The Passion of the Christ was met with mixed reactions by Hong Kong audiences as the controversial hit film opened yesterday.
Some filmgoers were clearly moved - with tears streaming down their faces - as they left some of the 25 cinemas across the city showing the film.
Others claimed to be numbed by the graphic portrayal of the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ.
'Some were crying,' Father Lawrence Lee said of the members of his congregation who had been to see the film.
'And quite a lot of them said they were deeply moved,' said the Catholic diocese chancellor.
He said various religious groups had opened internet chat rooms and websites for people to get on-line and discuss their feelings about the movie.
'Some of us have the impression it shows a lot of brutal scenes. But from another perspective it conveys the suffering Christ went through to save mankind,' Father Lee said.