Decorating my office....Catholic style

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So I’m about to decorate my office with all kinds of Catholic stuff. Got a giant last supper picture, a St Joseph statue, a nice crucifix, a couple prayer cards, a rosary.

My district manager gave me the approval however I can only imagine how my assistant managers are gonna react. One is a Christian so I’m sure he will be fine with it. However the other one (who I bump heads with all the time)…I can see maybe making waves.

What’s the legality surrounding this?
 
IME, it varies from company to company (you did say you got permission from a district manager, but you might want to double-check what your HR department has to say on the matter before you do anything, because ultimately, they’ll have last say.) I’ve worked for some companies that didn’t allow anything personal in our cubicles, some that said one or two personal photographs, and some that don’t care so long as nothing is in poor or questionable taste (no Sports Illustrated swimsuit calendars, for example) and as long as it predominantly looks like a workplace and not overly personal. (I was given a guideline of 25% personal, 75% professional, if that helps.)

Nothing you’ve described strikes me as in poor taste (the only thing I can think of is most companies I’ve worked for would suggest you trade the large picture you’re speaking of for a smaller one because again, they don’t like the cubicle walls looking dominated by non-work stuff.) And again, be mindful–a picture of St. John Doe’s face would be fine, but a picture of St. John Doe suffering his martyrdom by having his entrails ripped out would not go over well, for example.
 
Wouldn’t it be better to behave like a practicing Catholic than shove it in your co-worker’s faces?
I work at a parish and no one’s office is like that.
Seems like you want a confrontation. :confused:
Why would a depiction of the Last Supper be appropriate at any office?
Focus on living the life, not advertising it.
IMHO, YMMV
 
pianistclare said:
Wouldn’t it be better to behave like a practicing Catholic than shove it in your co-worker’s faces?
I work at a parish and no one’s office is like that.
Seems like you want a confrontation. :confused:
Why would a depiction of the Last Supper be appropriate at any office?
Focus on living the life, not advertising it.
IMHO, YMMV
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👍👍👍
 
Anyway… didn’t you post not too long ago that God was calling you to be a pizza cook?
 
pianistclare said:
Wouldn’t it be better to behave like a practicing Catholic than shove it in your co-worker’s faces?
I work at a parish and no one’s office is like that.
Seems like you want a confrontation. :confused:
Why would a depiction of the Last Supper be appropriate at any office?
Focus on living the life, not advertising it.
IMHO, YMMV
Click to expand...
Agreed.
 
Blue_Rose said:
Anyway… didn’t you post not too long ago that God was calling you to be a pizza cook?
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Basically however as the General Manager at the shop im at I get my own office. District manager said Im free to “Jesus it out”. And I shall 😉
 
pianistclare said:
Wouldn’t it be better to behave like a practicing Catholic than shove it in your co-worker’s faces?
I work at a parish and no one’s office is like that.
Seems like you want a confrontation. :confused:
Why would a depiction of the Last Supper be appropriate at any office?
Focus on living the life, not advertising it.
IMHO, YMMV
Click to expand...
What conflict? Im just a HUGE fan of Renaissance art :rolleyes:
 
Polluted said:
What conflict? Im just a HUGE fan of Renaissance art :rolleyes:
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Believe me, you do not want the message to be “See how religious I am.” What kind of people in the Bible said that?

If you appreciate Renaissance art, perhaps you could find something more subtle. I am fond of this piece, though I am not sure I would display it in my office:

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
The Tribute Money, by Titian

“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.” I am not saying our lives should be compartmentalized. You can and should bring your faith to work, you can let your light shine at work, but a proud and prominent display of religious art and symbolism in the secular workplace is inappropriate.
 
Polluted said:
So I’m about to decorate my office with all kinds of Catholic stuff. Got a giant last supper picture, a St Joseph statue, a nice crucifix, a couple prayer cards, a rosary.

My district manager gave me the approval however I can only imagine how my assistant managers are gonna react. One is a Christian so I’m sure he will be fine with it. However the other one (who I bump heads with all the time)…I can see maybe making waves.

What’s the legality surrounding this?
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There is no law (in the US) against religious art in the workplace. However, if you are perceived as discriminating against non-Christian subordinates, you could be in serious jeopardy.
 
pianistclare said:
Wouldn’t it be better to behave like a practicing Catholic than shove it in your co-worker’s faces?
I work at a parish and no one’s office is like that.
Seems like you want a confrontation. :confused:
Why would a depiction of the Last Supper be appropriate at any office?
Focus on living the life, not advertising it.
IMHO, YMMV
Click to expand...
If it’s something that’s important in one’s life, I don’t see why it should cause a confrontation, as long as it’s done tastefully and in accord with company standards. I walk by offices in my building every day that look like sports memorabilia museums or locker rooms because people want to “advertise” their love for their sports teams (and I am a sports fan,so I don’t have a problem with it) but why suddenly is it an issue when someone wants to decorate their office to reflect the faith that is so integral to who they are?

I will say, though, that it’s probably better if you don’t adorn your office in such a manner if you’re not intent on providing a good witness, like if you’re cussing out coworkers or customers, etc.
 
pianistclare said:
Wouldn’t it be better to behave like a practicing Catholic than shove it in your co-worker’s faces?
I work at a parish and no one’s office is like that.
Seems like you want a confrontation. :confused:
Why would a depiction of the Last Supper be appropriate at any office?
Focus on living the life, not advertising it.
IMHO, YMMV
Click to expand...
Well stated.
 
Polluted said:
So I’m about to decorate my office with all kinds of Catholic stuff. Got a giant last supper picture, a St Joseph statue, a nice crucifix, a couple prayer cards, a rosary.

My district manager gave me the approval however I can only imagine how my assistant managers are gonna react. One is a Christian so I’m sure he will be fine with it. However the other one (who I bump heads with all the time)…I can see maybe making waves.

What’s the legality surrounding this?
Click to expand...
I’d decorate “gently.” Meaning don’t make a shrine. 😉 A small crucifix, statue and a a few holy cards or a smaller holy picture is plenty. You will reach out to others more with the gentle approach than sirens bells and whistles. Also make certain your actions and words reflect that which you are displaying, or it may turn people against you or the faith!
 
Polluted said:
So I’m about to decorate my office with all kinds of Catholic stuff. Got a giant last supper picture, a St Joseph statue, a nice crucifix, a couple prayer cards, a rosary.

My district manager gave me the approval however I can only imagine how my assistant managers are gonna react. One is a Christian so I’m sure he will be fine with it. However the other one (who I bump heads with all the time)…I can see maybe making waves.

What’s the legality surrounding this?
Click to expand...
I think a small picture would be enough, and not for the sake of showing others, but for your sake as a reminder of His presence.

I personally think that putting many religious things in your office is kinda bragging and that isn’t good. People will start to measure you and judge your actions based on your “advertising”. A simple picture would be enough, but not to show off, but just for you.
 
In my last … and … purely secular cubicle, the only Catholic decoration was a teeny tiny … the smallest I could find … Crucifix … Cross of San Damiano.

One day, I was busy reading a report and an … extremely exceptionally … attractive woman snuck up behind me and placed her … amazing … lips next to my right ear and whispered “I know what you do on your lunch hour”.

[Evidently it had become something of a mystery … why did I not join the rest of the “gang” at lunch … ]

[The reality was that I quietly left the building and quietly went to a nearby Catholic Church and attended noon Mass.]

[NEVER mentioned it to anyone.]

All of a sudden, she gasped and sang out: “What a BEAUTIFUL crucifix!”

So I unpinned the crucifix from the wall and handed it to her. What I said was, “It’s the Cross of San Damiano. It’s yours.”

She went into an instant “hypnotic trance” and “floated” out of the office area and returned to her desk.

So, first chance I had, I went to the store and asked to buy another one.

They didn’t have any more and weren’t going to be getting any.

I was very disappointed.

Anyway, the following Sunday was Palm Sunday … very crowded.

So I got a seat in the center of the pew and read and prayed while Mass got underway.

A large family slid into the pew from the other side. To keep their kids busy, the parents gave each of them a piece of palm. One of the children was a little girl … maybe eight years old.

She spent the entire Mass weaving and weaving and weaving her piece of palm.

When Mass was over, they family left.

The little girl had left her tiny palm cross behind in the pew.

I waited for the family to return to retrieve the palm cross.

But all the other people were gone and the family never came back.

So, I reached over and picked up the cross of palm.

And put it in the pocket of my jacket.

The next day, I pinned it to the wall of my cubicle.
 
E_7 said:
I think a small picture would be enough, and not for the sake of showing others, but for your sake as a reminder of His presence.

I personally think that putting many religious things in your office is kinda bragging and that isn’t good. People will start to measure you and judge your actions based on your “advertising”. A simple picture would be enough, but not to show off, but just for you.
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I would agree with this. A couple of little reminders of your faith, such as a small crucifix and/or a small picture, would be in better taste.
 
Once the complaints start rolling in (and they probably will), your district manager will change their decision.
 
How do you feel about the Baroque era? (follows the Renaissance)

Caravaggio’s * David with the Head of Goliath * might be very inspiring for everyone in your workplace… :bigyikes:

[BTW, do we have a specific emoji for “tounge in cheek?” :D:rotfl: ]
 
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