Clergy credit Mel Gibson with reawakening Australia's passion for Easter

SYDNEY (Australia) April 11 - Mel Gibson has reawakened a passion for Easter in Australia, church leaders said Sunday.

Easter services at churches and cathedrals around the country were packed and clerics said Gibson's crucifixion epic ``The Passion of the Christ'' and the uncertain global situation were the reasons.

The busy churches came just weeks after Pope John Paul II chided the nation for spending too much time watching sport and not enough in church.

Late last month, the pontiff urged Catholic clergy to do more to promote the church's teaching on marriage and the family.

He also underlined the importance of attending Mass on Sunday, saying the day should not become subordinate to a ``secular concept of `weekend' dominated by such things as entertainment and sport.''

In the eastern city of Brisbane, Catholic Archbishop John Bathersby said he drew the biggest Easter Sunday crowd he had seen at his cathedral and attributed the numbers in part to Gibson's film.

``I do agree with others that there was a great deal more violence than I would have liked in the movie, but nevertheless there were some brilliant moments and I thought it was a brilliant movie,'' he said.

In the southern city of Melbourne, Anglican Archbishop Peter Watson said international turmoil and uncertainty was driving people back to the church in search of answers.

``Any time there is some sort of a crisis like the massacre at Port Arthur or Bali or even going back as far as World War II the churches fill up,'' he said.

On Friday, Sydney's Catholic Archbishop George Pell praised ``The Passion of the Christ'' for its influence on Easter churchgoers.

In an Easter message, Pell said the movie ``has focused public attention on the Christian understanding of the whole Easter season more effectively than any other event for years. Many who came to the Easter ceremonies this year came with a clearer vision.''

``The Passion of the Christ,'' starring Jim Caviezel, details the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus Christ in vivid and often gruesome detail. - AP