✣✣ Catholic-inspired Met Gala provokes controversy
What happened?
Celebrities sparked debate by dressing in provocative Catholic-themed outfits for New York’s Met Gala, a fashion event. Rihanna wore a mitre, Sarah Jessica Parker a Nativity headdress. Cardinal Timothy Dolan was criticised for appearing at what he called “a powerful evening”. The gala launched an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum, called Heavenly Bodies:Fashion and the Catholic Imagination, which includes 42 objects loaned from the Sistine Chapel sacristy.
What commentators said
Kyle Smith, writing at National Review, said the event was “expressly dedicated to spoofing the Church’s iconography”. He quoted a description of the items on show: “leather bondage mask draped in rosary beads … a fuchsia gown inspired by cardinals’ robes [with a plunging neckline]”. By appearing to bless the gala, he said, the Church “took the side of its enemies”. He said it was the “latest worrying sign” of a Church under Pope Francis “trying to ingratiate itself with outsiders who reject the Church’s goals”.
Elizabeth Scalia, writing at Word on Fire, disagreed that celebrities intended to mock Catholicism. Rihanna’s mitre was beautiful, she said. “Had she worn fishnet stockings or one of Madonna’s old cone bras, then yes, I’d have called it mockery.” Instead, Scalia wrote, she saw people “trying to address the theme in good faith, even as some were hobbled by how to do that while remaining ‘edgy’.”
New York Times columnist Ross Douthat said the gala was a reminder of the secular world’s fascination with the “weirder” parts of Catholicism – in particular, the Old Mass and the costumes and rituals associated with it – which the Church’s own leadership had decided “needed to be retired”.
He argued that, while the way ahead for the Church was uncertain, there was “no plausible path that does not involve more of what was displayed and appropriated and blasphemed against [on] Monday night, more of what once made Catholicism both great and weird, and could yet make it both again”.
✣✣ Nigerian bishops call for president to resign
✣✣ Thousands flock to March for Life in London
What happened?
The Nigerian bishops have said the country’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, has failed his country and should “consider stepping aside”. Their statement followed the latest killings in north-eastern Nigeria’s ongoing ethnic conflict. Last month, gangs in Benue state killed two priests and their parishioners during Mass.
Why was it under-reported
When Nigerian news was dominated by Boko Haram, the picture was clear: Islamist militants carrying out sadistic acts. But the present conflict is harder to explain. The background trends are Nigeria’s rapidly expanding population and dwindling land resources. Semi-nomadic tribes of herdsmen are invading farmers’ land. There is a religious element to the clashes: the herdsmen tend to be Muslims, the farmers are often Christians. And it can be seen as an ethnic conflict: the herdsmen are generally Fulani – as is President Buhari.
What will happen next?
Buhari has named security as his top priority, but the bishops said his actions suggested either “inability to perform or lack of political will”. Resignation seems unlikely: the 75-year-old has said he wants to fight next year’s election. But he will need to address the violence if he is not to be voted out of office. The bishops said that Buhari’s government was allowing security agencies to “turn a blind eye”. They also believe the violence could increase: “The bomb must be defused quickly before it explodes.”
✣The week ahead
Catholics have an extra chance to celebrate Mary thanks to a new feast day on Monday. The feast day, Mary, Mother of the Church, was announced in March. A decree from the Vatican’s congregation for liturgy said it was intended to “encourage the growth of the maternal sense of the Church in the pastors, Religious and faithful, as well as a growth of genuine Marian piety”.
The remains of St John XXIII will be transferred from St Peter’s Basilica to Bergamo on Thursday. Over 18 days they will be venerated at various sites in the diocese where the saint grew up. The tour marks 60 years since his election as pope.
Bishop Athanasius Schneider will visit Glasgow next week. He will celebrate Mass at the Immaculate Heart of Mary parish in Balornock on Monday and Tuesday evenings. On Tuesday he will give a talk and will administer Confirmations in the traditional form. Afterwards on both evenings the traditionalist group Una Voce will host a reception.
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