AmericanPapist Comments
Whatever happened to the separation of church and state?!
BillyHW,
Whatever do you mean? Nothing has happened to it to separation of Church and State. There is no state religion in the United States. However, for the time being, they are still allowing us Catholics, and other believers, the freedom of worship. They let us have churches above ground and things like that. I know this seems a bit much, but for the moment, we will thank God for the toleration we receive in America.
"Whatever happened to the separation of church and state?!"
It's a work of art that just happens to be religious. What's the problem with that? Even if there is a problem with that, the Postal Service doesn't compel you to buy them. Oh, the outrage!
The USPS does in fact sell stamps honoring a wide range of religious traditions.
Sadly, they will place their own cancellation / processing ink stamp over all of them. Usually this is just a set of wavy lines, but around Christmas it becomes the Cat in the Hat wishing you "Happy Holidays". I'd rather not see an image of our Blessed Mother, Our Lord, or any decent work of art defaced by the USPS's "holiday" wishes.
i gotta say
they look bored and unenthused
The annual "Madonna and Child" Christmas stamp features an important painting, usually from the National Gallery of Art collection. The USPS also produces an annual "secular" Christmas holiday series as well.
Although one can certainly conjure up a secular justification for this tradition, I am surprised that it has not been challenged by our ani-theist brothers and sisters over at the ACLU.
Given the sorry state of the U.S. Supreme Court's "establishment clause" doctrine, it probably wouldn't be too difficult to persuade some court somewhere (the Ninth Circuit?) to "cancel" the religiously-themed stamps.
On another note, each year the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception publishes a beautiful calendar entitled "Our Lady in Art," which contains reproductions of historically significant paintings of the Blessed Mother -- one for each month of the year.
"Whatever happened to the separation of church and state?!"
Wow, that's absurd. It's a Christmas stamp.
They have "secular" (meaning atheist these days) stamps too. Isn't it important to you to tolerate different faiths or just faith alone? I'm pleased that they offer a variety of religious stamps from different traditions. Secular should be the state not endorsing any particular religion, but accepting all of them. Instead, it relegates religion to the home and parish. You don't need to ban religion in order to prevent it crossing into the political sphere. What about politics crossing into the religious sphere? How about British law forcing Catholic adoption agencies to close down because they would have to place children with homosexual couples? Isn't that the inverse problem of Western secularism that goes unnoticed? State in Church? If you want to have true Western secularism, then get your state out of my Church.
Yes, they should be able to have a Christmas tree in public places this year. They should also be able to have Jewish symbols as well, or any other religious tradition. Why are we so afraid of offending other people with our religious symbols? I am not offended when I see symbols of other religions——all religions contain parts of Truth. The secular Western mindset of banning religious symbols should be replaced with one that is accepting of all religions, without favouring one over another. Isn't that the essence of tolerance? Isn't that what we are called to do in a pluralistic society?
It really frustrates me when people bemoan the Christmas tree, or wishing other people Merry Christmas, or any religious symbolism, for that matter. Let me have my religion and you can have yours!
I think Billy HW was being tongue in cheek, guys. and cancelling a stamp does not "deface" in any real sense. what do you want, perpetually usable stamps?
No, the opposition for this stamp (and there always is some, every december) comes from those who seek not the separation of church and state, but the separation of belief from state.
they hate God, and can't stand reminders that others accept Him.
Nice Stamp. I'm sure we'll be buying some this year...:-)
Nice stamp, yes, but what about some American painters?
Todd --
Interesting point . . . can you suggest some particularly beautiful "Madonna and Child" paintings by American artists?
Anthony, that comment about the "image" of Our Lady being desecrated ... I think that's a bit scrupulous, don't you think?
That's like saying, even if they were in pristine condition and there were no Cat in the Hat stamp being sold alongside, I STILL won't buy because then I'd have to lick the back of Our Blessed Mother.
...or like being scared to death of having stepped on two twigs in the shape of a cross for fear of being sacrilegious.
Anyone who promotes the birth of Christ by publicly showing a picture such as this should be praised.
We should thank God someone in the secular world is honoring His Mother.
Think of all the people who are going to be reminded of the real meaning of Christmas when they receive their Christmas cards in the mail. Maybe they'll remember to go to Midnight Mass instead of that Holiday party. Maybe they'll go out and buy 1500 stamps and spread the message.
All criticism about this should be kicked to the curb, IMHO. It's nice. Makes me feel good and happy.
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