Back in 1984, a bronze sculpture of a crucified female Christ, called Christa, was thought inappropriate for New York's Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
The then Suffragan Bishop of New York, Walter Dennis, claimed that Christa was "theologically and historically indefensible" and the controversial bronze was removed from the cathedral. It upset too many people, back in 1984.
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| Christa |
Now Christa's back up again, with the engaging bronze hanging above the altar of the Chapel of St. Savior in the Morningside cathedral. It seems opinion, like time itself, has moved on. Here's what the current Bishop of New York, Andrew Dietsche, has to say, in the New York Times, no less:
In an evolving, growing, learning church, we may be ready to see ‘Christa’ not only as a work of art but as an object of devotion, over our altar, with all of the challenges that may come with that for many visitors to the cathedral, or indeed, perhaps for all of us.
With all the challenges? How about this one, Jesus wasn't a woman. So who and what are you worshiping in that chapel, Dietsche? Hint, it's not Christ; in fact, it's not anyone at all. There never was a Christa who died on the Cross for the redemption of mankind, like it or leave it, and all the gender advocacy narrative of the Upper West Side can't create one.
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| Cathedral of St. John the Divine |
But it can create an idolatrous blasphemy above an altar in what was once a Christian cathedral. Times have most certainly changed, but maybe not for the better.
As Jeff Walton reports for Juicy Ecumenism and the IRD, the Episcopal Diocese of New York has declined rather sharply over the last decade:
Between 2005 and 2015, the Episcopal Diocese of New York declined from 64,027 members to 53,353 members, a loss of 10,674 members (-17%). During the same time period, average Sunday attendance dropped from 21,723 in 2005 to 16,878 in 2015, a loss of 4,845 attendees (-22%). Baptisms in the diocese declined from 1,612 in 2005 to 904 in 2015 (-56%) and marriages performed decreased from 579 in 2005 to 290 in 2015 (-50%).
A 56% decrease in Baptisms and a 22% fall-off in worshiping attendance?
Go figure. Maybe Christa will help get those numbers back up again.
Don't hold your breath.
LSP
16 comments:
Wow. Loving thy neighbor is getting harder and harder in church these days! Maybe it doesn't count if you can't tell they're human? And, that bishop stole my hairline and my look! Thou shalt not steal, Bishop!
The faithful are put off by priests of Baal offering up sacraments to Satan. That should occur to the Illuminati, but it must not. I think that the few remaining congregants might enjoy having them sacrifice a live chicken and fling the blood everywhere. Suggest that the next time you meet these clowns. If they really want a show, lay a naked woman on the altar before sacrificing the chicken. It will more fully invite Mephistopheles into their midst.
Mother Angelica blew a gasket when they had a Stations of the Cross at World Youth Day (in Denver I believe) in 1993, and had Jesus portrayed as a woman.
Apparently she was rebuked by some bishops for her rant, but she never apologized.
http://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/mother-angelicas-legendary-1993-rant-against-the-liberal-church
That actually makes me a bit nauseous.
Grunt, I'l send a cease and desist to Dietsche. Maybe that'll settle it.
That's a good tip, LL. After all, they've got to do something to fill those empty pews.
Good for Angelica, Julie!
Me too, Adrienne.
I thought "Christa" had been consigned to the dustbin of blasphemous fable. But no, it's resurfaced.
The Christa is a modern golden calf.
If you want to earn points with Lucifer, best get down on your hands and knees, face Mecca and worship the statue. There is precedence for that.
You may even get some sort of Illuminati pin to wear on your lapel. I really don't know how all that works because I don't move in those circles.
How very New York. If she's a "work of art" then she should be in one of the Chelsea art galleries.
I don't understand anything anymore.
Definitely not for the better. They are worshiping the golden calf.
No better than the satan worshipers who try to prove that satan is kind to children.
May God have mercy on us.
Be safe and God bless you all.
You know, with more tactical tomahawks, we could solve this problem...
https://gruntofmontecristo.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/hawk2.jpg
https://gruntofmontecristo.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/hawk3.jpg
Most definitely a GC, LL, and I like the lapel pin idea -- merchandising...
Stunningly New York, Jules.
Christa was in a gallery for years, when not being hauled around the country for the womyn's movement to dance 'round. Seems it crept back into the temple.
Well said, Linda. Wicked.
Grunt, great pics!
I need a tac'hawk, dammit.
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