Mel Defends His Passion

Gibson finally speaks out over the controversey surrounding his film

Mel Gibson has hit back at criticism that his film The Passion is anti-Catholic and anti-Semitic.

The Lethal Weapon star spoke for the first time about the controversial movie depicting the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus Christ.

Gibson said: "To be certain, neither I nor my film is anti-Semitic."

He went on to explain: "The Passion is a movie meant to inspire not offend.

My intention in bringing it to the screen is to create a lasting work of art and engender serious thought among audiences of diverse faith backgrounds (or none) who have varying familiarity with this story."

Controversy over the film emerged in March when Gibson's father, Hutton, was interviewed by the New York Times Magazine. The article explored the traditionalist Catholic beliefs of the actor's father, which are not condoned by the Roman Catholic Church, and also quoted the 85-year-old as denying that the Holocaust ever took place.

Jumping to the conclusion that The Passion would attempt to spread the beliefs of Gibson's father, Jewish and Catholic scholars publicly decried the film.

In his statement Gibson said, "If the intense scrutiny during my 25 years in public life revealed I had ever persecuted or discriminated against anyone based on race or creed, I would be all too willing to make amends. But there is no such record.

"Nor do I hate anybody - certainly not the Jews," Gibson continued. "They are my friends and associates, both in my work and social life�Anti-Semitism is not only contrary to my personal beliefs, it is also contrary to the core message of my movie."

He also dismissed claims that his film would be heretical in the eyes of the Vatican, adding:

"For those concerned about the content of this film, know that it conforms to the narratives of Christ's passion and death found in the four Gospels of the New Testament.

"This is a movie about faith, hope, love and forgiveness - something sorely needed in these turbulent times."

Gibson directed and co-wrote The Passion, which finished filming in Italy in April, and is due to be released in the US in spring 2004. The film will feature dialogue only in Latin and Aramaic with no English subtitles.