University's sculpture mocks Catholics

WorldNetDaily ^ | 05 March 2004

[sean327]

A federal judge in Kansas ruled a university's prominent display of a sculpture that mocks the Catholic faith did not violate the Constitution.

Washburn University's sculpture, entitled "Holier than Thou," depicts a Roman Catholic bishop with a grotesque facial expression wearing a miter that resembles a phallus. The Topeka school's Campus Beautification Committee selected the display to help fulfill its goal of having "one of the most beautiful campuses in Kansas."

After refusing to act on complaints brought by numerous Catholics, including the archbishop of Kansas City, a lawsuit was filed by the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Thomas More Law Center.

Archbishop James P. Keleher said the statue made "a mockery of the teaching of our faith and of the authority of our church."

The university's president, Jerry Farley, defended the display as a fulfillment of the purpose of art, "to engage us intellectually and emotionally."

The case against the university was brought on behalf of a veteran professor at the school, Thomas O'Connor, and a senior student, Andrew Strobl, who both are devout Catholics.

The lawsuit alleged Washburn's display of the sculpture conveyed the impermissible state-sponsored message of hostility toward the Catholic faith in violation of the First Amendment's Establishment Clause.

District Judge G. Thomas Van Bebber ruled Feb. 26 the university had a secular purpose for displaying the sculpture because it "functions to aesthetically enhance Washburn's campus" and "broaden the educational experiences [and] increase the intellectual capacities of Washburn's students."

The judge concluded the presence of "Holier than Thou" on the campus would not "cause a reasonable observer to believe that [Washburn] endorsed hostility towards the Catholic religion."

"This is a very disappointing decision.," said Robert Muise, the Law Center attorney handling the case. "We brought this lawsuit because it was the right thing to do, and we intend to appeal the judge's decision because it is the right thing to do. Catholics will not remain silent while their faith is being publicly ridiculed by a government institution."

Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel of the Law Center, said this decision and several others by federal judges recently demonstrate a double standard in application of the Establishment Clause.

"The Ten Commandments and the Christian Nativity scene are out, but an anti-Catholic display of a bishop wearing a miter that resembles a phallus is permissible because it allegedly enhances aesthetics," he said. "Apparently, the religion clauses protect atheists but afford no comparable protection for Christians. This disturbing trend in our federal courts must be reversed."

An appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit is expected.

[sean327]

Once again, as long as you are bashing Christians, you can do it with impunity.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I'm sure the next statue will be of a Muslim wearing a suicide bomber's belt and dragging his wife along by a dog leash.

All to further discussion on campus and to beautify the surroundings.

[King Black Robe]

I'm sure the next statue will be of a Muslim wearing a suicide bomber's belt and dragging his wife along by a dog leash.

Exactly. We can come up with all kinds of statues that would have been banned.

How about a KKK grand wizard. Hey, I could get behind that if it depicted Robert Bird as the man and had a caption reading: The face of the Democratic Party. That would be very aesthetically pleasing to me.

[international american]

"The Passion Of The Christ broke into the top 100 list of money makers today at #98. Total receipts so far: $160,803,000"


8 days.......

This film will invigorate the Christian people!!

[international american]

"That would be very aesthetically pleasing to me."

And funny as well:)

[newgeezer]

If the world doesn't hate us, we're not trying hard enough.

I wouldn't let it bother me. Let 'em have their fun while they can.

[sean327]

I agree with you completly. For about 3 months now I've had the feeling that we have been gaining momentum in the "Culture War". The tide is turning in our favor, which is why these judges and mayors are going into hyper-drive to force gay marrige, and Christian bashing as mainstream down our throats.

[thackney]

Let me get this straight. It is okay to use public-funds (i.e. your tax dollars and mine) to mock a religion, but not to celebrate it or recognize it's place in history.

[spyone]

Yes, unless it's the Islamic religion.

[mcenedo]

anybody got a picture of this "artwork"?

[per loin]

Odd. The Sanhedrin of Jewish commentators, so loud over the "Passion", are not flooding the media with their outrage over this. Where are Frank Rich and little Chuckie Krautheimer? Where is the soon to be renamed ADL?

I know both Medved and Rabbi Lapin will have the decency to stand against the defamation of a religion not their own, but I expect few others, Christian, Muslim, or Jewish to object to this state sponsered mockery of religious belief.

I add the disclaimer that I am neither Christian, Muslim, nor Jew.

[LiteKeeper]

bash

[Califelephant]

Here's a photo (click on the image in the article to enlarge it): http://www.ljworld.com/section/stateregional/story/157360

[namsman]

Sounds like some civil disobedience is in order here. A bit of dynamite should do the job. If it's OK for the Mayor of San Francisco to ignore the law, it must be OK for Catholics with equally strong feelings to do the same.

Oh! Wait! I forgot. Outrage is only an excuse for the left.

NAMSMAN sends.

[WOSG]

This is the moral equivalent of a burning cross in the front yard of a black family.

It is an outrage, and it is sickening that such defamation is described as 'art'. It is not.

[Hodar]

[Hibernius Druid]

This case has been under discussion for some time now. Has any newsprint outlet printed or a photo of the statue?

If the mitre clearly resembles a phallus, I'm not sure how this can be considered an aesthetic enhancement of campus life. Campus beautification? Open season on Catholics, all year round, eh what?

[Hibernius Druid]

Never mind. Our posts overlapped. Thanks for the photo. Hibernius

[The Great RJ]

I'd like to see the reaction if the statue depicted a Jewish caricature and titled "money grubbing." This statue is hateful and bigoted and should be removed.

[OpusatFR]

Phallus? That's a nice word for an ugly picture.

He has a penis on his head. Let's call it what it is.