Churches reserve tickets to 'Passion'

The anticipation surrounding Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" is prompting several churches across Indiana to buy up blocks of tickets for the film, and in some cases arrange special screenings.\nThe film is due to be released Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25, but at least one church, East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, has arranged for three screenings over the two previous nights.\nThe buzz surrounding the film prompted the non-denominational congregation to reserve the screenings of the film and distribute the 2,400 tickets at its Sunday services. Members taking tickets are encouraged to take a guest who's not currently a practicing Christian, said the Rev. Derek Duncan, senior minister of the 4,000-member church.\n"It's less important for me whether they come to my church or not. We're giving people an opportunity to learn who Jesus Christ is," Duncan said.\nThe R-rated movie -- directed, funded and co-written by actor Mel Gibson -- graphically depicts the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus Christ. Gibson maintains the movie is a faithful biblical narrative, but some advocates of interfaith dialogue worry its depiction of the role of some Jews in the death of Christ may foment anti-Semitism.\nThe Rev. Stephen Gibson, a Catholic priest from East Chicago and second cousin to the Australian actor, said he planned to take about 100 parishioners in two buses to an afternoon matinee.\n"From what I understand, it will be a powerful experience," he said. "We're taking this movie as an instrument for evangelism."\nSunnycrest Baptist Church in Marion spent more than $8,000 to buy 1,200 tickets that it is reselling to its members, said Pastor Ron Smith.\n"I told the congregation, 'We've bought these tickets so you can intentionally invite unchurched people to see this movie that we feel will change their lives,'" said Smith. He hopes at least two-thirds of the 1,200 tickets will be given by members to people who don't regularly attend church.\n"We want this to be an event where our people invite people who don't have a relationship with Jesus, where we say, 'This is my treat. You be my friend. You be my guest. Let's go spend a night at the movies,'" Smith said.\nSome Jewish and Christian leaders have warned the film could revive the idea that Jews were collectively responsible for the death of Jesus, which many Christian denominations now reject.\nMichael Steinberg, a spokesman for the Jewish Federation of Northwest Indiana, said he was trying to arrange a showing with a group of priests, ministers and rabbis to ensure dialogue between faiths remains positive.\n"We're trying to get prepared," he said. "I hope there's not a backlash against our community."\nGibson, who is Roman Catholic, repeatedly has denied his film maligns Jews.