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Title: National Cathedral may remove windows with Confederate images
Source:
Reuters
URL Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015 ... athedral-idUSKBN0P62QP20150626
Published: Jun 29, 2015
Author: John Clarke
Post Date: 2015-06-29 08:30:03 by Willie Green
Keywords: None
Views: 2092
Comments: 16
The dean of Washington's National Cathedral has called for removing two stained glass windows depicting the Confederate battle flag, saying it is a painful reminder to many African-Americans of the country's legacy of slavery. A spokesman for the landmark Episcopal church in the U.S. capital said on Friday officials would begin considering the Rev. Gary Hall's appeal immediately. The Confederate battle flag has become the focus of national soul-searching over race relations in the aftermath of last week's massacre of nine African-Americans in a landmark Charleston, South Carolina, church. The young white man charged with the killings posed with the flag on a website that featured a racist screed. The two windows show images of the battle flag of the pro-slavery Confederate states that rebelled against the federal government in the Civil War of 1860-65. The panes include images of Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee, two prominent Confederate generals. “It is time to take those windows out," Hall said in a statement. "Here, in 2015, we know that celebrating the lives of these two men, and the flag under which they fought, promotes neither healing nor reconciliation, especially for our African-American sisters and brothers." Hall, who plans to give a sermon about the stained glass windows on Sunday, has asked the church to replace them with contemporary images that would better represent the history of race, slavery, and division in the United States. The windows, which measure 53 inches by 101 inches (135 cm by 257 cm), were designed by artist Wilbur H. Burnham to represent the healing of the nation after the Civil War. They were installed in 1953. Since 1907, the Neo-Gothic cathedral has been used for state funerals for three presidents and a number of presidential prayer services. It has also hosted services for noted diplomats and dignitaries. The cathedral’s facilities and fine arts committee and the board of directors will decide whether to remove the windows. A decision could take months. Hall's appeal follows action by a number of institutions to distance themselves from images of the Confederate flag after the Charleston killings. South Carolina lawmakers will debate a measure to remove the banner from the State House grounds. The U.S. National Park Service began removing Confederate flag merchandise from its bookstores and gift shops. Amazon.com, Wal-Mart Stores and eBay, among other retailers, said they will stop selling depictions of the flag.
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#2. To: Willie Green (#0)
How is this different than displaying the Confederate flag in a museum -- which people are calling for as an alternative? "Take it out of the capitol and put it in a museum. Then take it out of the museum."
A church isn't a museum... it is the House of God...
How about this symbol of hatred and bigotry?
That symbol is certainly acceptable unless someone misappropriates & desecrates it.
I see. So some symbols of hatred and bigotry are acceptable in God's House.
It all depends on who or what you believe is God.
#15. To: Willie Green (#14)
(Edited)
Go watch The Passion of the Christ and then get back to me on that. The church is about forgiveness. Symbols of past injustices are reminders of how far we've come.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest"The cathedral’s facilities and fine arts committee and the board of directors will decide whether to remove the windows."
#7. To: misterwhite (#2)
How is this different than displaying the Confederate flag in a museum -- which people are calling for as an alternative?
a symbol of hatred and bigotry has no place in God's House.
#10. To: Willie Green (#7)
"a symbol of hatred and bigotry has no place in God's House."
#12. To: misterwhite (#10)
#13. To: Willie Green (#12)
"That symbol is certainly acceptable ..."
#14. To: misterwhite (#13)
I see. So some symbols of hatred and bigotry are acceptable in God's House.
The Christian crucifix is not considered to be a symbol of hatred and bigotry within a Christian church. However, it would be highly inappropriate within a Jewish synagogue, Muslim mosque, Buddhist temple, or any other non-Christian house of worship.
Replies to Comment # 14. "The Christian crucifix is not considered to be a symbol of hatred and bigotry ..."
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