This is Life!: Revolutions Around the Cruciform Axis

Peggy Noonan on the Controversy Surrounding Mel Gibson's "The Passion"

Peggy Noonan, in this Opinion Journal piece, traces the confusing question, did the Pope say about the movie "It is as it was" or not? Right now, no one knows for sure. And why does it matter?

The answer to that question is important for several reasons. The truth matters. What a pope says matters. And what this pontiff says about this film matters. "The Passion," which is to open on Feb. 25, has been the focus of an intense critical onslaught since last summer. The film has been fiercely denounced as anti-Semitic, and accused of perpetuating stereotypes that will fan hatred against Jews. John Paul II has a long personal and professional history of opposing anti-Semitism, of working against it, and of calling for dialogue, respect and reconciliation between all religions. His comments here would have great importance.

Finally, it is important what the Holy Father said because no piece of work that is destructive and cruel--and what is more destructive and cruel than anti-Semitism?--should be helped by anyone, including and especially the greatest religious leader of our time.

So while to some this may seem a tempest in a teapot, it is not. It is an important story. . . .

Believe me, it is painful to be accused however implicitly of being the accessory to a lie. And it would grieve me more than I can say to have been part of wrongly attributing an important statement to a great pope who is for me a personal hero. Last night I spoke to Mr. McEveety, but he would not speak on the record about Dr. Navarro-Valls or the controversy that continues to swirl. I'll be writing more soon about this extraordinary story.

Ms. Noonan saw a screening of "The Passion." She was concerned about the charges of it's being anti-semitic. She said:

So I watched, and found myself moved and inspired by the film, which isn't about hatred but love, and love's continuing war with evil. It is a film that engenders awe, gratitude, and no small amount of self-examination. What role do I play in the crucifixion of Christ, and what role would I have played if I had been there?

I was relieved. It is a story about Jews and Romans, about Jewish saints and sinners and Roman brutes and cynics, but it isn't really about Jews and Romans; it's about humanity. It's about us.

As I've said before, I'm going to see it. It comes out 25 February. My calendar is marked.