SUBMITTED BY Timbo

February 17, 2004 — Mel Gibson talked to ABC's Diane Sawyer about "The Passion of the Christ" on Monday.

"I think it pushes one over the edge," Mr. Gibson said, "so that they see the enormity, the enormity of that sacrifice."

Mr. Gibson, who financed, directed and was a co-writer of the film, said he wanted it to be shocking and extreme.

"It's very violent, and if you don't like it, don't go, you know?" Mr. Gibson said in excerpts of the interview provided by ABC. "If you want to leave halfway through, go ahead."

Mr. Gibson told Ms. Sawyer that the film was not anti-Semitic, and that instead it was about "faith, hope, love and forgiveness."

"To be anti-Semitic is a sin," he said. "It's been condemned by one papal council after another. To be anti-Semitic is to be un-Christian, and I'm not."

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