In the eyes of children

Matthew Stoehr, an evangelical pastor in California, said he allowed his 14-year-old daughter to see the film “The Passion of the Christ,” but not his two younger children, who are 8 and 10.

Like Mr. Stoehr, many parents nationwide who treasure the Christian message in Mel Gibson’s film and want to share it with their children wonder whether their youngsters are mature enough to withstand the graphic scenes of Jesus Christ’s Crucifixion and to absorb its meaning.

The movie, which depicts the last 12 hours of Christ’s life, has been described as violent, bloody, gory and brutal but also as a spiritually potent story of love, suffering and redemption. Many Christians have discussed how old a child should be to see the movie.

“My 14-year-old daughter saw it and was greatly moved,” said Mr. Stoehr, pastor of the West Coast Christian Center in Vista, Calif. “She has a real understanding of the Gospel and the suffering of Christ. But 8- and 10-year-olds are not ready to see it, even with their parents.”

But another evangelical minister, the Rev. Stephen A. Macchia, director of the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building at the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary of South Hamilton, Mass., said he thinks his 14-year-old daughter “would not fare well seeing the movie.”

“My daughter remembers the visual very vividly. This film was rated R for a reason,” Mr. Macchia said. Under the voluntary movie-rating system, R means “restricted” to those 17 and older, unless accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.

The Massachusetts minister said his 18-year-old son saw “The Passion” with some friends.

“He did well. He thought it was a powerful film,” Mr. Macchia said.

He advises parents: “Don’t just send kids on a bus [to see ‘The Passion’]. Go with them.”

Clergymen and others who have seen the movie generally agree that children younger than 12 or 13 should not see “The Passion of the Christ.” They say children have to be at least that old to get beyond the blood and gore and think in abstract concepts.

Alan Nierob, publicist for Mr. Gibson, said Mr. Gibson has indicated in interviews that the movie “may not be appropriate for kids under 13.”

But there are differences of opinion as to whether young adolescents should see it.

“Young children should not be within 10 miles of this film,” said Gordon Berry, a professor emeritus and educational psychologist at the University of California at Los Angeles, who specializes in how media affect children.

When he saw the movie last week, Mr. Berry said, two children, about 5 and 7, were seated near him with their mother and grandmother.

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