Among the controversial issues raised by the film The Passion of the Christ is the treatment of Jews and Judaism. The Catholic-Jewish Conference, while taking no position on the film, is providing this packet of materials so that individuals who view this or any depiction of the passion during Lent and Holy Week will be aware of the teaching that exists regarding dramatizations of the passion and teaching and preaching about Jews and Judaism. Information on the gospels and the passion narratives has been included to assist in understanding the importance of historical context in the interpretation of the Scriptures.
We encourage Christians viewing the film or any depiction of the passion to be sensitive to the concerns of the Jewish community. Similarly we encourage Jews to be aware of the central place of the passion narrative within Christianity. We hope that both sides can empathize with the feelings of the other and that the film or other passion portrayals might ultimately serve as a vehicle for dialogue and growth rather than being divisive.
The Conference is also sponsoring a program on Sunday, March 21 to discuss the film in the larger context of Christian-Jewish relations.
Click on the links below for an announcement of the March 21 program and helpful educational resources.
March 21 Program Announcement
Criteria for the Evaluation of Dramatizations of the Passion
Guidelines on the Presentation of Jews and Judaism in Catholic Preaching
Background of Gospel Stories
Comparison of Gospel Narratives
Resources for Further Dialogue:
The Bible, the Jews, and the Death of Jesus:
A Collection of Catholic Documents
The Walking God’s Paths: Christians and Jews in Candid Conversation
Further resources on Christian-Jewish relations and The Passion of the Christ can be found at the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning web-site.
The Catholic-Jewish Conference is a program of the Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Jewish Council for Community Relations, and the Wisconsin Council of Rabbis.
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