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Critical remarks on Gibson's movie by dignitaries of various German denominations

The head of the Catholic German Bishop's Conference Cardinal Karl Lehmann, the head of the Protestant Churches of Germany (EKD) Bishop Wolfgang Huber and the President of the Central Committee of the Jews in Germany Paul Spiegel have published a common statement, in Berlin , Bonn and Hanover . According to the Catholic Press Agency (KNA) the text reads as follows:

On March, 18^th 2004 the controversial movie "The Passion of the Christ" is to start in German cinemas. More than any other motion picture on biblical themes this movie has evoked controversial discussions among representatives of all denominations, among theologians and movie experts. The same applies to visitors of the film. Some are very much impressed and thus encouraged to think about the passion of Christ more carefully. Others are shocked by the violent images, especially of the flagellation and the crucifixion and thus recognize the picture as a burden.

We recognize the extent of the many brutal scenes of cruelty as offensive. The raw and noisy scenes of the flagellation, of carrying the cross and others demand a lot from any person and transgress in many cases the limits of what is tolerable. If the usual atrocities in our media are to be surpassed on and on it will definitely end with an irresistible spiral of violence. In this way however the film minimizes the message of the bible dramatically. Thus the picture is likely to increase the danger of reducing the whole life of Jesus to the last twelve hours before his death.

According to the worldwide discussions up till now a further problem of the picture lies in the description of the Jews present. Irrespective of the intention of the producers to create an anti-Semitic film or not there remains a great danger of misusing the whole picture for anti-Semitic propaganda. Parts of the film are certainly appropriate in dealing with various aspects of Jewish people and Jewish life in those days. In most parts however it is not free of exaggeration as far as the Supreme Committee of the Jews and the better part of the Jewish people are concerned. The presentation of the film is likely to increase the danger of revitalizing anti-Semitic prejudices. This is especially precarious as tendencies of increasing anti-Semitism are to be watched all over Europe .

Together we warn in earnest against any misuse of the film and against any misuse of the passion of Jesus in order to encourage anti-Semitism. Christian churches have expressively declared that anti-Semitism belongs to the Christian history of guilt. They deject any thesis of a collective guilt of the Jewish people and any form of anti-Semitism and racism. The relations between Christians and Jews are being supported today by mutual respect and acknowledgement. We demand of all people in charge to support our challenge that these good relations will not be affected by misusing the passion of Jesus.

March, 20^th  2004