@wandeljw,
Quote:His divorce probably exacerbated his inner conflicts.
It may really be the other way around. As his behavior became more intolerable, his wife just couldn't put up with it and wanted out of the marriage. His womanizing was certainly at odds with traditional Roman Catholic beliefs and his marital vows. Divorce would be too, but only if he wants to re-marry in the Catholic church. But it was his behavior that led to the divorce.
He's not just a traditional Roman Catholic, he's even built his own chapel.
Quote:
The actor has been very vocal about his "traditionalist" views, adhering to the Roman Catholic faith as it was understood before the "modernization" by the Second Vatican Council of 1962-1965. ''I go to an all-pre-Vatican II Latin mass," he told USA Today in 2001. "There was a lot of talk, particularly in the '60s, of 'Wow, we've got to change with the times.' But the Creator instituted something very specific, and we can't just go change it.''
So in 2003 the actor decided to help change things back to the way they were, building a chapel in Malibu, Calif. – The Church of the Holy Family. Tucked away in the tree-covered mountains of Agoura Hills, 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, the rustic church, unaffiliated with the Roman Catholic archdiocese, has a foot-tall crucifix on the altar and the priest keeps his back to the parishioners as he performs mass every morning entirely in Latin. In church, women must wear head coverings.
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20272857_1216647,00.html
But, building your own church clearly does not make one a "good Christian" in terms of behavior. He allegedly went on a rant in front of his fellow parishioners because he felt they were gossiping too much about his personal life.
http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2009/06/exclusive-mel-gibsons-crazed-rant-church
Gibson may well be conflicted, because his behavior and religious beliefs are at odds with each other. But, since actions speak louder than words, he also appears to be somewhat hypocritical when it comes to religion.
Gibson does appear to be spinning more and more out of control. Whether success, fame, and money have led to his increasing arrogance, or continued alcohol abuse has diminished his self control and judgment, or both have combined to be his undoing, he seems to be destroying his personal life and his career. The guy needs to get himself some help.
I have found some of Gibson's films much too graphic in terms of violent content. Now it seems as if some of that cinematic content mirrors a violent streak in the man himself.