The Bent Crucifix Question

[carlos19]

I saw a webpage that made implications that the bent crucifix that Pope John Paul II carried was a satanic symbol. Now I usually do not pay attention to anti catholic slander but I was wondering about it. This is probably bogus right? Anyone heard of this before?

 

[EricFilmer]

I saw a webpage that made implications that the bent crucifix that Pope John Paul II carried was a satanic symbol. Now I usually do not pay attention to anti catholic slander but I was wondering about it. This is probably bogus right? Anyone heard of this before?

Yes, I’ve heard this before. There are some people out there who look for anything about Catholicism that can somehow be interpreted as satanic, regardless of the stretch of the imagination needed to make their point.

A bishop’s (or pope’s) crosier represents a shepherd’s crook (a staff with a hook on the end used for guiding sheep). Pope Blessed John Paul II’s crosier was simply a combination of a shepherd’s crook and a crucifix. Because the top of a crosier is bent (or else it wouldn’t resemble a shepherd’s crook), so too will be a crucifix that is incorporated into one.

 

[ChrisRedfield47]

Yes ive heard of it. You will be surprised how many lies surround our Church.
The one you are referring to is this one:

traditio.com/comment/com0805zb.jpg

I must say that anti-catholic websites post this in their pure ignorance. Many Conspiracy theory sites also post about it. The thing is, there’s nothing wrong with that crucifix. Most Catholic crucifix are not even bent, and the current Pope has a different one now:

media.cleveland.com/world_impact/photo/benedict-xvi-rome-033010jpg-877dd95ff18902d8.jpg

There have been so many different ones, for almost every pope in recent times. They certainly have nothing satanic in them, its just a different style that’s all. You shouldn’t worry about it.

 

[kepha1]

The bent cozier, in my opinion, is an artistic depiction of the weight of the sins of the world. Giving credit to Satan for the work of God is blasphemy, and as I understand it, will not be forgiven.

 

[po18guy]

Notice how our Savior’s body on a cross is satanic only when used in the Catholic Church…

 

[DaveBj]

The bent cozier, in my opinion, is an artistic depiction of the weight of the sins of the world. Giving credit to Satan for the work of God is blasphemy, and as I understand it, will not be forgiven.

You beat me to it. I have a couple, including one on my rosary, and when I look at it, that’s what I think.

 

[Hokomai]

Sometimes I find myself marveling at what Catholics are able to convince themselves to believe, but more marvelous still is the credulity of some anti-Catholics!

 

[DexUK]

I think that ‘bent’ crozier is a beautiful object.

The corpus in that position makes the agony of the crucifixion vivid in one’s mind. The fact that Jesus permitted himself to be crucified in such an horrific way breaks my heart and blows my mind in equal measure (it always gets to me at the 12th station of the cross for the same reason). How anyone can possibly believe that ‘bent crucifix’ to be anything other than a sacred Godly image is utterly beyond me.

 

[Farsight001]

I saw a webpage that made implications that the bent crucifix that Pope John Paul II carried was a satanic symbol. Now I usually do not pay attention to anti catholic slander but I was wondering about it. This is probably bogus right? Anyone heard of this before?

Heard it before. Yes it’s false. The interesting thing about some anti-Catholic claims is that people seem pre-disposed to respond to the “wrong” half of the claim. It seems to be instinct for people to counter with an argument against the cross being similar to a satanic symbol or to try to justify the similarity. No one ever seems to go for the argument that no satanists do such a thing. (I think it’s because people instinctively want to stay as far away from them as possible) But the truth of the matter is that satanists don’t use a bent crucifix or cross, and that the argument falls apart completely and utterly because of this, which is not so with the other counters.

 

[maryjk]

I saw a webpage that made implications that the bent crucifix that Pope John Paul II carried was a satanic symbol. Now I usually do not pay attention to anti catholic slander but I was wondering about it. This is probably bogus right? Anyone heard of this before?

If you usually don’t pay attention to anti-Catholic slander, what about this caused you to question if it was bogus?

 

[thistle]

I saw a webpage that made implications that the bent crucifix that Pope John Paul II carried was a satanic symbol. Now I usually do not pay attention to anti catholic slander but I was wondering about it. This is probably bogus right? Anyone heard of this before?

Why would any Catholic even think there might be something to this? They can’t be so naive and gullible.

 

[couponfit]

I saw a webpage that made implications that the bent crucifix that Pope John Paul II carried was a satanic symbol. Now I usually do not pay attention to anti catholic slander but I was wondering about it. This is probably bogus right? Anyone heard of this before?

The same who say this themselves are not only not catholic but often times they are atheist. Their agenda is simply to attack the Pope regardless.

Now as for webpages! They can say anything.

But the truth is that if the bent crucifix was satanic then I’d suppose satan worshippers would be using it. They don’t. They do use the inverted cross or inverted crucifix.

 

[TimothyH]

The bent arms of the cross on Bl. John Paul II’s crozier are an artists depection of the cross. I think the bent arms of the cross are based on the “Tau” cross used throughout Christian history and by the Franciscans today.

Many pagan cultures have also used the Tau symbol and that is probably why the non-Catholics are rubbed the wrong way.

Bl John Paul II used the tripple cross early in his papacy.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

But the truth is that if the bent crucifix was satanic then I’d suppose satan worshippers would be using it. They don’t. They do use the inverted cross or inverted crucifix.

The Holy Father uses an inverted cross. Many who are unaware of the tradition that St. Peter was crucified upside down think that the inverted cross on the Holy Father’s throne is satanic.



Some won’t believe it no matter what they are told.

-Tim-

 

[carlos19]

If you usually don’t pay attention to anti-Catholic slander, what about this caused you to question if it was bogus?

I know I know…I felt stupid just asking …but curiousity got the best of me

 

[carlos19]

Why would any Catholic even think there might be something to this? They can’t be so naive and gullible.

I know I know…I am just surrounded by so many anti catholics some of whom I love dearly… (assemblies of god). I did not have a quick explanation for this so I just thought I would ask. I knew it wasn’t anything satanic I just wanted an explanation as to why it was the way it was.

I feel so dumb

 

[Prague]

You are not dumb.! I think it was a reasonable question. Keep on asking.

 

[promethius]

I know I know…I am just surrounded by so many anti catholics some of whom I love dearly… (assemblies of god). I did not have a quick explanation for this so I just thought I would ask. I knew it wasn’t anything satanic I just wanted an explanation as to why it was the way it was.

I feel so dumb

Let me teach you the most important phrase you can ever know in the subject of apologetics: “Prove it”

That’s right, prove it is the best thing you can say in the face of these things. A website can claim anything it wants, including that X is a satanic symbol used by pagans… but unless they cite an authoritative source to show they aren’t making it up out of thin air… the answer is “prove it” and throw their argument away as the garbage that it is.

And this is the mentality you should bring WHENEVER you hear anti-catholic rantings and ravings: if they can’t back up every assertion they make with evidence and proof, then their assertion remains totally unproven and therefore completely unreliable.

 

[maryjk]

Let me teach you the most important phrase you can ever know in the subject of apologetics: “Prove it”

That’s right, prove it is the best thing you can say in the face of these things. A website can claim anything it wants, including that X is a satanic symbol used by pagans… but unless they cite an authoritative source to show they aren’t making it up out of thin air… the answer is “prove it” and throw their argument away as the garbage that it is.

And this is the mentality you should bring WHENEVER you hear anti-catholic rantings and ravings: if they can’t back up every assertion they make with evidence and proof, then their assertion remains totally unproven and therefore completely unreliable.

Love it.

 

[thistle]

You are not dumb.! I think it was a reasonable question. Keep on asking.

I didn’t say dumb. Even really smart people can be naive and gullible.
I fail to understand when a non-Catholic makes a negative claim about the Church the first reaction of many Catholics is to think there might be something to it. What happened to our faith??

 

[caligirl]

I didn’t say dumb. Even really smart people can be naive and gullible.
I fail to understand when a non-Catholic makes a negative claim about the Church the first reaction of many Catholics is to think there might be something to it. What happened to our faith??

I believe OP’s faith was shown in his posting his questions on a forum called Catholic Answers!

Let’s not be judgmental. I wondered the same thing.