Tuesday, January 18, 2005
IT'S THE VIRGIN MARY AGAIN
A reader sent in the link to these comments about art on display at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City:
While Catholic bashing continues to rear its ugly head in America, it is usually relegated to the lowest common denominator in society, Hollywood and liberal elites striving for a more manageable secular society. I truly could not fathom the notion that this type of hate speech would not only be sanctioned, but peddled, by one of the last vestiges of the Christian faith.
I took my classes to Saint John the Divine Episcopal Cathedral in New York City earlier this year for our annual jaunt through the history of this wonderful structure. Unaware that an art display entitled "Season South Africa" was on display at the sanctuary of the church. After attempting to rush 43 students past this heinous display, with as little explanation as possible, I became enraged. Asking the tour director the nature of this work and why we were not informed of its location, she replied "it's only art." I then decided to take my case to a much higher authority, specifically The Right Reverend Mark S. Sisk, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Here is a copy of my diatribe
Go to the website to read the letter he sent which describes the artwork. Blasphemous? Following his letter is the response in which the Bishop, naturally, washes his hands. Also following is DeStefano's further unsuccessful attempt to tweak a nerve within the Episcopal hiearachy.
He closes with this final comment to which I can only add "Amen!":
America needs to take a long look at the direction our faith is taking. We also need to take a vested interest in protecting the ideals we deem important. Anti-Christian forces control significant segments of our society. Unfortunately, their undercurrent of hatred will continue as an ineradicable presence in our society. All we can hope for is a growing trend to reject the nescient aimlessness of attempts to instill unproductive ire. The secularists need to alter a self-serving lament to a seemingly unattainable level of understanding for all people. I am saddened to now realize that when they target our houses of worship, our religious leaders are holding the doors wide open.
