AmericanPapist Comments
They need to get rid of ALL the "art" and simply install a cross -- the ONLY symbol of healing and making new those who have been broken.
Personally, I think it goes perfectly with the new "cathedral".
Here's a scary quote from the article: "As this cathedral will be around for 500 years..."
It is kind of like saying sorry -- for God. Priest are not The Church and they are certainly not God. Why are there not healing gardens in schools were these things happen? I don't think that is is a step toward reconciliation but a way from it, the first step is to understand that you are not "a victim" you are not "damaged" but were injured and need to heal. A big part of healing is forgiving and moving on with life through God's Grace.
"The energy that the artist put was this circular stone trying to pull itself to become unbroken. That is our journey. That is what we try to do every day -- is to try to be unbroken."
Seems to me to be at odds with a fairly basic Catholic principle that we can't "become unbroken" by our own efforts. Cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church 2842: "It is impossible to keep the Lord's commandment by imitating the divine model from outside; there has to be a vital participation, coming from the depths of the heart, in the holiness and the mercy and the love of our God. Only the Spirit by whom we live can make "ours" the same mind that was in Christ Jesus. Then the unity of forgiveness becomes possible and we find ourselves "forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave" us."
Also, CCC 2843: "It is not in our power not to feel or to forget an offense; but the heart that offers itself to the Holy Spirit turns injury into compassion and purifies the memory in transforming the hurt into intercession."
As a survivor of sexual abuse (not a priest, but a trusted family member), I am deeply offended by this sculpture.
How is staring at a sculpture supposed to give me the strength to forgive? How is looking at something cold and barren supposed to be a source of grace to open my heart for healing?
And why the hell would you represent me as something hard, damaged, and irreparable. While you are at it, compare me to stone that is dry, barren, cold, and fruitless.
What happened to trusting in the healing power of God's grace? This sculpture does not acknowledge that healing can and does happen. And frankly, it makes me want to cry.
More kool-aid from the left-wing loons. Give me a break. Tom
There was no worse betrayal than the Crucifixition. Not only did the creatures kill the Creator, but those who loved him and followed him abandoned Christ to His death with the exception of a few. They would've done better with a Crucifix and Luke 23:34 "Father, forgive them. They know not what they do".
"We must cultivate our garden", said Candide.
It's easy to point out all the bad (if, indeed, the garden is bad. I'm not defending it, but I just don't know if it's *bad* - and I somehow doubt that our good Bishop Vigneron would not prevent something inherently wrong [as opposed to merely tasteless] from being erected on Cathedral grounds) that is happening in the Bay Area, and tsk-tsking.
But are you praying for us here? Supporting the orthodox movements in any way? Acknowledging the good as well as the bad? In other words, are you encouraging what is good in addition to discouraging what is wicked?
If not, perhaps you might say a few prayers for all of us Catholics in the Bay Area, and all movements that strive to remain faithful to the Church. Or - consider supporting those movements (Catholics for the Common Good [Nota bene - that's not Catholics in *Alliance* for the Common Good], the St. Anthony of Padua Institute, Walk for Life, etc.) :)
Help us draw closer to Christ!
a millstone would be more appropriate.
A large one.
Self indulgent silliness which trivializes the crime.
>>First of all, again, this garden should not serve as an alternative to the true reconciliation which must occur within and through the Church. Nature walks and foux spiritualism are not how such wounds heal.
Careful. You get perilously close to the idea that victims of sexual abuse must reconcile themselves to the Church, as though they are in sin, instead of the perpetrators of sexual abuse needing reconciliation and forgiveness. It's a slippery slope there.
And what makes "foux" spiritualism so "foux?"
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