Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Mel Gibson's church suspends services citing privacy concerns

THE traditionalist Catholic chapel funded by Mel Gibson cancelled services citing an invasion of privacy after photos emerged of the actor with his young daughter at a church event. 

Candid shots of Gibson, 54, doting on Lucia, his 14-month-old daughter with ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, hit the internet yesterday causing concern "about the invasion of privacy," a source connected with the Holy Family Chapel in Agoura Hills, California, told the celebrity website TMZ.

"He (Gibson) is not just concerned that photos of his daughter were taken at the church, he is concerned for the privacy of his parishioners," another source said.

Church members received an email today announcing, "There will be no Masses here at Holy Family Chapel until further notice."

Holy Family is a private, independent traditionalist Catholic chapel located behind a guarded gate. 

It is not affiliated with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles but is supported by the AP Reilly Foundation, Gibson's non-profit organisation.

SIC: HS/AUS