Politics
Tuesday March 16, 2004
See today's LifeSiteNews stories
Poll Reveals "The Passion of the Christ" Does Not Foster Anti-Semitism
Jim Caviezel, who played Christ role, meets pope in Rome
NEW YORK, March 16, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Institute for Jewish and Community Research has conducted a survey to determine if there has been a change in anti-Semitic sentiment arising from the viewing of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. The poll found that, contrary to what some Jews have claimed, 83 percent felt that the film had no impact on the degree to which they perceived Jews to be the killers of Christ. Nine percent said they were less inclined to blame Jews for Christ's death, whereas two percent were more likely.
Dr. Gary Tobin, president of ICJR, told CNSNews that "…so far the Passion of the Christ is not producing any significant anti-Jewish backlash. The questions raised about the anti-Jewish images in the movie helped bring the question of the role of Jews in the death of Christ out in the open. It is better to have dialogue and honest discussion and trust that the bond between Christians and Jews in America is strong," Tobin said. The ICJR polled 1,003 adults nationwide in early March.
In related news, the Vatican confirmed that Jim Caviezel, who portrays Jesus in the movie, had a brief audience with the pope on Monday. Caviezel also viewed a private screening of the movie with the Legionaries of Christ while in Rome.
The Catholic News Agency is reporting that several Catholic churches in Cuba are converting into theatres, in order to show The Passion of the Christ. The move has been given the blessing of the Cuban Bishops Conference.
Félix Pérez Riera, secretary of the conference, told the news agency EFE that the movie "can contribute to serious spiritual reflection, and even to a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, who sustains our faith and hope."
Read CNSNews coverage of the poll at: http://www.cnsnews.com//ViewNation.asp?Page=\Nation\archive\...
Back to TopSHARE THIS STORY: E-mail Print Newsvine Digg Reddit Del.icio.us Facebook
Latest Headlines
- Brazilian Psychologists Prohibited from Helping Catholic Church Screen Out Homosexual Priesthood Candidates
- Poll Shows a Solid Majority of Canadians Want Legal Protection for Unborn Children
- Terri-Schiavo-Like Disabled Woman Allowed to Live after Parents Reconcile
- California Supreme Court to Hear Anti-Prop. 8 Cases
- Arnold Schwarzenegger's Wife: I'm "a Catholic in Good Standing" But Also Pro-abortion and Pro-Homosexual
- US Election Message to Catholic Bishops Part III: The Broken Window Strategy
- London Couple Refused for Adoption over Spanking...Again
- Ontario School Board Flip Flops on HPV Vaccine Decision
- Vatican Cardinal: "A New World Order is Gaining Ground"
- German Court Orders Children to Be Returned to Homeschooling Family against State Advice
- The View Co-Host Calls Homeschoolers “Demented”
- Donate to LifeSiteNews.com Simply by Surfing the Internet!
- French Academy Elects Author of Legal Abortion as Newest Member
- Court Orders Approval of Ariz. ‘Choose Life’ License Plates
- Letters to the Editor for Thursday, November 20, 2008
Most Read this Week
- Italian Nuns Refuse to Kill Eluana
- Lawsuits Proliferate Demanding Proof of Obama's Natural-Born Citizenship before Electoral Vote Count
- Charleston Priest Tells Obama-Supporting Catholics to Confess before Receiving Communion Again
- Christian Prayer Group Sexually and Physically Assaulted by Homosexual Mob
- Mormons, Knights of Columbus Face Chilling Threats and More Vandalism for Prop. 8 Support
- The Coming "War" Between the Obama Administration and the Catholic Church
- Update: Nationwide Homosexual Anarchist Organization Behind Attack on MI Church Planning Further Disruptions
- HLI Leader's Reflection on the Election: "The Beginning of the Twilight of Our Country"
- Martin Luther King's Niece: Obama Election Heals "White Guilt" at the Cost of Life and Family
- Canada’s Health Care System heading for “Demographic Blowout” with Aging Population: Study
MORE NEWS: 
LifeSiteNews.com Home Page Last 10 Days Archives Special Reports
Copyright © LifeSiteNews.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives License. You may republish this article or portions of it without request provided the content is not altered and it is clearly attributed to "LifeSiteNews.com". Any website publishing of complete or large portions of original LifeSiteNews articles MUST additionally include a live link to www.LifeSiteNews.com. The link is not required for excerpts. Republishing of articles on LifeSiteNews.com from other sources as noted is subject to the conditions of those sources.