[Catholic Caucus] Knights of Columbus to cover Rupnik art in DC and Connecticut

Catholic News Agency ^ | July 11, 2024 | Hannah Brockhaus

[ebb tide]

[Catholic Caucus] Knights of Columbus to cover Rupnik art in DC and Connecticut

The Knights of Columbus announced Thursday it will cover mosaics by the accused abuser Father Marko Rupnik in Washington, D.C., and Connecticut, a dramatic move that represents the strongest public stand yet by a major Catholic organization regarding the former Jesuit’s embattled art.

The 2.1-million-member lay Catholic fraternal order said July 11 it would use fabric to cover the floor-to-ceiling mosaics in the two chapels of the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington and in the chapel at the Knights’ headquarters in New Haven, Connecticut — at least until the completion of a formal Vatican investigation into the Slovenian priest’s alleged abuse.

Patrick Kelly, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, told EWTN News Thursday the opaque material would be installed “very soon” but gave no firm timetable. The Knights said in a statement released Thursday afternoon that the artwork may later be more permanently hidden with a plaster covering after the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issues its ruling on Rupnik.

The decision by the Knights to cover the sprawling works, which envelop both spaces, was made at the end of a comprehensive, confidential review process that included consultations with sexual abuse victims and those who minister to them, art historians, pilgrims to the shrine, bishops, and moral theologians.

“The Knights of Columbus have decided to cover these mosaics because our first concern must be for victims of sexual abuse, who have already suffered immensely in the Church, and who may be further injured by the ongoing display of the mosaics at the shrine,” Kelly said in the statement.

“While opinions varied among those consulted,” he said, “there was a strong consensus to prioritize the needs of victims, especially because the allegations are current, unresolved, and horrific.”

Kelly reiterated that point in his interview with EWTN News.

“Our decision process really came down to multiple factors. But the No. 1 factor was compassion for victims,” Kelly said. “We needed to prioritize victims over anything, any material thing. So that was our primary consideration.”

The first segment of Kelly’s interview with EWTN News will air on “EWTN News Nightly” Thursday at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET. Additional comments will air on “EWTN News In Depth” on Friday at 8 p.m. ET.Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly speaks with EWTN News President and COO Montse Alvarado on Thursday, July 11, 2024, regarding the organization's decision to cover mosaics by the accused abuser Father Marko Rupnik in chapels in Washington, D.C., and Connecticut. Credit: EWTN News

Once a renowned artist Rupnik, whose mosaics are featured in hundreds of Catholic shrines, churches, and chapels around the world, was expelled from the Jesuits in June 2023.

His expulsion followed a long review of what the society called “highly credible” accusations of serial spiritual, psychological, and sexual abuse of as many as 30 religious sisters by the priest spanning decades. Some women allege Rupnik’s abuse sometimes happened as part of the process of creating his art at the Centro Aletti, an art school he founded in Rome.

The Vatican announced in late October 2023 that Pope Francis had waived the statute of limitations in the Rupnik case, allowing the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith to do a canonical investigation into the abuse allegations.

Once a renowned artist Rupnik, whose mosaics are featured in hundreds of Catholic shrines, churches, and chapels around the world, was expelled from the Jesuits in June 2023.

His expulsion followed a long review of what the society called “highly credible” accusations of serial spiritual, psychological, and sexual abuse of as many as 30 religious sisters by the priest spanning decades. Some women allege Rupnik’s abuse sometimes happened as part of the process of creating his art at the Centro Aletti, an art school he founded in Rome.

The Vatican announced in late October 2023 that Pope Francis had waived the statute of limitations in the Rupnik case, allowing the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith to do a canonical investigation into the abuse allegations.

There has been no further communication from the Vatican about the inquiry, and it is unclear whether Rupnik may still be living in Rome despite having been given priestly faculties in a diocese of his home country of Slovenia last year.

Growing public outcry

What to do with Rupnik’s once widely-praised works, colorful mosaics characterized by grand, flowing figures and large eyes, has proven to be a divisive question in the wake of the numerous allegations against him, which first came to public attention in December 2022.

While some want to await Vatican judgment before dismantling and replacing Rupnik’s works, much of it made in collaboration with other artists of the Centro Aletti — a Rupnik-founded art school and theological center in Rome — the public outcry for the removal of his art has intensified.

[ebb tide]

Yet, Bergoglio has no problem keeping Rupnik's "art work" on the Vatican's website.

Vatican comms chief defends Rupnik art remaining on website

[ebb tide]

Ping

[ebb tide]

Pope Francis and Marko Rupnik: two weird Jesuits.

[rhinohunter]

Uh - oh …. what’s the over/under on how long until Bergoglio cancels the KCs?

[wildcard_redneck]

I think the beauty of the art can stand alone separate from the creepy artist. This drive to remove his art seems darkly primitive when there are many admirers of his work.

Judge for yourself.

[ebb tide]

Pope Francis says Church must be more flexible on homosexuality and ‘sins of the flesh’

The only sins in Pope Francis's book are sins against Mother Gaia (his Pachamama) or of those who protect their borders or refuse his communist push for the distribution of wealth.

[ebb tide]

Uh - oh …. what’s the over/under on how long until Bergoglio cancels the KCs?

The dictator pope has already crippled the Knights of Malta:

Pope Dissolves Knights of Malta Leadership, Issues New Constitution

[ebb tide]

I have judged. And I think pervert is sick and so is his "art".

[skinny old man]

Priests who abuse children should be charged and prosecuted by the laws where the abusers live and work.

[NorthMountain]

Priests who abuse children should be charged and prosecuted by the laws where the abusers live and work.

Pastors who abuse children should be charged and prosecuted by the laws where the abusers live and work.

Teachers who abuse children should be charged and prosecuted by the laws where the abusers live and work.

Scout leaders who abuse children should be charged and prosecuted by the laws where the abusers live and work.

Coaches who abuse children should be charged and prosecuted by the laws where the abusers live and work.

Politicians who abuse children should be charged and prosecuted by the laws where the abusers live and work.

Police officers who abuse children should be charged and prosecuted by the laws where the abusers live and work.

Physicians who abuse children should be charged and prosecuted by the laws where the abusers live and work.

[al_c]

Well said.

[ebb tide]

Judge for yourself what those dozens of nuns, abused by Rupnik, feel about the “artwork” you just posted above.

I doubt they see any “beauty” in it.

[wildcard_redneck]

What I am saying is beauty and inventions can come from flawed individuals. According to your logic we should destroy all liquid fueled rockets because they were invented by Nazi Werner Von Braun.

[ebb tide]

What I find flawed is your ridiculous comparison. I find your lack of sympathy for abused women to be sickening.

Alleged victims of Father Marko Rupnik: His art cannot be separated from abuse claims

‘Descent into Hell’: An alleged Rupnik victim speaks out

[wildcard_redneck]

Go crawl into your safe space. The artist is a sexual predator that deserves death but you don’t cut down a tree because a pervert planted it.

[ebb tide]

Another ridiculous comparison.

But what really amazes me is that you see “beauty” in any of his art, three-eyed monsters included.

[wildcard_redneck]

I think that you need medication. Wow.

[ebb tide]

...but you don’t cut down a tree because a pervert planted it.

St. Boniface cut down a tree. Have you heard of him?

[ebb tide]

I think you need glasses if you see “beauty” in that trash “artwork”.

[Bigg Red]

I read a little bit of that sister’s story. Sounds like Rupnik is a real pig — and his art is ugly, but what a silly goose she was.