Michael Brooks
Mel Gibson is a vocal traditionalist Catholic, adhering to the Roman Catholic faith as it was understood before the “modernization” by the Second Vatican Council of 1962-1965. He has been married and divorced, which is forbidden in the Catholic Church, and has had a child out of wedlock. Gibson's divorce from his wife, Robyn, was finalized on December 23, 2011, with a settlement of over $400 million. Despite his divorce, Gibson remains a practicing Catholic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of marriage | June 7, 1980 |
| Place of marriage | Catholic church in Forestville, New South Wales |
| Names of couple | Mel Gibson and Robyn Gibson |
| Number of children | 7 |
| Date of separation | July 29, 2006 |
| Date of divorce filing | April 13, 2009 |
| Reason for divorce | Irreconcilable differences |
| Date of divorce finalization | December 23, 2011 |
| Settlement amount | Over $400 million |
| Gibson's religious upbringing | Traditionalist Catholic |
| Gibson's current religious affiliation | Catholic |
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What You'll Learn
Mel Gibson's Catholic upbringing
Mel Gibson had a Catholic upbringing and identifies as Catholic. However, some of his beliefs and behaviours are considered incompatible with Catholicism. For example, Gibson has been divorced and had a child out of wedlock, which goes against Catholic teachings. Despite this, Gibson possesses a fear of the Lord and a reverence for the old traditions of the Catholic Church, which he does not deny.
In a Joe Rogan podcast, Gibson discussed his Catholic beliefs and the corruption within the Church. He has also been described as an "old-school sinner," someone who embodies a mindset from a past era, living an immoral lifestyle but not denying objective morality. Gibson has ties to a "traditionalist Catholic" church in Malibu, which is not in communion with Rome.
Gibson's Catholic upbringing has influenced his work, particularly his film "The Resurrection of Jesus Christ." He has spoken about the need to spiritually prepare himself for such a profound project, indicating a respect for Catholic traditions and a desire to improve himself morally.
Despite his Catholic upbringing and identification with the faith, Gibson's lifestyle and personal choices have drawn criticism from some Catholics. They argue that he is not living according to the teachings of the Church and is therefore not a true representative of Catholicism. However, others defend him, acknowledging that he is honest about his contradictions and does not claim to be a perfect Christian.
Overall, Mel Gibson's Catholic upbringing and ongoing identification with the faith are complex aspects of his life and public image. While he holds reverence for Catholic traditions and a fear of the Lord, his personal life and behaviours have been scrutinised and deemed incompatible with Catholicism by some.
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Gibson's views on divorce
Mel Gibson's views on divorce are informed by his traditionalist Catholic upbringing. Gibson was educated by members of the Congregation of Christian Brothers at St Leo's Catholic College in Wahroonga, New South Wales. He adheres to the Roman Catholic faith as it was understood before the "modernization" by the Second Vatican Council of 1962-1965. In a 2001 interview with USA Today, Gibson stated, "I go to an all-pre-Vatican II Latin mass... 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."
Gibson's divorce from Robyn was finalized on December 23, 2011, with a settlement of over $400 million, the highest in Hollywood history at the time. Despite the divorce, Gibson has continued to practice his Catholic faith. He built his own traditionalist Catholic church in Los Angeles, called the Church of the Holy Family, which offers the pre-Vatican-II Tridentine Mass. Gibson's views on divorce, informed by his traditionalist Catholic beliefs, highlight his commitment to the indissolubility of marriage and the importance of religious teachings in his personal life.
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Gibson's marriage to Robyn
Mel Gibson and Robyn Moore first met in the late '70s, during the early years of Gibson's acting career. Gibson had just finished filming Mad Max, in which he starred as "Mad" Max Rockatansky. At the time, Robyn was working as a dental nurse. After dating for three years, the couple got married on June 7, 1980, in a Catholic church in Forestville, New South Wales. They went on to have one daughter, Hannah, and six sons: Christian, Edward, William, Louis, Milo, and Thomas.
Despite their large family, Gibson and Robyn's marriage was not to last. On July 29, 2006, after 26 years of marriage, the couple separated. Robyn later said in an interview that their separation began the day after Gibson's DUI arrest, during which he allegedly used anti-Semitic slurs toward a police officer. In March 2009, photos were released of Gibson apparently embracing his live-in girlfriend of one year, Russian songwriter and pianist Oksana Grigorieva. The following month, on April 13, 2009, Robyn filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.
The divorce was finalized in 2011, with the settlement said to be the highest in Hollywood history at over $400 million. The couple did not have a prenuptial agreement, and California is a community property state, so Robyn received half of everything Gibson had earned during their marriage.
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Robyn's filing for divorce
Robyn Gibson filed for divorce from her husband, actor and filmmaker Mel Gibson, on April 13, 2009, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple had been married for 26 years before their separation on July 29, 2006. Robyn's decision to file for divorce came after photographs were released in March 2009, appearing to show Mel on a beach embracing his live-in girlfriend of one year, Russian songwriter and pianist Oksana Grigorieva.
The Gibsons' divorce was finalized on December 23, 2011, with a settlement of over $400 million, said to be the highest in Hollywood history at the time. The couple did not have a prenuptial agreement, and California's community property laws entitled Robyn to half of everything Mel had earned during their marriage.
Mel and Robyn Gibson were married in a Catholic church in Forestville, New South Wales, on June 7, 1980. They have one daughter, Hannah, and six sons: twins Edward and Christian, William, Louis, Milo, and Thomas. Despite their Catholic wedding, Mel Gibson has been vocal about his traditionalist Catholic views, adhering to the faith as it was understood before the modernization by the Second Vatican Council of 1962-1965. He even built his own traditionalist Catholic church in Malibu, California, called the Church of the Holy Family.
Robyn Gibson, on the other hand, remained an Episcopalian, as Gibson himself told The New Yorker in 2003. According to traditionalist Catholic teaching, this would disqualify her from salvation, as Gibson explained: "There is no salvation for those outside the Church... My wife is a saint. She's a much better person than I am... She's, like, Episcopalian, Church of England. She prays, she believes in God, she knows Jesus, she believes in that stuff. And it's just not fair if she doesn't make it."
While the Gibsons' divorce may have been civilly recognized, it is unclear if they received an annulment from the Catholic Church. A civil divorce does not affect one's standing as a Catholic in itself, but subsequent actions can become an issue.
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Gibson's religious beliefs post-divorce
Mel Gibson, the American actor and filmmaker, was married to Robyn for 26 years before they separated in 2006 and divorced in 2011. Robyn cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the divorce. The divorce settlement was said to be the highest in Hollywood history at over $400 million.
Gibson was raised in a Traditionalist Catholic family and has been vocal about his adherence to the Roman Catholic faith as it was understood before the "modernization" by the Second Vatican Council of 1962-1965. He once stated, "I go to an all-pre-Vatican II Latin mass... The Creator instituted something very specific, and we can’t just go change it." In 2003, Gibson built his own traditionalist Catholic church in Malibu, California, called the Church of the Holy Family.
Despite his religious upbringing and public statements about his faith, Gibson's divorce and subsequent actions have caused some to question his commitment to his Catholic faith. Some have pointed to his divorce, out-of-wedlock child, and relationship with a much younger woman as evidence of hypocrisy or a lack of sincerity in his religious beliefs.
However, it's important to note that divorce is not uncommon among Catholics, and Gibson's religious beliefs post-divorce seem to remain rooted in his Catholic upbringing. In a 2006 interview, Gibson stated that his "human rights were violated" by the media attacks on his person, family, and religious beliefs. He has also defended his film, "The Passion of the Christ," which was criticized for its depiction of the death of Jesus, stating that his belief system does not bar the door to heaven for Jews, Muslims, and Protestants.
While Gibson's divorce may have caused some to question his religious sincerity, he continues to identify as a Catholic and associate with Catholic communities and practices.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Mel Gibson is a Traditionalist Catholic. He was baptised into the Catholic Church and has built his own traditionalist Catholic church in LA.
Yes, Gibson divorced his wife Robyn in 2011. They had been married for 26 years.
Gibson got a civil divorce from his wife, but not, as far as can be told, a Catholic annulment.
A divorce does not affect one's standing as a Catholic. However, what happens afterward can become an issue.
