A Roman Catholic bishop in Slovakia told believers Tuesday that watching illegal copies of Mel Gibson's movie The Passion of the Christ not only violates copyright laws but also religious rules.
Bishop Frantisek Tondra, also chairman of the Conference of Slovak Bishops, reacted to media reports that priests and other church activists were showing the film in church buildings or devotional centres for larger audiences, and even some allegedly sold illegally made copies of it.
Tondra said if that happened, it was not only breaching copyright laws, but such acts were also against one of the Ten Commandments which demands respect for another's property.
In a statement posted on the Conference's web page, the bishop called on priests and believers to respect laws - both religious and secular. And he added that watching the film in a movie theatre offers a better experience.
Tondra also suggested that individual parishes should either arrange for discounts at movie theatres or wait for the movie to appear on television.
Those attending the illegally organized private showings obviously wanted to save money. They likely also include elderly people who are eager to see the movie but do not normally go to a cinema.
The movie has been shown at movie theatres around Slovakia since April, but has not caused a heated debate in this predominantly Catholic country of 5.4 million.
The release of the movie in some countries, such as the United States and Canada, sparked a debate over whether Jews bore responsibility for Jesus' crucifixion. Rabbis warned the film would fuel anti-Semitism.
Angry Jewish reaction to the film prompted the Vatican to reiterate its stance that Jews were not collectively responsible for Jesus' persecution. Gibson has denied he meant to portray Jews in a damaging light, saying he was only trying to portray the New Testament as it was written.