Enjoying Marion’s articles

THE EDITOR: I hope it sounds neither pedantic nor paternalistic to say that I get enormous enjoyment and enlightenment from reading Marion O’Calla-ghan’s articles. It is, therefore, with some trepidation that I comment on her “The Passion of Christ” article, so, before I change my mind, let me get to the point(s):

1. She admits that praise for this movie is evident among a remarkable coalition of religious groups: Catholics, Pentecostals, Muslims and Evangelicals. Surely that should give her pause both for reflection and slowness in coming to the conclusion that “60 million Frenchmen” are wrong. I see no caveats in her article. Her strident self-confidence in the correctness of her view is a bit surprising, given the massive, worldwide disagreement with her position. I looked in vain for “In my opinion,” “Perhaps one could say,” etc.     

2.  She is as positive that the French Hierarchy is correct as she is that the Pope, as well as a plethora of other religious leaders, is wrong. That does not fit the profile of an even-handed and thoughtful assessment.

3. Her conviction that Mr Gibson sees himself as the instrument of God rather than engaged in a serious attempt to portray the reality of the crucifixion is gratuitous to a fault. Once again, I looked for a qualifying phrase, like “Mr Gibson was, perhaps, too focused on the violent aspect of the Crucifixion.” She describes Christ’s person as “love carried to its perfection by the selfless giving of oneself.” Surely the horrible experience and voluntary sufferings of the crucifixion is as selfless as one could be. It would not be inappropriate to opine that it was in the strategic planning of God the Father (Jesus said, “I have received this command from my Father”) that the crucifixion of Jesus be as powerful an emotional event as possible, so that our souls might be seared with the message.

The turning of water into wine and the resurrecting of the dead Lazarus was no less emotionally powerful. One writer suggested that if a death certificate had been issued today for Christ’s death, here is how it would have read: “Cardiac and respiratory arrest due to severe pulmonary edema due to cardiogenic shock, traumatic and hypovolemic shock due to crucifixion.” A doctor whom I consulted in Arima would say (I believe) that Gibson seems to have got it right on all counts.

4. She appears to establish a non-bridgeable dichotomy between guilt and repentance, as if to say that the teaching of Christ is about penitence not guilt. However, like marriage, they go together like horse and carriage, since one would hardly be penitent about non-guilt. The Sacra-ment of confession, in its existential reality, is about confronting guilt and humbly repenting. It is true, both poetically and theologically, that Jesus has freed us from a guilt (Original Sin) both generic and personal. However, to make the leap from that to the non-referencing of personal guilt when addressing the question of repentance, is another matter.

5. She, in my opinion (let me be no less fair in critiquing Ms O’Callaghan than I ask her to be with Mr Gibson) would do well to revisit her perception of this movie or the overwhelming number of Churches as art form or institutions that wish to accent flagellation rather than open themselves to the joy of the Resurrection. I suggest she attend any of the movingly and passionately joyful Easter services this coming Sunday and reflect on whether or not she wishes to maintain her perception of the Churches as prognosticators of gloom and doom. She appears to prefer to present only the reality of the Resurrection, thereby committing the very same sort of error which has so disturbed her (“the sadistic interpretation of the Passion which deforms the reality”).

There are two sides to every coin, and the Churches, traditionally and theologically, by and large, have faithfully portrayed both sides. That is the reality. And nowhere in the world have I ever experienced the depth of both sorrow for the crucifixion and joy for the Resurrection so beautifully proclaimed than in the angelic choirs and resplendent liturgies experienced weekly in Trinidad. I look forward to educating myself from and enjoying the lyricism and power of Ms O’Callaghan’s writing in the months and years to come. She is a genuine Trinidad treasure.

FATHER PAT BASCIO
RC Church, Arouca