Los Angeles, Feb. 5 (Reuters): Mel Gibson is keeping mum about whether he intends to cut or keep one of the most controversial scenes in his upcoming film about Christ’s final hours — that of a Jewish high priest declaring a blood curse on Jews for the death of Jesus.

The New York Times, citing an unnamed “close associate” of Gibson, reported yesterday that he has decided to delete the scene from the film The Passion of the Christ, before it is released in North America.

A spokesman for Gibson, who directed, co-wrote, produced and put $25 million of his own money into the film, declined to comment. “It would be irresponsible of me to talk about a work in progress,” Gibson publicist Alan Nierob said.