Catholics
to Santa Fe Museum:
Keep Blasphemy Out!
(June 30, 2001)
Nearly a thousand Catholics gathered and
prayed in front of Santa Fe's Museum of International Folk
Art to express their outrage at an exhibit they considered
blasphemous. The June 30 rally centered on Alma Lopez's
"Our Lady," an "art" display that has divided this New Mexican
city for months.
Press reports describe the exhibit
as a computer collage portraying a bikini-clad Virgin of
Guadalupe, held aloft by a topless woman-angel.
The American Society for the Defense
of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) and its affiliate
campaign America Needs Fatima coordinated a rally of peaceful
protest and reparation. Offended Catholics from all over
New Mexico and at least seven other states were represented
in the crowd.
Rally attendees heard inspiring addresses
from clergy and local leaders such as Major General (Ret.)
Melvin Montaño of Albuquerque. The rosary, litany
to Our Lady and many other prayers marked the act of reparation
with devotion.
Many Protest Efforts
Public outcry has been nothing short of
overwhelming. Local grassroots reaction has prompted hearings
on the issue. Local Catholics organized buses to bring people
to the rally.
In addition, TFP and America Needs Fatima
supporters are sending e-mail protests to the Museum of
International Folk Art. The museum is receiving tens of
thousands of the TFP's Enough is enough! protest
postcards. Both efforts will continue until the exhibit
ends on October 28.
"I am appalled at the insensitivity
of the artist and museum directors in face of the countless
Catholics who are offended by this exhibit," said campaign
director Robert E. Ritchie. "This rally is living proof
that Our Lady has those who honor and defend her."
The Santa Fe protest is one of many
such protests that seek to stem the epidemic of blasphemy
that threatens to sweep the nation. Thousands of Catholics
appeared for similar peaceful protests against the play
Corpus Christi, the movie Dogma and other
blasphemies.
"What makes this particular exhibit
so horrendous,." Mr. Ritchie added.," is the fact that,
on October 12, 1945, Pius XII proclaimed Our Lady of Guadalupe
as Patroness of all the Americas and especially Mexican-Americans.
It is hard to believe that she who has been so good to us
is being publicly portrayed in such a horrible manner."
Rally Says Keep Blasphemy
Out!
The Saturday morning rally began
with a warm welcome and Marian hymns sung before a large
picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The program included rosaries,
prayers, and speakers who addressed the crowd and applauded
efforts to combat blasphemy.
"This protest is truly inspiring.
Your presence here truly proclaims 'Santa Fe' - our Holy
Faith. It is so wonderful to see Catholics willing to rally
around the Blessed Mother wherever she is so callously attacked,"
said TFP Vice President Thomas J. McKenna, addressing the
crowd that filled the museum parking lot before him. Banners,
homemade signs, and pictures made the protest particularly
visible.
"It is ironic that at a museum of
folk art that claims to represent popular culture, they
choose to exhibit a blasphemous piece which is neither popular
nor cultural." Mr. McKenna added.
Letters and Prayers
Tens of thousands from across the country
will not attend the rally but promised their prayers and
sacrifices. Inspiring letters of support were received from
Norberto Cardinal Rivera Carrera, Archbishop of Mexico City,
Bishop Thomas Doran of Rockford (IL), Bishop Rene Henry
Gracida, Bishop Emeritus of Corpus Christi, Bishop Thomas
L. Dupré of Springfield (MA), Mother Angelica of the EWTN
television network, Congressman John Hostettler of Indiana,
Joseph Scheidler of the Pro Life Action League, Mary Anne
Hackett of Catholic Citizens of Illinois and others.
Mexican Cardinal Carrera wrote: "We
cannot keep silent nor be indifferent before such a monstrous
attack on the religious convictions and sentiments of our
Mexican people who are mostly Catholic. It seems to us to
be deeply lamented that in the name of culture and freedom
in your country, our culture should be attacked at its very
root: the evangelization of our peoples in such an outstanding
fashion by the Guadalupe event."
Archbishop Michael Sheehan of the
Santa Fe archdiocese commented in a recent article addressing
the blasphemy: "As Archbishop of Santa Fe, I certainly find
it offensive that the Catholic symbol of Guadalupe has been
so disrespectfully treated."
"I hope and pray that the Rally
will be a great success," wrote Bishop Gracida, "and that
all who participate in it will be blessed by God for their
efforts."
"How utterly brutish it is of the
museum's directors to revile an image so sacred in the esteem
of the very people whom they serve," commented Bishop Doran.
Fr. John Trigilio of the Confraternity
of Catholic Clergy wrote that "to be silent or to do nothing
when God and all things holy are being attacked is to be
in darkness." Mother Angelica also sent words of encouragement
reminding people that "It [the protest] is about giving
Our Lady the comfort of knowing that she is the Mother of
children who truly love her!"
Congressman John Hostettler wrote
that he "is appalled and saddened that this is even an issue
in today's culture." Paul Weyrich of Washington's Free Congress
Foundation wrote: "You have my full support in your effort
to counter this horrible sacrilege."
Enough is Enough
Many of those in the crowd received
invitations from volunteers who passed them out on the streets
or after Sunday Mass. The American TFP also mobilized its
Fatima Proclaimer volunteer network to pass out its Enough
is Enough! protest postcards nationwide. Catholics from
all walks of life worked together to bring this rally to
a successful conclusion.
With a rash of blasphemies eroding
the Faith, the Santa Fe protest makes a positive statement
by showing others that Catholics can stand firm in the cultural
fray. Nothing so discourages blasphemy than opposition.
Nothing attracts more the blessings of God that to have
Catholics rise up in defense of the honor of Jesus, Mary,
and Holy Church when attacked by blasphemy.
Be a part of this historic
campaign today!
Here is what you can do!
1.
Pray for the success of this campaign.
2. To download a true picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
click here.
3. To order your FREE Enough is Enough! protest fliers,
click here.
4. Resend this special e-mail message to your family and
friends.
5. Send a special INSTANT e-mail message to the Museum
of International Folk Art by clicking
here.
6. Write, fax or call the museum at: The Museum of International
Folk Art, P.O. Box 2087, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504-2087.
Phone: (505) 476-1200, Fax:(505) 476-1300. E-mail: info@moifa.org
Please help us now with your donation! To send by mail,
click here
To Donate online, click
here.
Note:
Due to public pressure, the museum closed this exhibit
on October 28, 2001
