Anti-Defamation League calls Gibson's film 'painful to watch'

Published: 2004-01-22

NEW YORK (CNS) -- The Anti-Defamation League said Mel Gibson's film, "The Passion of the Christ," has the "potential to promote anti-Semitism" through its "painful" portrayal of Jews as being responsible for the death of Jesus. "We were saddened and pained to find that 'The Passion of the Christ' continues its unambiguous portrayal of Jews as being responsible for the death of Jesus," said a statement released Jan. 22, a day after ADL officials attended a private screening of the film in Orlando, Fla. "Its portrayal of Jews is painful to watch," the statement said. League officials Abraham H. Foxman, national director, and Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor, interfaith consultant, who attended the screening, said that the film "reinforces the notion that the Jewish authorities and the Jewish mob are the ones ultimately responsible" for crucifying Christ.

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