All cultures have adopted ethnic versions of Jesus
To the Times:
I’m white and a Catholic who’s gay. I’m also a retired teacher who during my career working in different ways with disabled people for over 25 years (I’m 58) had as co-workers Black people by a large majority.
Bishop Donald Hying of Madison, Wis., on June 24 said, as a shepherd of the Catholic Church “I cannot remain silent. I need to denounce such a call to violence and destruction.” Why his outcry? Black Lives Matter activist and author Shaun King said that statues of Jesus that depict him with “European features” need to come down “because. they support white supremacy.”
In a June 22 tweet Mr. King continued criticizing “the statue of the white European they claim is Jesus.” Regarding King’s call for the “destruction of ‘white’ artists depiction of Jesus,” Bishop Hying said, “The principle of enculturation merits our reflection here.” I looked up the definition of enculturation because I was unfamiliar with the term. It means the gradual acquisition “of the characteristics of a culture or group by a person or another culture.”
The bishop explained that in the Catholic Church every country, culture, and race has claimed Jesus and the Blessed Mother (Mary) “as their own.” He observed that African art depicts Jesus as Black, and Asian depictions of the Blessed Mother. take on similarities of both bodily appearance, and often, cultural dress. Catholics also believe that on 1531, that Mary appeared to a man in Mexico, Juan Diego. Known as Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mary appeared as a mestiza. This is a woman of mixed race, especially one of native and Spanish descent.
I agree with Bishop Hying that white representations of Jesus and his mother aren’t signs of white supremacy. I further agree with him that “all of humanity - (has) the spiritual ability to depict him through the particular lens of their own culture.” Further, I agree with Bishop Hying who said that the “violence and oppression” of African slaves and Native Americans are “two of the greatest moral failures of our country.”
As a retired teacher I believe it would be beneficial to have a national educational effort to when necessary rewrite our history books. The bishop summed up his view well that we must study and learn from history to “commit ourselves to justice, equality.”
In my view Bishop Hying rightly ended his statement that “even the worst aspects of history should be remembered ... Auschwitz remains open as both a memorial and a museum, so that humanity never forgets the horror of the Holocaust.”
I certainly deplore the horrible killing of George Floyd on May 25, as well as violence by some other racist white police officers against other Black people. Last month I had a letter in the Daily Times when I called for reconciliation between many of our police departments and minority communities. However, several caveats.
First, I believe that most police officers are decent people who do a good job to protect and serve us. Second, it offends me that anyone would favor the destruction of any statue of Jesus because of his being depicted as white. As a pro-life advocate, I agree that all human lives matter, regardless of race. Admittedly, Black and brown people in our nation have been especially victimized by both our government at times and society at large. However, I disagree with the political group Black Lives Matter Inc., regarding several important issues. According to “The Hill” (Sept. 6, 2016), one of their principles states, “We are committed to fostering a queer-affirming network.” I assume (reasonably, I believe) that the group supports samesex marriage.
As a gay man, I believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. I do understand prejudice against gay people, as when growing up I was fairly often called the offensive and painful term f——-. Despite my beliefs about marriage (based not only on traditional morality but centuries of Western culture) I don’t object to private, voluntary sexual acts between consenting adults. Also, “The Hill’ article notes that Black Lives Matter Inc. also advocates redefining the family. The group states in part, “We are committed to disrupting the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure.” I do agree that the common good requires that we all care about extended families. For instance, my dear grandmother and great aunt lived with my family in the early 1980s. Further, I believe we should care about children, including those of other people. Tragically, Black Lives Matter Inc. staunchly asserts, “We deserve and thus demand reproductive justice (i.e. abortion) that gives us autonomy over our bodies.” In my view it’s very unfortunate that the group, which has so many admirable goals for the betterment of our nation for Black people and other minorities, favors the violence of killing unborn human beings.
Tim Donovan, Prospect Park