Anti-Defamation League "biblical scholar" Eugene Fisher: Brazenly dishonest or scripturally challenged?¼You make the call!
"Just get an academic on board if you want to
pervert something!"
—Mel Gibson concerning the ADL's Ad Hoc Scholars Committee
On June 24, 2003 the Anti-Defamation League announced that a nine-member "Ad Hoc Scholars Committee" had been brought together in April "to evaluate an early version" the screenplay for Mel Gibson's film The Passion (a title later changed to The Passion of the Christ). According to the ADL's statement, both Mr. Gibson and others from his studio, Icon Productions, "indicated their willingness to consider the scholars' suggestions."
What the statement didn't say was that the
script was procured and perused
without
Mr. Gibson's knowledge in what amounted to the theft of his intellectual
property. Had it sought to be honorable (and, for the sake of argument,
accepting its claim that the script had been "leaked" to it unbidden), the
ADL would have contacted him, letting him know what it had received and
seeking his permission to make a study of it. That it did not do so
conclusively shows the ill will of the ADL, which is why executives at
Icon were adamant that the leaders of the group were "dishonorable" and
would not be allowed to attend any screening of the movie. (The ADL's
national director, Abraham Foxman, further confirmed the accuracy of
this description when he later lied, claiming to be a pastor of the
"Church of Truth," to get into a showing on January 21st. When, only nine
days later, Mr. Gibson addressed Mr. Foxman in a letter as "a man of
integrity and a man of faith," he could only have done so with his tongue
firmly planted in his cheek.)
Dishonesty, this of the intellectual type, seems to fare of the ADL's scholars, as well. A case in point is their assertion that the Evangelists were essentially first century spin doctors who "cooked the books" in a way that would falsely downplay Roman responsibility and exaggerate Jewish guilt. In layman's terms, they were liars. Yet it has been a deceit of the liberal news media to invariably refer to these members of the committee as "mainstream" scholars despite the fact that rather than acknowledge the divine inspiration of the Gospels, they insist on likening them to pragmatic political tracts.
Recently, one of the scholars, Dr. Eugene Fisher (photo, above left), the spokesman on interfaith relations for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C., made the pronouncement below on the portrayal of the Pharisees in scripture. Though brief, it is one of those stand alone remarks that carries its own context. It is followed by the Gospel passage that doesn't just refute it, but totally lays waste to it.
Dr. Fisher's statement shows either incredible chutzpah on his part to brazenly lie about a point that is so easy to prove false (it's a full 180 degrees removed from the truth) or that he is a complete ignoramus when it comes to what must be termed New Testament 101.
In either case, his exclusion from such a
panel would be in order. That he was on it would be utterly laughable were
it not for the consequences of his actions, because in his capacity as
committee member he was trying to making dictate to Mr. Gibson what he
ought to do to his film to assure its scriptural "accuracy." Equally
sobering is the realization that he was joined by eight others who were
just as unsound in their beliefs. Dr. Fisher deserves a debt a gratitude,
however, for showing the world in spectacular fashion the fact (and
reinforcing it for all of those who weren't taken in) that the supposed
erudition of he and his colleagues is simply nonsense on stilts.
The Gospel according to "scholar" Eugene Fisher
The only role the Bible says the Pharisees have in the passion of Jesus is, in one case they try to warn him that there's a plot against his life.
The Gospel according to Saint John
Chapter 11
45 Many therefore of
the Jews, who were come to Mary and Martha, and had seen the things that
Jesus did, believed in him.
46 But some of them went to the Pharisees, and told
them the things that Jesus had done.
47 The chief priests therefore, and the Pharisees,
gathered a council, and said: What do we, for this man doth many miracles?
48 If we let him alone so, all will believe in him; and the Romans will
come, and take away our place and nation.
49 But one of them, named Caiphas, being the high
priest that year, said to them: You know nothing.
50 Neither do you consider that it is
expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the
whole nation perish not.
51 And this he spoke not of himself: but being the high priest of that
year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation.
52 And not only for the nation, but to gather together in one the children
of God, that were dispersed.
53 From that day therefore they devised to put him
to death.
54 Wherefore Jesus walked no more openly among the Jews; but he went into
a country near the desert, unto a city that is called Ephrem, and there he
abode with his disciples.
55 And the pasch of the Jews was at hand; and many from the country went
up to Jerusalem, before the pasch to purify themselves.
56 They sought therefore for Jesus; and they
discoursed one with another, standing in the temple: What think you that
he is not come to the festival day? And the chief priests and Pharisees
had given a commandment, that if any man knew where he was, he should
tell, that they might apprehend him.
Sources:
ADL press release concerning committee:
ADL
Statement on Mel Gibson's "The Passion"
Abe Foxman's "sneak" preview
Jewish
critics accused of 'deceit' at film screening
"Man of integrity" quote
ADL, Mel
Gibson exchange letters
Denial of Scriptural inspiration
Newsweek peddling Gibson foes' revisionist claims
Dr. Fisher's "friendly" Pharisees quote
Critics say Gibson film mimics a hateful book
Saint John's Gospel
Douay Rheims translation of the Bible