The Society for the Promotion of Community Standards has launched an attack on gay chief censor Bill Hastings, alleging his sexuality is affecting his ability to do his job. The Society says an interview Hastings gave to the Listener recently where he stated his opinion on Mel Gibson's film Passion of the Christ “raise[s] serious questions about his suitability to hold this statutory appointment”. The Society is spearheading a move by Christian groups to have the censor's rating for Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ lowered so that minors will have access to the film, which includes graphic depictions of flesh being ripped out by barbed whips and eyes being pecked out by birds. Hastings is also accused of being anti-Christian because of his views on two fundamentalist Christian propaganda videos distributed by Living Word, which have been linked to incidents of hate crime violence after screenings at evangelical churches. The Society describes these videos as “legitimate dissenting viewpoints on gay rights activism” and Hastings as “politically correct”.