Holy Week Angst Over Naked Chocolate Jesus
Smoke rises above the Villaggio Mall, in Doha's west end, as a fire took hold of the upscale mall in the Qatari capital of Doha Monday May 28, 2012. Qatar's Interior Ministry said 13 children were among 19 people killed in a fire that broke out at one of the Gulf state's fanciest shopping mall on Monday. The Villaggio opened in 2006 and is one of Qatar's most popular shopping and amusement destinations. It includes an ice skating rink and indoor Venice-style gondola rides. (AP Photo/Osama Faisal) / Osama Faisal
The Easter season unveiling of a milk chocolate sculpture of Jesus Christ, dubbed "My Sweet Lord" by its creator, left a sour taste Thursday in the mouths of a Catholic group infuriated by the anatomically correct confection.
"This is one of the worst assaults on Christian sensibilities ever," said Bill Donohue, head of the watchdog Catholic League. "It's not just the ugliness of the portrayal, but the timing — to choose Holy Week is astounding."
The 6-foot sculpture by artist Cosimo Cavallaro was to debut Monday evening, the day after Palm Sunday and just four days before Roman Catholics mark the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday. The final day of the exhibit at the Lab Gallery inside midtown Manhattan's Roger Smith Hotel was planned for Easter Sunday.
"The fact that they chose Holy Week shows this is calculated, and the timing is deliberate," said Donohue, whose group represents 350,000 Catholics nationwide.
He called for an economic boycott of the hotel, which he described as "already morally bankrupt."
The gallery's creative director, Matt Semler, said the Lab and the hotel were overrun with angry telephone calls and e-mails about the exhibit. Although he described Donohue's response as "a Catholic fatwa," Semler said the gallery was considering its options amid the criticism.
"We're obviously surprised by the overwhelming response and offense people have taken," said Semler, adding that the Holy Week timing was an unfortunate coincidence. "We are certainly in the process of trying to figure out what we're going to do next."
The artwork was created from more than 200 pounds of milk chocolate, and it features Christ with his arms outstretched as if on an invisible cross. Unlike the typical religious portrayal of Christ, the Cavallaro creation does not include a loincloth.
Cavallaro, who was raised in Canada and Italy, is best known for his quirky work with food as art: Past efforts include repainting a Manhattan hotel room in melted mozzarella, spraying five tons of pepper jack cheese on a Wyoming home and festooning a four-poster bed with 312 pounds of processed ham.
The Christ sculpture will be on display April 2-7 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a final showing from midnight to 1 a.m. on Easter Sunday. Its location on the first floor ensures attention from the thousands of passers-by in the busy neighborhood just north of Grand Central Terminal.
Semler was particularly upset by the call for a boycott of the hotel, which he said was not involved in the selection of "My Sweet Lord."
It's not the first time that Donohue's group and the art world have been at odds. A painting of "The Holy Virgin Mary" that used a splash of elephant dung drew outrage in 1999.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "This is one of the worst assaults on Christian sensibilities ever," said Bill Donohue, head of the watchdog Catholic League. "It's not just the ugliness of the portrayal, but the timing — to choose Holy Week is astounding."
The 6-foot sculpture by artist Cosimo Cavallaro was to debut Monday evening, the day after Palm Sunday and just four days before Roman Catholics mark the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday. The final day of the exhibit at the Lab Gallery inside midtown Manhattan's Roger Smith Hotel was planned for Easter Sunday.
"The fact that they chose Holy Week shows this is calculated, and the timing is deliberate," said Donohue, whose group represents 350,000 Catholics nationwide.
He called for an economic boycott of the hotel, which he described as "already morally bankrupt."
The gallery's creative director, Matt Semler, said the Lab and the hotel were overrun with angry telephone calls and e-mails about the exhibit. Although he described Donohue's response as "a Catholic fatwa," Semler said the gallery was considering its options amid the criticism.
"We're obviously surprised by the overwhelming response and offense people have taken," said Semler, adding that the Holy Week timing was an unfortunate coincidence. "We are certainly in the process of trying to figure out what we're going to do next."
The artwork was created from more than 200 pounds of milk chocolate, and it features Christ with his arms outstretched as if on an invisible cross. Unlike the typical religious portrayal of Christ, the Cavallaro creation does not include a loincloth.
Cavallaro, who was raised in Canada and Italy, is best known for his quirky work with food as art: Past efforts include repainting a Manhattan hotel room in melted mozzarella, spraying five tons of pepper jack cheese on a Wyoming home and festooning a four-poster bed with 312 pounds of processed ham.
The Christ sculpture will be on display April 2-7 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a final showing from midnight to 1 a.m. on Easter Sunday. Its location on the first floor ensures attention from the thousands of passers-by in the busy neighborhood just north of Grand Central Terminal.
Semler was particularly upset by the call for a boycott of the hotel, which he said was not involved in the selection of "My Sweet Lord."
It's not the first time that Donohue's group and the art world have been at odds. A painting of "The Holy Virgin Mary" that used a splash of elephant dung drew outrage in 1999.
Popular in Entertainment
- "Seinfeld": Where are they now? 15 Photos
- Weddings around the world 16 Photos
- "American Idol" winner announced
- "American Idol" season 12 finale 31 Photos
- Stars at NBA 2013 playoffs 15 Photos
- "The Big Bang Theory": Expect a cliffhanger in finale
- Runaway mom tells Dr. Phil: "They're better off without me"
- Inside Mariah Carey's "American Idol" performance
-Case and point, you must not be an true atheist, because in this statement you've acknowledged that God does indeed exist by stating that He hates "hypocrites".
Fact is RandalDS you are searching for answers in life, and you are confused. For this reason I hope you are feeling some conviction in your heart to come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior. Only He can erase the obvious doubts you are having. He loves you.
Posted by singinrick at 02:07 AM : Apr 01, 2007
To quote the Great Charlie Brown in A Charlie Brown Christmas "Don't you know a sarcasm when you here one?" Being an atheist doesn't mean you take some sort of vow never to mention god anymore then never mentioning Bozo the Clown. The only thing I'm searching for right now is a good deal on a Mexican Riviera Cruise for a month or so from now. Minimum 8 nights and a suite only of course.
godzooks.blogspot.com
What gave you the idea I'm a christian? I'm an atheist.
Wow. That's so weird. I've always been led to believe all you god lovers believed that god loves unconditionally, that he/she doesn't hate, hate being a human condition of sin, hate is just a manifistation of jealousy, & jealousy/coveting was mentioned as one of those "thou shall not" commandments. Don't you all go around preaching how jesus was supposed to love & accept everyone, that only his dad, god, holds the right to judge, though w/out hate, that mere mortals- historically all sinners (because didn't adam eat some sort of forbidden fruit because he was a putz & also a snotty little brat because he got all whiney "Eve made me do it" like he had been tied down & forced by eve, who was just doing what wives are expected to do: get on down with the snake & also gather grocery supplies for dinner- was it her fault adam wouldn't get a job & so all she could get for dinner was an apple....I digress) are asked to love one another as jesus would...and all that stuff.
Yet, there is RandalDS going around hating & judging & doing it all in the name of god. That's so weird. Glad I'm not christian. Saves me the trouble of having to go around hating people who I disagree with or who disagree with me. RandalDS can do all the hating for us all!
BTW, RandalDS, you sound like a "fanatic' yourself so you must hate yourself. How so christian of you to spread so much hatred around!
God Bless,
Rick
Posted by singinrick at 08:33 AM : Mar 30, 2007
Insults? Yes because god hates a hypocrite and a fanatic and so do I. False accusations? Never. Ever time I accuse you of lying about something I have been fair and right on the mark. It's not my fault or problem if the truth hurts you.
He attacks me on here with insults and false accusations daily. Don't let him get to you, just lift him up in prayer.
God Bless,
Rick
Posted by singinrick at 08:33 AM : Mar 30, 2007
Thanks for the advice! It's hard to read their attacks, which are relentless. But you are correct...I will lift them up in prayer and ask God to speak to their hearts. I don't think they have any idea of the power of prayer!
Dianne
Nude? It is likely that Jesus was crucified without the dignity of clothing. Do we prefer an emasculate Christ? Lets not forget, "like unto us in all things except sin". Admittedly, chocolate & nudity connote sensuality, and yet Calvary is the consummating, life-giving, and matrimonial act of a bridegroom for his bride, the church.
Chocolate? Perhaps it underscores the secularization of the paschal holiday, which is preceded by Lent during which a large number of people forgo . . . that's right: chocolate.
Portrayal as food? I need not remind the CL that Jesus self-describes as "true food" and "true drink".
Irreverent? I can see no reason to object to the image used to represent our Lord; if anything, the physical sufferings are too sanitized.
I am not positing an endorsement of this piece; I am simply embarrassed to have Bill Donahue represent me as a Catholic in the public forum and challenge the leadership of the CL to provide an intelligent defense of its leader or apologize.