• About WordPress
    • WordPress.org
    • Documentation
    • Support
    • Feedback
  • Log In
  • Register

Catholic Masses

  • Search for Mass Times
  • Catholic Faith Articles
    • News Briefs
    • Catholic Church
    • Vatican News
    • Catholic Gift Ideas
  • Online Masses
    • Daily Catholic Mass Online
      • Daily TV Mass from Toronto
      • EWTN Daily Mass
      • CTVN Daily Mass
      • Sunday Mass by the Passionists
      • Daily Mass (In Spanish)
  • Pray with Us
Home Test page Replace ‘George Floyd’ Christ with ‘uncontroversial’ art, Catholic University student government says

Replace ‘George Floyd’ Christ with ‘uncontroversial’ art, Catholic University student government says

A pieta painting, “Moma” by Kelly Latimore, has been displayed outside the law school chapel at The Catholic University of America since February 2021. It was stolen Nov. 23, 2021, and soon replaced. / The Catholic University of America

Denver Newsroom, Dec 9, 2021 / 11:28 am (CNA).

An image portraying the Virgin Mary and Jesus as Black in a way that some critics said politicized religion to comment on the murder of George Floyd was defended and replaced by Catholic University of America officials after it was stolen in late November. The university’s student government, however, has now passed a resolution calling for the image to be replaced with other art that better fulfills the needs for theological art and representation of the Black community.

“There are other paintings and icons that do a much better job at making a genuine, good faith effort to reflect the universality of the Catholic Church that also do not divide and confuse the university and larger Catholic community,” said the resolution, passed by the student government senate, in a 15-9 vote on Dec. 6.

The resolution’s title said it aimed to “unify the community by replacing controversial icons.” The text asks for the university to remove the paintings from university buildings and to work to replace them with “other forms of art that represent diversity and bring forth representation of the African American community in a non-political and uncontroversial way.”

CNA contacted the university for comment but did not receive a response by deadline.

The painting, by the St. Louis-based artist Kelly Latimore, is titled “Mama.” It was installed in February outside the chapel at the university’s Columbus School of Law. In a style reminiscent of Eastern Christian iconography, the artwork portrays a Black Virgin Mary and Jesus in a Pieta-like scene. Mary’s gaze looks outward towards the viewer.

The image was stolen the night of Nov. 23. University officials replaced it with an identical, smaller copy from the campus ministry office.

University officials have said they always saw the image as representing Jesus. Latimore has said the painting was commissioned to “mourn” George Floyd, a Black man killed in police custody in May 2020.

When asked if the figure in the pieta is George Floyd or Jesus, he responded ambiguously, answering “yes.”

Floyd’s death sparked nationwide protests, some of which turned violent. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who kneeled on Floyd’s neck for more than 9 minutes, was later convicted on three charges of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to more than 22 years in prison.

The university addressed the image after it was stolen.

“There are those who would like to see George Floyd as the male figure in the icon. That is not how we read it,” the university said. “The image represents to our community a good-faith attempt to include religious imagery on campus that reflects the universality of the Catholic Church.”

“We hope to continue to build on campus a culture that engages in thoughtful dialogue and debate, not the sort of bully tactics epitomized by this theft,” Catholic University of America president Marcus Garvey said Nov. 24.

He acknowledged that some critics saw the image as blasphemous “because they saw it as deifying or canonizing George Floyd.”

“Some comments that we received were thoughtful and reasonable. Some were offensive and racist. Much of the criticism came from people unconnected to the university,” Garvey said.

The student government resolution cited some objections to the image.

“This icon is seen as blasphemous, offensive, and at the very least confusing not only to students but many in the general public and only serves to further divide the community,” it said.

“The purpose of sacred art is not to make a political statement but to promote worship, adoration, and faith ‘in the transcendent mystery of God’,” said the resolution, citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The resolution said theological artworks on campus have “few representations of the African American community” and that the university could “increase and amplify those voices in a way that is consistent with the university’s mission.”

Latimore, the artist, told the Christian Century in an April 2021 interview that his “non-answer” about whether the image was about George Floyd or Jesus was frustrating to many people and he thought the fact it is a question is “part of the problem.”

“Again, it’s them trying to protect God, and we can be pretty sure that when we try to protect God, we’re creating an idol.”

The initial sketch of ‘Mama’ showed Mary looking at the figure of Jesus. Later versions shifted her gaze to the viewer, a change Latimore said was “powerful.”

“It wasn’t focusing on the death, which was horrible, but the viewer, and guiding us to communal thought and prayer and action.”


If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!

Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.


Catholic World Report

Dec 9, 2021CatholicMasses

Share this post:

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on PinterestShare on EmailShare on LinkedIn
Self Defense, Vigilantism and the State’s Duty to Protect: What the Catholic Church SaysThe Vatican Nativity features llamas, Indigenous garments and gifts of corn, quinoa and potatoes
You Might Also Like
 
On John Paul II’s centenary
 
San Francisco archbishop performs exorcism at site of destroyed St. Junipero Serra statue

You must be logged in to post a comment. - Log in

CatholicMasses
5 months ago Catholic News, Catholic University of America, CUA, News Briefs, USCatholic Church, Catholic News, Catholic University of America, CUA, News Briefs, US4
Find Mass Schedules Near You

CatholicMasses.org allows you to search for Catholic Churches to find Mass times near you!

This unique feature helps while traveling.  Now along with Mass times, schedules and Catholic news you can also watch daily Catholic Mass online with your friends.

Try our free resource to “find Roman Catholic Churches near me” today!

St Alphonsus Liguori praised the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as the best way to Honor God.  Join us as we celebrate Mass daily from various parishes around the world, online and offline, and please visit daily to pray with us as we recite the Rosary, offer daily scripture, readings, devotions and Catholic focused news. We bring you daily Catholic Mass from various parishes around the world and Catholic news.

Today’s Mass
Daily Mass Videos
  • Catholic Chicago
  • CatholicTVNetwork Daily Mass
  • Daily Mass from Toronto Canada
  • ETWN Daily Mass
  • Eucaristia en Vivo – Spanish Daily Mass
  • General Catholic Videos
  • Live video from Lourdes France
  • Masses from the Ascension Priests
  • Misa Hoy (en español)
  • National Shrine
  • News from a Catholic Perspective
  • News from CFN
  • Pope Francis and Vatican News
  • Rosary
  • Sunday Mass by the Passionists
What’s New
  • Spanish Jerusalem Bible changes ‘fishers of men’ to ‘fishers of persons’
  • Cardinal Zen may be in Hong Kong court next week
  • Philly archbishop condemns ‘mortal sin of racism’ after Buffalo shooting
  • New Jersey Bishops Express ‘Outrage’ Over State Plan to Mandate Insurance Coverage for Abortion
  • NJ bishops express ‘outrage’ over plan to mandate insurance coverage for abortion
Catholic Gifts
  • amscan Lucky Shamrocks Paper Party Napkins - 6 1/2" x 6 1/2", Pack of 16, Green $6.38
  • J.S. Bach: 57 Sacred Songs from Georg Christian Schemellis 'Musicalisches Gesang-Buch / Barbara Schlick CPO $17.99
  • Saint Joseph With Child Resin Religious Statue,8 Inch Catholic Saint Joseph Figurines, Colored Hand Painted Religious… $16.99
Gift Ideas
  • Catholic Products
    • Books
    • Christmas
    • Holidays
    • Jewelry
    • Medals
    • Music
    • Rosary
    • Statues
About

Providing up to date online access to information exclusively about Catholicism.

Visit our site map | Privacy Policy | About Us Page.

Streaming Catholic Mass Online

Watch Catholic Mass Online Today.

Find Churches Nearby
Email-Subscription

Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news and event postings.

2019 © Catholic Mass Search - Search Catholic Churches and find Mass times while traveling.
Privacy Policy | About Us Page.
Truemag theme by StrictThemes
Change Location
Find awesome listings near you!