New Vatican commission cracks down on church architecture

  • Thread starter Thread starter lizaanne
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I think this commission is necessary and important but I also hope it does not stifle church architecture and leave us with cookie-cutter copies of older churches. One of my favourite churches is the Cathedral of Brasilia - not at all traditional yet a stunning piece of architecture. I hope the commission can deal with the problem of churches that do not reflect the glory of God but still allowing for the architecture to be free and evolve (as architecture does and should).

On the note of the Crystal Cathedral, I think it is hideous but that’s just me. Pity the diocese has already gone and bought it. Maybe they’ll just knock it down and start again (here’s hoping :p)
 
I think this commision is a great idea. There is a church near my home that my family and I went to a few times due to location and mass times that has a very strange design. I can only describe it as a church-in-the-round where the congregation sits on the outside of a circle and the focus is on the center. The most prominent focal point in the center is the holy water/baptismal font with the alter coming in a distant second. The tabernacle is located on the edge of the circle so if you sit on one side of the church you must walk directly past it and sit with you back to it. To me this seems completely backward to where the focus should be. Additionally, I believe the layout creates too much of an opportunity for parishioners to people-watch instead of focusing on the mass. Call me a traditionalist and old-fashioned, but I believe the architecture should help draw focus onto the alter, tabernacle, etc. not detract from it. Hopefully this commision will ensure this happens.
 
from the article:
A team has been set up, to put a stop to garage style churches, boldly shaped structures that risk denaturing modern places for Catholic worship.
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What does that mean? Denaturing?
 
Nec5 said:
What does that mean? Denaturing?
Click to expand...
denaturing
present participle of de·na·ture (Verb)
Verb:
1. Take away or alter the natural qualities of.
2. Make (alcohol) unfit for drinking by the addition of toxic or foul-tasting substances.

~Liza
 
lizaanne said:
denaturing
present participle of de·na·ture (Verb)
Verb:
1. Take away or alter the natural qualities of.
2. Make (alcohol) unfit for drinking by the addition of toxic or foul-tasting substances.

~Liza
Click to expand...
Yeah, but I meant in the context of the article?
 
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