wfn.org | Mel Gibson film

["WCC Media" <Media@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches
News Flash 
For immediate release NF-04-01
5 March 2004

What should we do after seeing Mel Gibson's film "The Passion of Christ"? 
That is the question being asked by Rev. Dr Hans Ucko, who specializes in
Christian-Jewish dialogue at the World Council of Churches. He discusses the
impact of our reactions to this controversial film in an opinion piece
published in French on Friday, 5 March by the Geneva newspaper Le Temps. 

In his piece, Ucko reiterates the church's rejection of charge of deicide,
and reaffirms a WCC statement deeming anti-Semitism a sin.  Although he
refrains from direct commentary on the film, he encourages viewers to deal
positively with difficult Bible verses, and warns against using them to "sow
hate".	"It is what we do once we have seen the movie that matters", he says,
"the conclusions we draw from it, the teachings we make of it". 

The article in French is available at:
http://www.letemps.ch/template/opinions.asp?page=6&article=130249 

Translations into English, German and Spanish are available at:
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/press_corner/ucko-e.html 
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/press_corner/ucko-g.html 
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/press_corner/ucko-s.html 

For further information, please contact the Media Relations Office,  tel: +41
(0)22 791 64 21 /61 53