Jim Caviezel more concerned with living his faith than media reports

Denver, Colo., Mar 14, 2004 / 22:00 pm

The actor who played Jesus in Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" says he is not worried about what the press and others say about him and his Catholic faith.

In an exclusive interview with the Catholic News Agency after receiving the Imago Dei Award from the Archdiocese of Denver last week, Jim Caviezel said he is aware of the attempt of some people in the media to taint Catholic actors and turn them into religious zealots. But his only concern is to live his faith, knowing that he will have to answer to God.

"Much of the time, in the press, they look for angles to taint you," Caviezel told CNA. "For example, they continually say: 'devout Catholic Jim Caviezel, devout Catholic Jim Caviezel, devout Catholic Jim Caviezel.'

"But let me ask you. Do they say: 'devout scientologist Tom Cruise' … [or] 'devout Jew Adam Sandler'?

"They understand what they're doing – trying to taint you, make you a religious zealot," he continued. "There's lots of persecution like this all the time.

"I can't worry about what people think," he told CNA. "I'll have to answer to God. I am more afraid of not doing the right thing, because I'll have to answer to Him some day."

Caviezel received the Imago Dei Award on behalf of the filmmakers and crew of "The Passion of the Christ".