Mel Gibson

[Guest]

What do you guys think of this man without judging him ? Obviously he is a man of faith and yet troubled and weighed down by sin at the same time. God did a great work through him with Passion Of The Christ. As myself being someone who battles wirh alcohol abuse I think I can relate to his struggle on a far less different level because I'm not in the media spotlight. Yet its sorta tough to have compassion for him because it seems as if his struggles are very selfish. I also can relate to this. I have ruined some friendships I would love to have back because of things said and actions done while really drunk. Sometimes when such hurtfull things are said or done saying sorry will not repair them. So I find it hard for myself to have compasion for my actions let alone expecting other people to. Even though I would say getting that drunk in the first place to lose control is part of a sickness yet it seems rather selfish to blame it on that. I'm assuming most of mels problems and things said are a result of being drunk. His last tirade I would imagine wasn't while being sober although I don't know? Yet through all that he has been through and the many mistakes he can still hope for heaven. I mean he made Passion Of The Christ. I know that is not a ticket into heaven but it just seems hard to picture the man ending up in hell. And in a weird warped way it sorta brings me what is probally a false sense of secruity that God will have mercy on me also. It just seems being in this flesh its almost impossible to do what is right even when one really wants to.

Edited August 5, 2010 by Guest

[kafka]

Well with Mel I think I might understand part of what he is going through. My friends who I grew up with were the same sort of ultra-conservative Catholic that he is. As a matter of fact this is no lie one of my good childhood friend's family are friends with Mel and his family. His father grew up near Mel and his family in Australia. Small world. The point is though his father is a heretical-schizmatic Catholic with a lot of very strange and absurd views of the present state of the Church and the world, as well as a erroneous and distorted view of the faith. And this may have psychologically affected Mel and he might still be coping with this through the drink. It is in the end no excuse for the wrong he is doing, but believe me I was involved with these ultra-conservatives for quite a while and it sowed quite a bit of psychological as well as religious damage in me, but he grew up with all that. I dont know what would help him, but God easily works wonders and heal all evils starting in this first life and completing it in the next.

[sistersintigo]

"Sedevacantism," isn't that the term chosen by the people themselves? There is more of that around in the US than one might suspect.
More websites, and pages of writing, too, than one might suspect. Not going to link to those pages in this post though.
Reading what is published and posted for the public by the "sedevacantists" themselves, my opinion is, tremendous FEAR is under all that defensiveness. The fear is under it and it goes so deep! I suspect it goes deeper than reason. Can't comment on the celebrity in question here. Am thinking more of the generation before Mel Gibson, his father's generation, which is now beginning to die out....so deep an attachment to conventions of the past, so deep a fear of growth or development. Who but God may heal something so deep and instinctive?

[OnlySunshine]

I have discussed Mel's problems with a friend and my mother and both of them agree with me when I say that I believe Mel has some sort of mental problem. I remember reading an article about his time working on 'Passion' and he talked about some very dark times in his life. I've read about Bipolar Disorder which alternates between high and low moods. Some people can function rather normally, but when they have the manic states, they are prone to substance abuse and erratic behavior. Bipolar disorder and alcoholism are co-morbid disorders, and I wouldn't doubt that Mel might have both. I really hope and pray that he begins to understand that he needs some counseling and maybe medication therapy to stabilize his moods(and, if necessary, rehab if he's drinking again). For the sake of his children, I hope it's sooner rather than later.

[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder"]More on Bipolar disorder[/url]

Edited August 5, 2010 by MaterMisericordiae

[OnlySunshine]

Well, I did a search on Mel Gibson and Bipolar disorder on Google and found out that he was diagnosed with the disorder.

http://thestir.cafemom.com/healthy_living/106668/mel_gibson_bipolar_disorder_no

[kafka]

[quote name='sistersintigo' date='04 August 2010 - 09:00 PM' timestamp='1280970013' post='2152366']
"Sedevacantism," isn't that the term chosen by the people themselves? There is more of that around in the US than one might suspect.
More websites, and pages of writing, too, than one might suspect. Not going to link to those pages in this post though.
Reading what is published and posted for the public by the "sedevacantists" themselves, my opinion is, tremendous FEAR is under all that defensiveness. The fear is under it and it goes so deep! I suspect it goes deeper than reason. Can't comment on the celebrity in question here. Am thinking more of the generation before Mel Gibson, his father's generation, which is now beginning to die out....so deep an attachment to conventions of the past, so deep a fear of growth or development. Who but God may heal something so deep and instinctive?
[/quote]
its terrible. These people are lost. And some of this disordered emotions, ideas, etc. probably harmed Mel, since Mater above found the bipolar stuff. Its tragic. Obviously he is capable of doing some great things, but it goes in torrents both ways. And then everything is magnified because of the media. This is one of the reasons why I hate evil.

Edited August 5, 2010 by kafka

[Jaime]

I think he's a lousy Catholic and should be ashamed of himself

[Winchester]

I think he's the best performance artist since Mussolini.

[Jaime]

[quote name='Winchester' date='04 August 2010 - 09:38 PM' timestamp='1280972300' post='2152377']
I think he's the best performance artist since Mussolini.
[/quote]

+43

[toledo_jesus]

[quote name='hot stuff' date='04 August 2010 - 10:34 PM' timestamp='1280972069' post='2152374']
I think he's a lousy Catholic and should be ashamed of himself
[/quote]
agreed. In a lot of ways the deck was stacked. This is a man whose father liked to refer to John Paul II as "Garrulous Karolus the Koran Kisser."

But the booze and movie stardom don't help.

[Jaime]

[quote name='toledo_jesus' date='04 August 2010 - 09:39 PM' timestamp='1280972382' post='2152379']
agreed. In a lot of ways the deck was stacked. This is a man whose father liked to refer to John Paul II as "Garrulous Karolus the Koran Kisser."

But the booze and movie stardom don't help.
[/quote]

the man has a child with his girlfriend, his divorce is not annulled and OMGoodness he is a potty mouth.

there is only so much that the booze and stardom can take credit for.

I'm just saying he should no longer be held up as some sort of role model to Catholics. He's an embarrassment.

[toledo_jesus]

[quote name='hot stuff' date='04 August 2010 - 10:47 PM' timestamp='1280972854' post='2152386']
the man has a child with his girlfriend, his divorce is not annulled and OMGoodness he is a potty mouth.

there is only so much that the booze and stardom can take credit for.

I'm just saying he should no longer be held up as some sort of role model to Catholics. He's an embarrassment.
[/quote]
Agreed on all points. The stardom might feed an existing egotism - removing culpability in his own mind (I can do whatever I want with no consequences). I listen to those tapes and I hear a man who has not been told "No" very often. Like a six-year old who knows the c-word.

[Paddington]

So what was up with his face in that one movie? Was it like burned on one side? (I didn't see the beginning.)

[quote name='toledo_jesus' date='04 August 2010 - 11:02 PM' timestamp='1280973720' post='2152392']Like a six-year old who knows the c-word.[/quote]

Okay if I start using this one?

[Guest]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' date='04 August 2010 - 09:05 PM' timestamp='1280970338' post='2152369']
I have discussed Mel's problems with a friend and my mother and both of them agree with me when I say that I believe Mel has some sort of mental problem. I remember reading an article about his time working on 'Passion' and he talked about some very dark times in his life. I've read about Bipolar Disorder which alternates between high and low moods. Some people can function rather normally, but when they have the manic states, they are prone to substance abuse and erratic behavior. Bipolar disorder and alcoholism are co-morbid disorders, and I wouldn't doubt that Mel might have both. I really hope and pray that he begins to understand that he needs some counseling and maybe medication therapy to stabilize his moods(and, if necessary, rehab if he's drinking again). For the sake of his children, I hope it's sooner rather than later.

[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder"]More on Bipolar disorder[/url]
[/quote]
I'm about 90 percent sure I'm bipolar. I just don't have insurance and I hate going to the doctor.

[ThePenciledOne]

[quote name='hot stuff' date='04 August 2010 - 10:34 PM' timestamp='1280972069' post='2152374']
I think he's a lousy Catholic and should be ashamed of himself
[/quote]

Then I think we should all be ashamed.

At least he is relatively trying. I will give him the benefit of a doubt.

[ardillacid]

[quote name='ThePenciledOne' date='05 August 2010 - 12:25 AM' timestamp='1280982309' post='2152491']
I will give him the benefit of a doubt.
[/quote]
Concurrence

[Jaime]

[quote name='ThePenciledOne' date='05 August 2010 - 12:25 AM' timestamp='1280982309' post='2152491']
Then I think we should all be ashamed.

At least he is relatively trying. I will give him the benefit of a doubt.
[/quote]

What gives you reason to believe he's trying?

[Ash Wednesday]

It's one thing to be an alcoholic, bipolar and in part be influenced by your dad. Some people have even suggested spiritual attack. Add fame and copious amounts of money to the mix, with a distorted concept of reality and normality as a result, and it's a disaster. But in the end he's still an adult that knows right from wrong, and he should have known better on a number of things.

I think a lot of people feign righteous indignation over what he's done and said, but really just enjoy raking him across the coals because they love to see and mock a fallen Christian. That being said, he shouldn't get a pass just because he comes from the traditional end of the spectrum.

He was a wonderful talent to watch over the years, so to see him in this state does sadden me and I hope he finds peace of mind and soul, and that he and the mother of his child can find a peaceful way to coexist for the sake of that child.

Edited August 5, 2010 by Ash Wednesday

[Hassan]

I think people should be more merciful when a serious, serious mental illness like being bi-polar is part of the formula.

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='Hassan' date='05 August 2010 - 08:48 AM' timestamp='1280994535' post='2152544']
I think people should be more merciful when a serious, serious mental illness like being bi-polar is part of the formula.
[/quote]
Yes, I agree. It can really mess people up, especially if alcohol is also in the equation. I should remember to pray for him.