Latest News #277
April 14, 2004

The following news concerns various national Bible Societies.

WORLD: National Bible Societies around the world are continuing to report on their initiatives in helping churches use the wide interest in The Passion of the Christ as an opportunity for evangelism.

The Passion of the Christ: Bible Societies keep in touch with film-goers

WORLD — As The Passion of the Christ continues to draw vast numbers of film-goers around the world and a wide range of reactions at the same time, national Bible Societies have published more news of the activities they are undertaking in order to draw the attention of the huge audience to the Gospels on which Mel Gibson's film is based.

Italy

In Italy, where the Pope was said to have given his approval to the film after a special screening in the Vatican, the film opened to the public on April 7.

In a comment on its website www.societabiblica.it, the Bible Society in Italy acknowledges the range of strong reactions to the film, some people welcoming it as an opportunity for evangelism, others complaining that it does not, by its nature, aid reflection and others that it is anti-Semitic.
As the Society's own offering, the website also sets out the complete story of the Passion from the Gospels in Italian "in order to offer everyone the possibility of a direct encounter with its sources and their message, hoping that reading it will prompt reflection and meditation rather than visceral emotions."

Lebanon

In Lebanon it was reported earlier (see Latest News #276) that some 52,000 copies of John's Gospel had been given to people going to see the film. Film-goers were offered a 64-page pocket size publication, The Passion of the Christ: Gospel of John, as they bought their tickets at cinema box offices in Beirut, Tripoli, Sidon and Zahle.

The distribution forms part of the Year of the Bible 2004, launched last December (see Latest News #265) at the Catholic Information Center in Beirut. In his introduction to the Scripture Portion, the director of the Catholic Information Centre, Father Abdo Bou Kasem, encourages the film-goers to read the entire Gospel after watching the film.

"The best part of this project," said Mike Bassous, the Deputy General Secretary of the Bible Society in Lebanon, "has been the close coordination between our distribution staff and the cinema staff and management." The enthusiasm for the film and the Gospel of John were "clear evidence of a great awareness of the need to know Christ", he added. The distribution was due to continue throughout the Easter period.

Singapore

The Bible Society of Singapore has undertaken a number of initiatives to try to capitalise on public interest in the film in Singapore.

Ezekiel Tan, Manager of the Society's Communications and Projects Department, reported last week that a Portion based on the Gospel of Luke and incorporating images from the film was in production.

"The Portion will be distributed to churches and the Christian community in Singapore with a two-fold purpose," he said. "First, to promote awareness of the movie for those who have yet to see it, and, second, to bring the life of Christ to the attention of individuals who have seen the movie and would like to find out more."

The Society has also dedicated a section of its website www.bible.org.sg/who/passion/passluke.htm to The Passion of the Christ. As well as stills from the film, the web pages offer a collection of relevant articles that the Society has received permission to circulate. A summary of the material on the website will appear in the Society's next quarterly newsletter.

The Philippines