bush and Prime Minister Blair to intervene and resuscitate the peace process as a direct action of healing and reconciliation for the global community.

Finally, we call upon the faith communities, and especially the Anglican Communion, to a time of focused and intentional prayer and advocacy for peace in the Holy Land. We call on the leadership of the Abrahamic Faiths from around the world to exercise their authority and influence on the political leadership among the several nations who carry the responsibility for making a just peace.

Anglican Peace & Justice Network

SEPTEMBER 14-23, 2004, JERUSALEM

Australia --

• The Rev. Canon Chris Jones

Brazil

• The Rt. Rev. Luiz Osorio Prado

Burundi

• The Rt. Rev. Pie Ntukamazina

Canada

• Ms. Cynthia Patterson

Central America

• Ms. Lisbeth Barahona

Congo

• The Rev. Beni Bezaleri Bataaga

England

• Dr. Charles Reed

Japan

The Rt. Rev. Nathaniel Makoto Uematso

• The Rev. Sam Koshiishi

Kenya

• The Rt. Rev. Gideon Ireri

Korea

• Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Guen Seok Yang

Myanmar

• The Rt. Rev. Saw Wilme

New Zealand

• Dr. Jenny Te Paa

North India

• Mr. Prem Masih

Philippines

• Dr. Andrew A. Tauli

Rwanda

• Mr. Geoffrey Kayigi

Scotland

• The Rev. Alison Simpson

South India

• Dr. Mrs. Pauline Sathiamurthy

Southern Africa

• Ms. Delene M. Mark

Sri Lanka

• The Rt. Rev. Kumara Illangasighe

Tanzania

• Mr. Kuwayawaya S. Kuwayawaya

Uganda

• Ms. Jessica Nalwoga

United States

• The Rev. Canon Brian J. Grieves

Anglican Observer at the UN

• Archdeacon Taimalelagi F. Tuatagaloa-Matalavea

APJN Advisor

• The Rev. Dr. Naim Ateek

Liaison to the ACC for the Anglican Women's Network

• Ms. Jolly Babirukamu

The Witness Magazine

• Mr. Ethan Flad

Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem

• The Rt. Rev. Riah Abu El Assal

• The Rev. Canon Suheil Dawani

• Ms. Nancy Dinsmore

• Mrs. Eliane Abdelnoor

• Ms. Susan Khayo

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Myrna Shinbaum (212) 885-7747

              Peter Hoffman (212) 885-7715

New York, NY, September 27, 2004 ... The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed its concerns to the Episcopal Church to about a new report from the Anglican Peace and Justice Network that places the blame for the Israeli / Palestinian conflict almost exclusively on Israel.

In a letter to Rev. Canon Brian J. Grieves, Director of Peace and Justice Ministries, Episcopal Church USA, Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, and Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor, ADL Director of Interfaith Affairs, decried the one-sidedness of the Ministries' "Give Sight to the Blind and Freedom to the Captives" report and offered to engage in a dialog to correct the report's misconceptions regarding the conflict.          

It was with great shock and sadness that we read the report of the Anglican Peace and Justice Network "Give Sight to the Blind and Freedom to the Captives."  We are concerned about the utter lack of balance in this report. There is no evidence of any understanding on the part of the writers of the role the Palestinians have played in their own sad situation.

The ineffective and corrupt leadership of the Palestinian Authority, its unwillingness to negotiate in good faith, its inability to distribute the largess of the  European Union, the US and churches like your own, and account for that distribution, is the root cause of the sorry state of the Palestinian people.  Israel has steadfastly agreed to the creation of a Palestinian state, and there has yet to be a clear and decisive statement from the Palestinians on Israel's right to exist.

Your report focuses on the "occupation" - an overly-simple and politically-loaded designation - as the reason for "draconian conditions."  Who has responsibly represented the Palestinian people in negotiating borders?  Which borders?  The green line has not been internationally recognized in the past. Why now?

Further, in an Associated Press report we read, "The group toured the West Bank, meeting with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Palestinian church representatives. The group also met with an Israeli social activist and several Israeli Arabs, but no government officials. Dinsmore said Israeli Foreign Ministry officials were unable to meet the delegation because of the Jewish holidays."  So how could you say "...we conclude...that there is little will on behalf of the Israeli government to recognize the rights of the Palestinians to a sovereign state."  To whom did you speak?  Upon which policy of the Israeli government is that assertion made?  You conclude, prior to the enumeration of your recommendations, that "...it is the Occupation...that foments the violence and fuels the conflict."  We, respectfully, disagree - it is the leadership of the Palestinian Authority that foments the violence and fuels the conflict.

It is clear that we disagree, passionately, about a land and peoples for which both our communities profess love and concern. If anything, this disagreement is a call for dialogue and understanding. Thus far, we have far too little of both. Perhaps, we can use this as an opportunity to begin the difficult work together.  We hope that you will accept our invitation to discuss this in greater detail.

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HE The Most Rev. Rowan Williams

Archbishop of Canterbury

Lambeth Palace

London

Great Britain

28 September 2004

Dear Archbishop Williams,

I write in the name of the Executive Board of the International Council of Christians and  Jews (ICCJ) to express deep concern about the report that the Anglican International Justice and Peace Committee will recommend disinvestment from Israel along the lines of the declaration recently adopted by the Presbyterian Church in the United States.

We at the ICCJ feel that such a step by the Anglican Communion would undercut its ability to engage constructively in the Middle East peace process. The ICCJ has strongly supported the Alexandria Declaration process in which your church has played such an important role. 

But should the Anglican Communion support the disinvestment proposal it would be undercutting its role as a genuine peacemaker in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The Justice and Peace Commission's report strikes us as extremely one-sided. It discusses only injustices against Palestinians without in any way raising criticism of the actions of the Palestinian leadership which has supported terror attacks against Israel. And the Commission's report did not involve any substantive conversations with Israeli representatives, including several of the ICCJ's leadership such as Vice-President Rabbi Ehud Bandel and Honorary President Rabbi Prof. David Rosen who have worked tirelessly over the years on the peace process.

We at the ICCJ are not saying that there must be no criticism of concrete Israeli Policy. But if the Anglican Church hopes to serve as an authentic peacemaker that criticism has to be extended to the Palestinian side as well. The recent book by Middle East peace negotiator Ambassador Dennis Ross is one example of a balanced critique that also  proposes constructive actions towards a peaceful settlement.

We at the ICCJ urge you to exercise leadership in this situation and prevent this extremely one-sided assessment from becoming policy for the Anglican Communion. Only in this way will the Anglican Church be able to maintain its important record on constructive Christian-Jewish relations as well as continue its leadership role in Middle East  peacemaking.

Sincerely yours,

Rev. John T. Pawlikowski, OSM, Ph.D.

President International Council of Christians and Jews

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