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• Parents will take their children to 'The Passion of the Christ' despite 'R' rating | "The graphic nature of the story is told in the Bible for a reason and I believe that reason is that God wants us to see how clearly he believes sin is a horrible, horrible thing … and the results are dramatic," says one parent (KPOM, Ft. Smith, Ark.)
  
  
• Reflections on Gibson's 'Christ' | A Gardner preacher who came close to Hollywood stardom in the role of Jesus Christ 47 years ago said he looks forward to Mel Gibson's controversial new movie on Christ's last 12 hours (Sentinel & Enterprise, Fitchburg, Mass.)
  
  
• Hype at crescendo for 'Passion' | Hollywood's efforts to portray the life of Jesus of Nazareth haven't been received well by Christians in the past (Kennebec Journal, Me.)
  
  
• Most contentious story ever told | For many Christians, especially those already angry over pop culture's tendency to mock their faith, Gibson's film has become a rallying cry. It has become a symbol of their right to tell the story of Jesus in the way they choose — without bending to the winds of political correctness (San Francisco Chronicle)
  
  
• Before it opens, Gibson's movie is raising passions | Some news events are so complex, the points of view so different and intricate, that they can't be captured in a news story, even several news stories (The Kansas City Star)
  
  

The Passion of The Christ —local:

• The Passion over 'Passion' | Avalon Theatre Project intends to confront the controversy by staging a teach-in (The Washington Post)
  
  
• 'The Passion' stirs passions in Carolinas | Jews, Christians buy tickets, plan forums, worry about reaction (The Charlotte Observer, N.C.)
  
  
• Thousands in South Florida to preview film on Jesus' last hours | South Florida screenings will give thousands an early look at Mel Gibson's controversial movie, The Passion of The Christ, which depicts the final 12 hours of Jesus' life (The Miami Herald)
  
  
• Mainers to get preview of Mel Gibson's 'Passion' | Dozens of Maine groups have booked private, sneak-preview showings of the film a day or two before it opens to the public on Ash Wednesday (Portland Press Herald)
  
  
• Censor to vet controversial 'Passion of the Christ' film today | New Zealand's chief censor, Bill Hastings, has yet to decide if he will consult religious leaders on its classification (The New Zealand Herald)
  
  

Church response:

• Movie movement | Evangelical Christians are drumming up interest in The Passion (ABCNews.com)
  
  
• 'Passion' is already big box office | Churches have bought blocks of tickets, and many hope the Mel Gibson film draws people to Christianity (St. Petersburg Times, Fla.)
  
  
• McHenry County congregations snap up tickets to 'The Passion' | Fox Valley moviegoers who don't want to get stuck in the front row, or out in the cold, when "The Passion of the Christ" opens next week should get to the box office early (Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs)
  
  
• Area churches passionate about 'The Passion' | At Singing River Theaters, every show during the film's opening week is sold out, and tickets are still going for other showings within the first two weeks of release (WLOX, Biloxi, Miss.)
  
  
• Churches up for 'Passion' | Three congregations are making sure their parishioners have a seat for Mel Gibson's controversial movie about Christ (Daily Pilot, Newport Beach, Calif.)
  
  
• 'Passion' is already generating a faithful following | A week before its release, before a single member of the general public has seen it, Mel Gibson's graphically violent film about the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus Christ has become the most talked-about movie event in America, in large part because of a marketing strategy that is targeting Christian audiences while trying to manage the controversy about anti-Semitism that swirls around the picture (The Washington Post)
  
  

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February (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48