Dobson backs Gibson's work

Criticizes his trade

Denver Post/August 11, 2006
By Eric Gorski

James Dobson broke his silence Thursday on Mel Gibson's anti-Semitic tirade, joining other conservative Christian champions of the actor's cinematic Passion play by criticizing Gibson's words but defending his art.

The founder of Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family issued a statement in response to Gibson's July 28 drunken driving arrest in which the actor blamed "(expletive) Jews" for "all the wars in the world."

"We certainly do not condone that racially insensitive outburst," Dobson said. "Mel has apologized profusely for the incident, and there the matter should rest. Mel has also indicated his willingness to seek help to overcome his alcoholism, and has asked the Jewish community for forgiveness. What more can he do?"

Dobson was among the Colorado Christian leaders Gibson enlisted to promote "The Passion of the Christ," his box-office smash that depicts Jesus' last hours in brutal detail. Some Jewish leaders called the film anti-Semitic.

Dobson said the arrest is "not relevant in any way" to "one of the finest films of this era."

Other Christian leaders who endorsed "The Passion" are confronted with other questions: Was it the tequila talking, or did Gibson mean what he said? If Gibson is anti- Semitic, does that call into question his stance that his film is not?

George Morrison, senior pastor at Faith Bible Chapel in Arvada and a strong supporter of Israel, said, "You can't get any better than the word of Jesus: 'Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.' There is obviously something wrong with (Gibson's) heart. How do you judge a man's heart? It's what comes out of his mouth, his actions."

But Morrison's admiration for "The Passion" is unchanged. He believes the film rightly blames Christ's death on the sins of mankind, not the Jews.

Rabbi Howard Hirsch, who heads the Center for Christian-Jewish Dialogue in Colorado Springs, said whatever the cause, Gibson erred badly.

"Alcoholism and anti-Semitism are both horrible diseases, and he's going to have to do an awful lot of work to purge his body and spirit," Hirsch said.

Denver Catholic Archbishop Charles Chaput, another "Passion" promoter, judged the film and not the director and won't judge Gibson now, said his spokeswoman, Jeanette DeMelo. DeMelo, too, decried anti- Semitism but said Chaput still believes "The Passion" brings the Gospel story alive.

What remains to be seen is whether Christian leaders will now hesitate to endorse Hollywood films, said Ted Olsen, online editor at the evangelical magazine Christianity Today.

"Absolutely, it does tarnish 'The Passion,"' he said. "I know a number of people who were using it as a kind of 'stations of the cross' exercise on Good Friday. I doubt a lot of the people I know will do that this year."says Gibson "has apologized profusely for the incident, and there the matter should rest."