(LifeSiteNews) — Director Mel Gibson’s choice of a radical pro-abortion extremist to play the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in The Resurrection of the Christ has ignited a firestorm of protest in the actress’s native Poland, perhaps the most pro-life nation on Earth.

The long-awaited sequel to The Passion of the Christ, now in production at Rome’s Cinecittà Studios, has been completely recast, with Polish actress Katarzyna Smutniak playing Jesus’ mother, Mary.   

The choice of Smutniak “seems like sheer blasphemy,” Olivier Bault, Poland’s Ordo Iuris Institute for Legal Culture and the Center for Life and Family director of communications, told LifeSiteNews. 

Smutniak “has given her unequivocal support to the so-called ‘Women’s Strike,’ whose demands include the legalization of abortion on demand and which often took on a vulgar and aggressive tone toward the Catholic faith — seen by pro-abortion activists as responsible for the Polish Constitutional Tribunal’s 2020 ruling banning eugenic abortion, i.e., abortion motivated by a diagnosis of congenital anomaly (such as Down syndrome) or an incurable disease of the unborn child,” Bault said. 

“The ‘Women’s Strike’ protests have more than once included the interruption of Holy Masses, acts of vandalism, damage to churches, and even church arsons in Poland,” he noted. 

In 2020, after Poland tightened its laws against abortion, Smutniak posted a picture of herself on Instagram with disturbing pro-abortion messages written across her face — “This is war,” “the right to abortion.” “F*** off” —  while offering a middle finger to those who oppose abortion. 

“Would Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, paint such slogans on her face?” asks a petition launched by the two organizations.   

‘A stab in the back’

“Appointing someone who publicly supports attitudes so radically contrary to the Christian message of life and love would be a stab in the back for all Poles who fight for the rights of unborn children,” the petition declares. 

“While Poland remains the last European country, apart from the small island of Malta, to protect life from conception, Katarzyna Smutniak’s pro-abortion stance, associated with the figure of the Virgin Mary, could provide pro-abortion activists with a powerful weapon against the protection of life,” Bault said. 

“In fact, we risk seeing the image of Mary used as a ‘spokesperson for women’s rights’ — that is, for the supposed right to kill children in their mothers’ wombs,” Bault explained. “We cannot allow this to happen, and we sincerely hope that, once Mel Gibson realizes his error, he will, as a Catholic himself, refrain from committing such blasphemy.”

The controversial choice follows on the heels of news of Gibson’s decision not to invite Jim Caviezel to reprise his iconic role as Jesus in the 2004 film, The Passion of the Christ.

Taking the place of the now 57-year-old famously devout Catholic actor who starred in the original film is Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen, 36, best known for his role in British drama “The Last Kingdom,” per Variety. 

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Translated text of the Petition to Mel Gibson regarding the casting of the role of the Virgin Mary in the film “The Passion 2: The Resurrection”

Dear Sir, 

We address you as Christians and as people deeply moved by the message of your work “The Passion,” which has become an authentic testimony of faith, suffering, and love of Jesus Christ for millions of believers around the world. Your courage in portraying the Passion of Christ and your dedication to the truth of the Gospel have made “The Passion” a unique film—not only artistically, but above all spiritually

However, we were deeply concerned to learn from media reports that Polish actress Katarzyna Smutniak had been cast in the role of the Virgin Mary. We believe that this decision is deeply unfortunate and hurtful to the religious feelings of Catholics around the world, especially in Poland.

Ms. Smutniak publicly supported initiatives and movements that were openly contrary to Christian sensibilities and morality. She gave her unequivocal support to the so-called “women’s strike,” whose demands included the introduction of the right to abortion “on demand” and which often took on a vulgar and aggressive tone toward religious values. 

The aftermath of the “strikes” included the interruption of Holy Masses, acts of vandalism, the destruction of churches, and even the burning of churches in Poland. Such involvement is in stark contrast to the spirit of purity and boundless trust in God embodied by the Blessed Virgin Mary, who, after all, accepted Jesus Christ as her child.

Appointing someone who publicly supports attitudes so radically contrary to the Christian message of life and love would be a stab in the back for all Poles who fight for the rights of unborn children. Poland is one of the last countries in the world where women are not legally allowed to have an abortion (except in cases where her life is at risk and if the child is conceived as a result of rape or incest). This legal situation stems, in a way, from the Catholic values professed by the majority of Polish society. That is why left-wing circles, upon learning of Ms. Smutniak’s selection for the role of Mary, are triumphant and mock that Mary’s face will be that of a “women’s rights advocate” who demands unlimited rights to murder children.

We have no doubt that you were not fully aware of the context and symbolic consequences of this decision. We believe that you, as an artist who deeply understands the importance of faith and truth in art, want Passion 2: The Resurrection to be perceived as a work that does not distort or trivialize the mystery of Salvation. Therefore, we respectfully and strongly urge you to reconsider your decision regarding the casting of the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary and to choose an actress who not only has talent and skill, but also an inner consistency with the spiritual dimension of this unique character.

We trust that you will make this decision in a spirit of responsibility toward the millions of viewers who expect the sequel to The Passion to be faithful to the Gospel and the truth of Christ’s Resurrection, as well as in a spirit of Christian respect for unborn life.

With respect and concern,

Signatories to the petition

[The petition website further explains]:

“This is war,” “the right to abortion.” “F*** off” – would Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, paint such slogans on her face? Of course not. And yet, according to media reports, actress Katarzyna Smutniak will play the role of the Virgin Mary in Mel Gibson’s latest production, “The Passion 2: The Resurrection.” Entrusting such an important role in a film that will undoubtedly be seen by tens, if not hundreds, of millions of people (as was the case with the first part) to a person who is the antithesis of purity and boundless trust in God is nothing short of an act of profanation of the image of the Mother of God.

We realize that Mel Gibson, when casting the film, may simply not have been aware of Katarzyna Smutniak’s social involvement in pro-abortion movements in Poland. That is why we are writing a petition to the American director to warn him and appeal for the earliest possible change in the casting of this key character in the film.

For Christians around the world, the film “The Passion” was more than just a work of art—it became a tool for evangelization and spiritual awakening. That is why every decision regarding the continuation of this story is of great importance. The choice of actors, the way the characters are portrayed, and the fidelity to the Gospel will determine whether The Passion 2: The Resurrection will retain its message of faith and hope, or whether it will be perceived as an attempt to fit into contemporary ideological trends, which often use a false Christian narrative that in reality contradicts the teachings of Jesus Christ.

It is a clash between the civilization of life and the civilization of death!

Casting a person who publicly expresses views that are grossly contrary to the Christian message of life and love in the role of the Mother of God would be a stab in the back for the Polish nation. Poland is one of the last bastions of the civilization of life in the world, as described by St. John Paul II. Few countries in the world protect life as extensively as Poland does. This stands in contrast to the civilization of death, which accepts the killing of unborn children. 

Left-wing activists are rubbing their hands with glee. The pro-abortion face of Katarzyna Smutniak, associated with the face of the virtuous Mary, will be their weapon against the protection of life in Poland. We are threatened with a situation in which the image of Mary will be used as a “spokesperson for women’s rights,” which is, in fact, the right to kill children without restriction.

Let’s not allow left-wing abortionists to triumph!

Sign the appeal to director Mel Gibson!