Friday, December 23, 2005
THE OFFENSIVE AD IN "AMERICA" MAGAZINE
If you surf the blogs, you no doubt already know about the ad in "America" for the laytex-draped statue of the Blessed Virgin. Now there is additional fuss being raised in Vatican circles according to Catholic News Service:
Messori's commentary, published in Corriere della Sera Dec. 22, was unusual in several respects. It gave the impression that the magazine itself was offering the statue for sale, it did not mention America's explanation and apology, and it used the ad to launch a verbal attack on the church in the United States.
"All of this in a church like the American church, reduced to economic bankruptcy and the unanimous abomination of a clergy that too often, it seems, likes to fondle seminarians' genitalia," he wrote.
Jesuit Father Jose M. de Vera, spokesman for the Jesuits in Rome, said Messori apparently failed to realize that America had inadvertently published the ad and apologized for the error.
Father de Vera said Messori generally has high credibility in the church, and because of that his commentary may have a "deep impact in the official circles in the Vatican," even if based on incomplete information.
Father de Vera said he was sending Messori the explanation given by America, in the hope that Messori would add clarification to his article.
The ad, which ran on page 36 of the 38-page issue, offered what the advertiser called a "unique contemporary religious artwork" for $300 by an art student in Great Britain.
I suppose the new editor of "America" is wondering if he is out of a job. Actually, I do believe that "America" was hoodwinked. I also have to wonder about the artist's response when contacted by a reader. According to the article:
The advertiser, who identified himself as "sculptural artist Steve Rosenthal," told a reader who contacted him that his work was intended to be "an assault on Catholic faith and devotion," America editors said in their disclaimer.
Rosenthal. You probably can guess what I'm wondering about the name, after Tal Brooke's letter on the assault some Jews are waging against the Catholic Church which I blogged earlier this week.
Hat tip to Spirit Daily for the link.
