

"Mel Gibson doesn't need your judgment, he needs your prayers," Caviezel said. Though he labelled Gibson "a horrible sinner", he said the actor turned film-maker should not be vilified. "We have to give up our names, our reputations, our lives to speak the truth," he said. Not much has changed in 2,000 years."Ī passionate Christian, Caviezel told the audience at the First Baptist Church of Orlando he had learned to accept that the destruction of his acting career was a price worth paying. He added: "Jesus is as controversial now as he has ever been.

"He said, 'You'll never work in this town again.' I told him, 'We all have to embrace our crosses,'" said Caviezel. Gibson, he said, had initially offered him the role, only to call him back 20 minutes later and beg him not to take it.
