Author Topic: Francis receives communist crucifix from Evo Morales (Read 7192 times)

ihsv · « **Reply #35 on:** July 13, 2015, 01:32:36 PM »

Pope Says He Wasn't Offended by 'Communist Crucifix'

Maria Auxiliadora · « **Reply #36 on:** July 13, 2015, 07:12:53 PM »

From Vatican Insider

Quote

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/francesco-sudamerica-42350/

What did you feel when President Morales gave you the crucifix with the hammer and anvil? And where did it end up?[/b]

“I was curious, I didn't know Fr. Espinal was a sculptor and also a poet. I learned about it in these past few days, I saw it and for me it was a surprise. It can be categorised as a form protest art. In Buenos Aires, some years ago, there was an exhibition displaying the works of a good sculptor, a creative Argentine who is now dead. It was protest art, and I remember one piece was a crucified Christ on a falling bomber: a criticism against Christianity but because of its alliance with imperialism. I would qualify it as protest art, that in some cases can be offensive. In this particular case, Fr. Espinal was killed in 1980. This was a time when Liberation Theology had many different branches. One of these branches used the Marxist analysis of reality and Fr. Espinal shared these ideas. I knew this because that year I was rector of the theology faculty and we talked a lot about it.” In the same year, the Society’s general, Fr. Arrupe, sent a letter to the Jesuits asking them to stop the Marxist analysis of reality and four years later, in 1984, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published the first docuмent, which is critical, and the second, which opens up to more Christian viewpoints. Espinal was an enthusiast of this Marxist analysis and he produced this work. His poetry also belongs to that genre. It was his life, his way of thinking. He was a special man abounding in human genius, a man of good faith. Let us interpret it this way: I understand this piece and I did not find it offensive. I carry it with me. I left the decorative honours which President Morales gave me behind… I have never accepted such decorations but Morales acted in good faith, to please me, so I thought of it as coming from the people. I prayed it over and I thought I would leave them with Our Lady of Copacabana, so they go to the shrine. The wooden Christ I took with me.”

JPaul · « **Reply #37 on:** July 14, 2015, 07:44:54 AM »

A clear demonstration that subjectivist thinking is ruinous, to this pope, and to those who use similar subjective arguments to defend him.

Charlemagne · « **Reply #38 on:** July 14, 2015, 11:37:48 AM »

Quote from: J.Paul

A clear demonstration that subjectivist thinking is ruinous, to this pope, and to those who use similar subjective arguments to defend him.

Attempting to defend the indefensible is an exercise in futility.

Cantarella · « **Reply #39 on:** July 14, 2015, 01:48:00 PM »

Quote from: Marie Auxiliadora

From Vatican Insider

Quote
http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/francesco-sudamerica-42350/

What did you feel when President Morales gave you the crucifix with the hammer and anvil? And where did it end up?[/b]

“I was curious, I didn't know Fr. Espinal was a sculptor and also a poet. I learned about it in these past few days, I saw it and for me it was a surprise. It can be categorised as a form protest art. In Buenos Aires, some years ago, there was an exhibition displaying the works of a good sculptor, a creative Argentine who is now dead. It was protest art, and I remember one piece was a crucified Christ on a falling bomber: a criticism against Christianity but because of its alliance with imperialism. I would qualify it as protest art, that in some cases can be offensive. In this particular case, Fr. Espinal was killed in 1980. This was a time when Liberation Theology had many different branches. One of these branches used the Marxist analysis of reality and Fr. Espinal shared these ideas. I knew this because that year I was rector of the theology faculty and we talked a lot about it.” In the same year, the Society’s general, Fr. Arrupe, sent a letter to the Jesuits asking them to stop the Marxist analysis of reality and four years later, in 1984, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published the first docuмent, which is critical, and the second, which opens up to more Christian viewpoints. Espinal was an enthusiast of this Marxist analysis and he produced this work. His poetry also belongs to that genre. It was his life, his way of thinking. He was a special man abounding in human genius, a man of good faith. Let us interpret it this way: I understand this piece and I did not find it offensive. I carry it with me. I left the decorative honours which President Morales gave me behind… I have never accepted such decorations but Morales acted in good faith, to please me, so I thought of it as coming from the people. I prayed it over and I thought I would leave them with Our Lady of Copacabana, so they go to the shrine. The wooden Christ I took with me.”

How could be possibly be a surprise if, as everyone knows, every single detail of a papal visit (an international if that, and with a President!) is carefully planned ahead, including words, gifts, and probably even gestures. It is part of the Vatical diplomacy.

It is extremely difficult to believe that it was indeed a surprise to him and it is very unfortunate to see that he accepted the hideous gift and kept it, althought frankly, it was to be expected given the undeniable signs of the communist agenda (liberation theology, "Church of the poor") Pope Francis has continuously displayed during his pontificate.