It would probably be wrong to suggest that Peter Gabriel courts controversy, but he's certainly no stranger to it. His soundtrack for Martin Scorsese's 1988 film, 'The Last Temptation Of Christ', attracted some of the flak aimed at the movie, which drew heavy fire from sectors of the Christian community.

What follows are drawn from press commentaries at the time, both positive and negative:

"Choirboys from Wells Cathedral were at the centre of controversy today for singing for the film, 'The Last Temptation Of Christ'. Eighteen boys made a two-minute recording for the film - which Christians have been urged to boycott - in the Cathedral's Chapter House after Box rock star Peter Gabriel approached church leaders for permission to use them on the soundtrack. A scene in which Christ, while nailed to the Cross, fantasises about making love to Mary Magdalene brought calls for the film to be banned. But the Director of Public Prosecutions said it did not contravene criminal law.

The Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Right Reverend George Carey (now Archbishop of Canterbury), who has no control over the choir, has urged Christians to boycott the film. Master of Wells Cathedral Chorister, Anthony Crossland, said the recording was made on July 8 by technicians from Gabriel's Real World Studios. Today, the Dean told the Chronicle: 'In future we will take more care to find out as many details as we can beforehand. I hope this won't cause the choir any embarrassment.'"

"I wanted to satisfy myself the film would come from the right place. I felt I wanted to get involved, so then I talked to Scorsese about the film he wanted to make. You speak to the man and there's no doubt at all he did this project because he's passionate about the subject of Jesus. He had been to a seminary - he trained to be a priest at one stage. With 'The Last Temptation Of Christ', I wouldn't say that one person lost their faith as a result of the film. Rather, many people have examined spiritual issues they didn't look at before."

"If I had that film in my hand tonight, I would call together the leaders of the Christian world and we would have a big bonfire celebration."

"I firmly believe that we have made a motion picture which will serve as a reaffirmation of faith to members of the Christian community."

"Most Christians will be outraged ... The film is theologically flawed and overly violent. It is clearly contrary to the teachings of the church. It is unworthy of patronage by any group."

"It would require a mind so narrow as to be technically closed to through traffic to accuse Scorsese of criminal or any other kind of blasphemy."

"The movie is artistically and theologically sound ... Miracles were depicted - healing lepers, casting out demons. And Christ was portrayed as He was defined at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD: 'At once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man ...'. Christ is presented as a muscular, strong, manly person who sweated, bled, had doubts and was, as the Bible says, 'tempted in every way yet without sin.' People can identify with a Christ who has temptations. The scene that's going to upset everybody is His delirium on the Cross when He makes love to Mary Magdalene on screen ... It emphasises the humanity of Christ, and if their faith is shaken by that, then that's their problem."

"When Mighty Mouse falls victim of cocaine, the Devil's talcum powder, when directors with Mafia-sounding names make films about Jesus hanging out with whores just a stone's throw from that wholesome Universal Studios family tour, it is time for action. Unfortunately, conventional protests such as picketing and telephoned bomb threats do not seem to be working. We probably can't stop this movie from being released, but that's a moot point. Most of the decent folks I know can't afford the price of a ticket to a theatrical movie, anyway. I just want to keep it from ever coming out on home video. Right now, I'm considering two possible tactics - a prayer vigil outside the studios of Siskel and Ebert to make sure that 'The Last Temptation Of Christ' gets a double 'thumbs down'. And there's always the possibility of a boycott of sponsors of 'Entertainment Tonight'. I'll have a better idea if I get invited to a screening. It'll be in Hollywood, won't it?"

"I am appalled that anyone would even consider producing a film which portrayed the Son of God as a sex-crazed mental defective. No one would dare attempt a project like this which ridicules Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius or Moses."

"I always have the feeling that the men who started religions were more open-minded than their followers and the institutions that determined how the words would be followed."

"God is not mocked. I don't know how long it will take Him to speak, but He will speak."

"This film for me is like a prayer. It's my way of worshipping."

"Lord Jesus, never in 2,000 years of Christian civilisation have such defaming insults been hurled at thee before such an immense public."

"Overall, I had a very, very positive reaction. I saw nothing blasphemous in it."

"I think for church leaders to criticise the film, without any firm ground for doing so, is a pretty dreadful thing to do ... I am shocked that they should depend on hearsay evidence - any criticism based on that is very dodgy. These people should have reserved judgement. It would have been fairer on any ordinary people who have been distressed."

"When this Jesus walks into a room, he doesn't glow in the dark."

"I underestimated the amount of controversy. Talking to Marty, there was no doubt about the integrity of his desire to make a religious film, and I felt that his approach was right in trying to bring alive the struggle between Christ the Son of God and Christ the man. The lovemaking scene that offended so many people, put in the context of a man falling in love, marrying and having a child with a woman, is not in itself controversial, although applied to Jesus it may be. But if Jesus was torn between humanity and divinity, it would have to involve that sort of temptation. To me, it was a very spiritual film."