A Look at Mel Gibson's Catholic Quandary

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Spiritually speaking, Mel Gibson is wading through murky waters these days. The 'Braveheart' actor-director, an outspoken cheerleader for the traditionalist Catholic movement who built his own church so he could worship, is expecting a child with his girlfriend despite still being married. Isn't there a Commandment about that?

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Mel Gibson Snapshots

Actor Mel Gibson onstage at Spike TV's 2009 "Guys Choice Awards" held at the Sony Studios on May 30, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Spike TV's 2009 "Guys Choice Awards" - Show Sony Studios Los Angeles, CA United States May 30, 2009 Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com To license this image (57564632), contact WireImage.com

Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com

Actor Mel Gibson onstage at Spike TV's 2009 "Guys Choice Awards" held at the Sony Studios on May 30, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Spike TV's 3rd Annual Guys Choice Awards - Show Sony Studios Los Angeles, CA United States May 30, 2009 Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.com To license this image (57564958), contact FilmMagic.com

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.com

Gibson is in the midst of divorce proceedings with Robyn Moore, his wife of 29 years and mother to their seven kids. However, even mainstream Catholicism does not tolerate the kinds of dalliances the star has made, and the consequences for his relationship with 39-year-old Russian model Oksana Grigorieva are very real when he steps into his church.

PEOPLE spoke to experts in traditionalist Catholicism, a conservative breakaway movement that worships in Latin among other things, about what Gibson will have to do in order to get back into the good graces of his own church.

Communion: At this time, Gibson is considered an adulterer and is not allowed to take Communion. Members of Holy Family Chapel in Agoura Hills, Calif. confirm he's stopped. If he puts a hold on his relationship with Grigorieva and confesses his sins, he'll be allowed back into the fold.

Annulling His Marriage: In order to re-marry, Gibson has to get his marriage to Moore annulled. But since he was married in the mainstream Catholic church, he has to apply for the request through the Vatican. One problem: the official church does not recognize Gibson's new congregation of traditionalists.

Marrying a Non-Catholic: Gibson would have to get a dispensation from a Catholic bishop to marry someone outside his church. Again, the Vatican does not approve of the actor's congregation.

According to RadarOnline, Gibson lost his cool with congregants at his Agoura Hills church recently in what one source described as a "crazed rant." Angry with the congregation for gossiping about his ongoing divorce, his affair and their baby, Gibson reportedly delivered a furious sermon last Sunday.

A source claimed that Gibson "paced back and forth, furiously telling the congregation that he would not stand by and be judged and scrutinized."

"Mel got up on his stage -- the altar -- and went off. He tried to intimidate the parishioners by staring at everyone with his angry eyes. Mel even threatened to shut down the church if people kept gossiping about him. The bottom line is that if Mel hadn't cheated on his wife and gotten his Russian girlfriend pregnant, there wouldn't be much to gossip about."

With his fast-evolving personal life, it's unclear if Gibson is eroding his clout with the millions of people who helped make his 'The Passion of the Christ' the biggest movie of 2004. Critics, including MSNBC contributor Tony Sclafani, are enraged with the actor, saying he appeared flippant about the whole affair during a recent appearance on 'The Tonight Show.' (He called himself "Octo-Mel" since Grigoriva is having his eighth child.)

"What's worse is that Gibson seems unrepentant, to use church lingo. Even publicity mongers Jon and Kate Gosselin seemed more chastened when confronted with their alleged indiscretions. And that?s saying something."

2009-06-02 10:04:48

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