I see from the San Francisco Chronicle that Mel Gibson has yet again screened his crucifixion film, The Passion, for a select audience. The Chronicle mentions a recent screening attended by approximately thirty evangelical scholars, after which Ted Haggard, president of the National Evangelical Association, was fulsome in his praise for the film: "I thought it was the most authentic portrayal I've ever seen," Haggard said.

It was Haggard who said, according to a New York Times story a week or so ago, "Mel Gibson is the Michelangelo of this generation." The Times also quoted the reaction of Deal W. Hudson, publisher of the conservative Catholic magazine Crisis: "It's going to be the go-to film for Christians of all denominations who want to see the best movie made about the Passion of Christ." And prior to that the movie won raves at a screening attended by an aide to Senator Rick Santorum and the deputy director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, according to The Washington Post.

I wonder whether these upright traditionalists know anything about the career of Monica Bellucci, who, according to the Chronicle story, plays Mary Magdalene in the film. If they don't, I recommend they go to Yahoo or Google, type her name in, and look at, well, pretty much any of the sites found. Or maybe they should just try a Google image search for the star of the religious Right's new favorite film.

Goodness, I feel more devout already.