Tuesday 26 May 2009

OCTO-POP!

Mel Gibson's public response to news that his female companion is pregnant.

Beyond the usual tabloid fodder regarding his alcohol-fuelled misogynist and judeophobic rants, Gibson is also known for his adherence to an obscure religious sect.

US federal tax filings showed Gibson’s Holy Family Catholic Church now has tax-free assets worth a total of $64 million. Gibson is the sole contributor to the church, which has a small congregation of about 70 members and follows a 500-year-old ethos. ...

Gibson’s secretive sect is not recognised by the Catholic Church because it does not acknowledge the authority of the Pope or the Vatican and rejects the universally accepted teachings of the Second Vatican Council.

The church’s financial coffers are impressive, particularly when compared to the funds of other religious organisations in the US. The Archdiocese of New York’s Catholic Charities organisation listed its total assets at the end of 2006 as only $5.1 million.

Gibson’s church, which offers a daily morning Mass in Latin, follows an antiquated ideology of Catholicism dating back to the 16th century. Female followers must abide by a strict dress code requiring them to wear veils over their hair and long skirts. Pants are banned.

This is a pre-conversion (and pre-Mel) photograph of Oksana Grigorieva who may (or may not) become the next Mrs Gibson.

2 comments:

rww said...

What a great way to shield your assets from taxes. I'm starting the Church of Tax Avoidance. Who's with me.

Mike said...

Praise the Lord and pass the tax forms...

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