I am commenting on:
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/12/16/controversial-artwork-twice-stolen-catholic-university?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=3df3839bde-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-3df3839bde-197481033&mc_cid=3df3839bde&mc_eid=502bbb1a16
A painting at Catholic University depicting Mary holding Jesus, with the latter's face resembling that of George Floyd, has been stolen. It aroused all kinds of controversy.
When I was growing up, my father was teaching and pursuing his doctorate in physics at CUA. Many are the Saturdays I spent running around the sub-basement of the physics building while he was working.
My parents were Catholics and raised us as Catholics, too. But they, and we children as a consequence, were inspired by the activist church that emerged after Vatican ll and left the Church when all that faded. It was a heady time. I remember in particular playing guitar at Mass and singing a song whose scriptural lyric, quoting Jesus, might well be heeded by those who find the painting in question offensive.
"Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me."
3 comments:
Amen my brother!
While the intentions may have been in the right place, this is for some a very clear portrayal of blasphemy. CUA's student government has voted for it to be removed, and apparently it's been stolen twice already (https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/12/16/controversial-artwork-twice-stolen-catholic-university). Personally, I believe the icon is in exceptionally poor taste, but I understand that organized religion, which does provide moral lessons to many, can have a role to play in helping heal historical grievances. Pope Francis came out last year as denouncing the violence (https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-francis-usa-george-floyd-protests-no-racism-violence.html).
In the CUA case, ultimately it is up to the faculty and the student body to decide whether the icon should be depicted on campus, and the student body has spoken.
all life is worthy of respect!
you shared the second great law....
the first is to respect God!
is the second a thing w/o #1?
too often, we get only the second half.....
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