Source: http://www.rcf.org/press/releases/2004DEC06GIBSONANDBISHOPS.htm
“MISERABLE SERPENT” BISHOPS JOIN WITH THOSE WHO CONDEMN MEL GIBSON’S “COURAGEOUS AND BEAUTIFUL EFFORT”
TO: Cardinal William H. Keeler
Bishop Arthur J. Seratelli (Paterson NJ)
Bishop John J. Nevins (Venice FL)
Bishop Gerald Walsh (New York)
Bishop John Nienstedt (New Ulm)
All bishops of the USCCB
FROM: The Roman Catholic Faithful, Inc.
Recently, at the conclusion of one of your endless series of committee meetings (The Challenge of Mixed Marriage
in American Life is Major Topic of U.S. Catholic-Jewish Consultation Committee), you issued the following statement:
The Consultation also discussed the state of Jewish-Catholic relations in the wake of the film, "The Passion
of the Christ," which caused such deep and understandable concern within Jewish community world-wide. The
film, it was noted, was in reality a modern version of the notorious medieval Passion Plays which so often over
the centuries have triggered riots against the Jews of Europe. Happily, however, the film precipitated no such
anti-Jewish violence. Rather, in many places it sparked discussions in which Catholics learned why Jews feared
such dramatic depictions of the death of Jesus, and Jews learned that many Catholics today have taken to heart
the teaching of the Second Vatican Council that the Jews collectively cannot be held responsible "then or
now" for Jesus' death. It was noted as well that continuing work needs to be done among those who have not
yet absorbed these official teachings of the Church.
Generally, we in the laity read your prodigious output of wordy, useless position statements and constant “pastoral”
bloviating with a mixture of boredom and mild irritation. Occasionally, however, the U.S. Bishops come out with
something that is so outrageous, so offensive, so truly malignant, that the laity cannot remain mute. And so it
is with this, your latest piece of ecclesiastical drivel.
When we consider your words, we must reflect upon all that you have given the laity during the past several decades;
to wit:
* You have destroyed our precious liturgy and replaced it with a quasi-heretical and saccharine floor show.
* You have corrupted our children with poisonous sex ed programs.
* You have allowed our children to be raped by perverted monsters in the clergy and have done everything in
your power to cover up these crimes.
* You have destroyed our beautiful churches and Cathedrals and replaced them with ugly “churches” that resemble
aircraft hangars or cement factories.
* You have squandered billions of dollars on useless or harmful “ministries” that are little more than glorified
havens for left wing activists.
* You have persecuted holy and orthodox priests and nuns.
* You have denied priests their right to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass, a right which no bishop or pastor
of the Church can ever take away.
* You have destroyed the faith of millions by promoting false catechesis.
* You have turned away worthy candidates for the priesthood because they accepted the perennial teachings of
the Church or because they opposed homosexuality.
The collective evil committed by the American Bishops dwarfs any harm committed in the Enron scandal, yet none
of you have been sent to jail.
And now, when a man like Mel Gibson comes along and tries to glorify Our Lord with a movie, when he risks his personal
fortune and reputation because Our Lord is despised by the World, you miserable serpents not only do not support
him, but join with those who condemn his courageous and beautiful effort. Well, to you bishops, and to all the
bishops of the USCCB, the Roman Catholic Faithful responds:
The movie The Passion of the Christ has done more to uplift the human heart, to bring souls to Christ, to increase
holiness, and to glorify Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, than all the USCCB committees, subcommittees, documents,
pastorals, letters, faxes and speeches put together.
James Bendell
Roman Catholic Faithful