NSW: Good Friday numbers up as Hollywood brings people to Church

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2004
NSW: Good Friday numbers up as Hollywood brings people to Church

By Samantha Baden

SYDNEY, April 9 AAP - Crowds were up on previous years' numbers at Sydney's major churches
this Good Friday as the faithful turned their attention to the meaning of Jesus' life
and death, but also spared a thought for Hollywood.

Sydney's St Mary's Catholic Cathedral experienced crowds of up to 2,500 today to hear
a homily from the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, said cathedral dean Monsignor
Tony Doherty

Cardinal Pell spoke about the leadership of Jesus and atonement before turning his
attention to The Passion of the Christ, the controversial film directed by Mel Gibson
which focuses on the last 12 hours of Jesus' life.

"There's a wide range of opinion about the effect of the film, but a lot of people
are saying quite correctly it's had a great impact on many people," Monsignor Doherty
said.

Likewise, at Wesley Mission in the heart of the Sydney CBD, the Reverend Dr Gordon
Moyes said a total of about 7,000 had attended the seven services held across the day.

Wesley Mission also held a Stations of the Cross procession through the Sydney CBD
that attracted hundreds of followers.

The centre then hosted a forum about the making of the Passion of the Christ film.

"Attendances were up this year and I think Mel Gibson's film The Passion has got people
talking about one question and that is why did Jesus die," Rev Moyes said.

"This is right at the heart of Easter. All of a sudden people are talking about it
at barbecues, at football matches and at the show."

Anglicans also reported increased numbers at services this Good Friday with Sydney's
Anglican Archbishop Peter Jenson attributing the spike to uncertain times.

"I was at Springwood (parish) today and the services there were certainly larger than
ever," Archbishop Jenson said.

"All indications are that this has been an Easter where people are thinking about God
and really getting back to the roots of things, thinking about the foundations."

"September 11th 2001, the Bali bombings and the Iraq war have created a deep sense
of uncertainty and when you try to answer those sorts of questions you will inevitably
come back to the Bible."

AAP smb/sjb/jlw

KEYWORD: EASTER NSW

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