"Passion Will Fuel Hate..."

America's American Anti-Defamation League says Mel Gibson's upcoming movie about Christ's last day on earth will lead to hatred of Jews if it is released in its current form.

The film - called The Passion - is Gibson's depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and events leading up to it..

The film has been screened for several groups ahead of its release, and has touched off a firestorm of controversy among organizations fighting anti-Semitism.

Jewish leaders have raised concerns it might portray Jews as collectively guilty for Christ's crucifixion, while Catholics have expressed worries that Gibson might use the film to challenge church teachings.

"The film unambiguously portrays Jewish authorities and the Jewish mob as the ones responsible for the decision to crucify Jesus," said Abraham Foxman, the ADL's national director.

"We are deeply concerned that the film, if released in its present form, will fuel the hatred, bigotry and anti-Semitism that many responsible churches have worked hard to repudiate."

A spokesman for Gibson was not immediately available to comment, but in the past Gibson has denied that his film was anti-Semitic and called Jewish people his friends and associates.

The movie was shot in Italy and contains dialogue only in Latin and Aramaic with no English subtitles. Gibson directed and co-wrote the film.

A release date for the film has yet to be set.