Austrian cardinal defends homosexual depiction of Jesus "art" exhibit

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From Catholic World News

**Austrian cardinal defends art exhibit **

Vienna, Apr. 9, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schönborn (bio - news) has issued a statement defending the decision to host an art exhibit featuring homo-erotic images of Christ and the apostles at the Vienna cathedral’s museum.

In response to a query from the German-language kath.net news site, Cardinal Schönborn noted that Alfred Hrdlicka, the artist whose works have provoked charges of blasphemy, is “one of Austria’s most notable living artists.”

Hrdlicka, the cardinal said, “has dealt with biblical subjects all his life, especially with the suffering of Christ.” He noted that the controversial artist “has appealed for ‘compassion’ with the ‘Passion.’” Cardinal Schönborn conceded that Hrdlicka “expresses this ‘compassion’ in a most perturbing way.” The cardinal called for the removal of one work from the exhibit, responding to complaints from viewers insulted by the depiction of the Last Supper as a homosexual orgy.

Cardinal Schönborn said that he gave his approval for the Hrdlicka exhibit, without knowing details about the works that would be presented in the cathedral museum, because of his respect for the artist’s reputation. He explained: “In spite of the fact that he claims to be a Communist and an atheist, he nevertheless has a burning interest in the Holy Bible, and has personally admitted that he has a great longing for faith.”
 
Caveman said:
From Catholic World News

**Austrian cardinal defends art exhibit **

Vienna, Apr. 9, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schönborn (bio - news) has issued a statement defending the decision to host an art exhibit featuring homo-erotic images of Christ and the apostles at the Vienna cathedral’s museum.

In response to a query from the German-language kath.net news site, Cardinal Schönborn noted that Alfred Hrdlicka, the artist whose works have provoked charges of blasphemy, is “one of Austria’s most notable living artists.”

Hrdlicka, the cardinal said, “has dealt with biblical subjects all his life, especially with the suffering of Christ.” He noted that the controversial artist “has appealed for ‘compassion’ with the ‘Passion.’” Cardinal Schönborn conceded that Hrdlicka “expresses this ‘compassion’ in a most perturbing way.” The cardinal called for the removal of one work from the exhibit, responding to complaints from viewers insulted by the depiction of the Last Supper as a homosexual orgy.

Cardinal Schönborn said that he gave his approval for the Hrdlicka exhibit, without knowing details about the works that would be presented in the cathedral museum, because of his respect for the artist’s reputation. He explained: “In spite of the fact that he claims to be a Communist and an atheist, he nevertheless has a burning interest in the Holy Bible, and has personally admitted that he has a great longing for faith.”
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This is really surprisingly sad. He is a well respected Cardinal.
 
Does anyone have a link to an online presentation of the work in question? It is not right to judge without seeing the art first hand.
 
NewUlm1976_2000 said:
Does anyone have a link to an online presentation of the work in question? It is not right to judge without seeing the art first hand.
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NU,
I’ve provided the links you ask about. Hope this helps.

catholic-caveman.blogspot.com/2008/03/anyone-remember-movie-cardinal-if-so.html

But I would like to point out to you that the Cardinal himself has caved to pressure from people who are outraged at Our Lord and His apostles as being depicted as homosexuals.

From the CWN story itself;
The cardinal called for the removal of one work from the exhibit, responding to complaints from viewers insulted by the depiction of the Last Supper as a homosexual orgy.
 
That is so messed up its not even funny.
And I am deeply dissapointed that His Excellency would allow that, let alone defend it, I am a huge fan of Cardinal Schonborn. Not that I am judging him, but he always seemed the kind of guy who would lash out immediately at something so vile…and here he is defending it.

😦 😦 😦
 
Franciscan said:
This is really surprisingly sad. He is a well respected Cardinal.
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**Filth is filth. If the stupid man hasn’t the gumption to know in advance that art like that is filth & not art, then the sooner he resigns or dies or is taken sick the better. No wonder the Church has just been through a major scandal, if bishops are that incapable of adding two & two & making four; or is a lobotomy required for ordination to the episcopate ? :mad: **​

**What’s he going to de****fend next :mad: ? What these fora need is an icon for vomiting. **
 
Gottle_of_Geer said:

**Filth is filth. If the stupid man hasn’t the gumption to know in advance that art like that is filth & not art, then the sooner he resigns or dies or is taken sick the better. No wonder the Church has just been through a major scandal, if bishops are that incapable of adding two & two & making four; or is a lobotomy required for ordination to the episcopate ? :mad: **​

**What’s he going to de****fend next :mad: ? What these fora need is an icon for vomiting. **
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I really don’t think such bashing of the Cardinal is necessary. I mean, he has done a lot for our Church, and IS well respected…calling for his resignation and saying his death would be good is certainly appauling. While it is cliche to say no one is perfect, it certainly is true, and rather than bashing the Cardinal for one deed, I suggest you go pray for him. Even with his experience and deep spiritual understanding, he can make mistakes or be mislead. And prayer is the most powerful weapon to overcome these sorts of things.
 
Very very sad movement’s.May be it is the big mistake,afterall we are being tempted by the Satan’s, could not come to a good decision some times,hence we have to pray for the cardinal and the artist.
Caveman said:
From Catholic World News

**Austrian cardinal defends art exhibit **

Vienna, Apr. 9, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schönborn (bio - news) has issued a statement defending the decision to host an art exhibit featuring homo-erotic images of Christ and the apostles at the Vienna cathedral’s museum.

In response to a query from the German-language kath.net news site, Cardinal Schönborn noted that Alfred Hrdlicka, the artist whose works have provoked charges of blasphemy, is “one of Austria’s most notable living artists.”

Hrdlicka, the cardinal said, “has dealt with biblical subjects all his life, especially with the suffering of Christ.” He noted that the controversial artist “has appealed for ‘compassion’ with the ‘Passion.’” Cardinal Schönborn conceded that Hrdlicka “expresses this ‘compassion’ in a most perturbing way.” The cardinal called for the removal of one work from the exhibit, responding to complaints from viewers insulted by the depiction of the Last Supper as a homosexual orgy.

Cardinal Schönborn said that he gave his approval for the Hrdlicka exhibit, without knowing details about the works that would be presented in the cathedral museum, because of his respect for the artist’s reputation. He explained: “In spite of the fact that he claims to be a Communist and an atheist, he nevertheless has a burning interest in the Holy Bible, and has personally admitted that he has a great longing for faith.”
Click to expand...
 
I’m very conservative on these matters, but I would not rush to condemn Schonborn unequivocally. At least from the press release I’m seeing, the cardinal approved the showing of the works without knowing much about them, other than ‘this is a famous, well-respected, native artist’. And frankly, there is an art crowd that loves to see things like this and then argue about how, from a certain perspective, it’s actually very reverential and respectful. I, personally, think that’s nonsense - but then, the museum regulars may disagree. Or at least be playing a game where they justify it.

It’s disappointing, but considering many of the things the cardinal has done in defense and propagation of the Church, I wouldn’t call for his resignation or hope for his death (That’s almost never acceptable, is it? Culture of death and all that.) I’d hope that the press release was sincere, and the disagreement was based on reasonable, rather than insidious, terms. And, while some art was linked, I’d actually be curious in seeing a full range of the artist’s work just to see if there was anything actually, obviously reverential in his portfolio.

Though frankly, most of what I saw in the one link provided seemed kind of… “not done”. I guess they’re supposed to be mere sketches.
 
CHCatholic said:
I really don’t think such bashing of the Cardinal is necessary. I mean, he has done a lot for our Church, and IS well respected…calling for his resignation and saying his death would be good is certainly appauling. While it is cliche to say no one is perfect, it certainly is true, and rather than bashing the Cardinal for one deed, I suggest you go pray for him. Even with his experience and deep spiritual understanding, he can make mistakes or be mislead. And prayer is the most powerful weapon to overcome these sorts of things.
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I can understand where he’s coming from. The frustration level is pretty much pegged out.

Let’s stop… take a deep breath… think about this for a second.

A PRINCE OF THE CHURCH is defending a homo-erotic “art” display, which include Our Lord and His Apostles depicted as participants in a homosexual orgy.

Do I REALLY need to point out “the scandal of the moment” that Holy Mother The Church has been dealing with the last few decades? The protection of homosexual rapist “priests”? Heresy preached from pulpits? The Smoke of Satan entering The Church (as predicted)?

Yeah, I could very much understand if someone was frustrated and angry.

What I would find shocking, would be if any faithful, loyal Catholic WASN’T angered over all this. Wouldn’t you?
 
So now the cardinal has realized what the art exhibition is, let him order it to be removed.

Obvious.
 
Gottle_of_Geer said:

**Filth is filth. If the stupid man hasn’t the gumption to know in advance that art like that is filth & not art, then the sooner he resigns or dies or is taken sick the better. No wonder the Church has just been through a major scandal, if bishops are that incapable of adding two & two & making four; or is a lobotomy required for ordination to the episcopate ? :mad: **​

**What’s he going to de****fend next :mad: ? What these fora need is an icon for vomiting. **
Click to expand...
Whoa! Take it easy! Cardinal Schönborn is a highly respected Cardinal. He certainly isn’t the type who would water down Church teachings or endorse something evil.There must be an element of this that we’re not being told. During the conclave (from which we got Pope Benedict XVI), Cardinal Schönborn was one well-received possibility I heard floating around some very orthodox circles. I don’t think he’s changed since then.
 
CHCatholic said:
I really don’t think such bashing of the Cardinal is necessary. I mean, he has done a lot for our Church, and IS well respected…calling for his resignation and saying his death would be good is certainly appauling. While it is cliche to say no one is perfect, it certainly is true, and rather than bashing the Cardinal for one deed, I suggest you go pray for him. Even with his experience and deep spiritual understanding, he can make mistakes or be mislead. And prayer is the most powerful weapon to overcome these sorts of things.
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**If someone like that is in that position & says those things, he is being a false shepherd. No wonder the Church is in trouble, if that is tolerated or defended. Of course he should not be a cardinal :(. Rot at the top of the Church finds it way down to the rest of us - getting rid of blind guides like that is necessary for the Church to avoid being corrupted: it is a form of self-defence. He has no *right *to corrupt others - has he 😦 ? But that is what bad example by those in positions of leadership does - it is extremely dangerous, because it leads others into sin. Doesn’t that matter 😦 ? If bad example is evil enough among those who are governed in civil society, it is much worse in the Church especially when bishops give it - they supposed to sanctify God’s People: not to corrupt them. **​

**Sorry, but I can’t agree with you 😦 . This horrible thing is exactly the sort of thing that helped to lead to the dreadful state of the Church at the close of the Middle Ages: because rotten bishops make rotten laity. It’s pity that the episcopate can’t be purged of such men - but the Church is the Body of Christ, & not is ruled by Stalin, so it can’t be. Evil is very dynamic - it is never alone for along, but spreads: one bishop defending blasphemy easily becomes a million Catholics becoming atheists. Our sins, of every kind, regardless of who we are, always have consequences, even after they are forgiven, even after we die. **

**Being good in many ways is useless if we are rotten in one crucial respect: look at the all the priests & bishops ancient or recent who are “written off” as heretics or schismatics or apostates: the good is forgotten, the single crucial evil committed is remembered, & defines them for all time future. So it is useless to point to the good done by him: the good is not the problem - his defending what he defends is. Does water become drinkable because, after all, the cyanide in it is only a very tiny amount of it ? Of course not. No one in their right mind would drink water tainted by cyanide, however small the amount: they would throw it out. **

**BTW - do you see any criticism, however mild, as “bashing” ? It would be useful to know. Some would take the view that the clergy are by definition beyond all criticism (at least by the laity); but despite many utterances of this kind in spiritual authors, the idea doesn’t ISTM cope well with the facts of episcopal evil-doing. (Fallibility & liability to sin are not the point: of course we are all fallible & liable to sin: but that is not the issue in the case of the cardinal - unless something is being overlooked somewhere) AFAICS, any & every Christian is as useless as any other (Luke 17.10 uses the word) from peasants to Popes inclusive. So all of us are full of things to criticise - even cardinals, & most definitely including their critics of every kind. **

**St. Thomas More thought that criticism of the clergy should be kept “under wraps” - but the internet makes that impossible. If Catholics don’t mention such things, someone else does, & is not unreasonably rattled by it - which means these things come to be well-ventilated, even if we ignore them. If recent evils don’t scandalise people, old ones do. So silence is not a choice we have 😦 **

**As to prayer: that is most definitely called for; thank you for emphasising it. **
 
Now that the good cardinal knows what is contained in the exhibit shouldn’t he rescind the showing?
 
It´s a great deception this cardinal in my opinion, I coúldn´t expect from him that.
 
MSNBC article said:
“Of course, I would not have agreed to the presentation of works which are blasphemous or pornographic. I therefore expressly regret that a picture of this kind — without my knowledge — was included in the exhibition. This picture, which is injurious to the faithful, was removed on my orders on March 20.”

The etching has since been moved to the private Ernst Hilger Gallery, a short stroll from the cathedral museum, where the rest of Hrdlicka’s works will remain on display through May 10.
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From the Gloria.tv video, it seems there was more than one offensive etching. But I suppose we should be glad that even one was taken down.
MSNBC article:
Kaufmann concedes the whole point of the exhibition backfired badly.

“Their intention was to show that the church is wide open,” he said. “Alfred (Hrdlicka) is more Christian than many people who go to church each Sunday.”
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Hmmm… I’d say the artist has a strange way of showing it.
 
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