Controversy over Wooden Carving

Posted on 21. Nov, 2019, in Christian Values, Church of Ireland, Feminism/Women in the Church1 Comment

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(CNS photo/Paul Haring)

“A moment of sheer joy”. This is how the author and theologian Gerry O’Hanlon SJ described the recent Amazon Synod last month (October 2019) hosted in Rome by Pope Francis.

The recent Amazon Synod last October, hosted in Rome by Pope Francis was seen as a great moment of hope. It was described by Gerry O’Hanlon SJ as “A moment of sheer joy” bringing forward the possibilities of married clergy,  women deacons and a renewed interest in the Church in ecology and the rights of indigenous people.

However the event also brought controversy when wooden carvings of nude pregnant women that had been on display at events connected with the Synod of Bishops were stolen by a protestor and thrown into the Tiber in Rome.

From the beginning the wooden statue of a pregnant woman caused great offence to right-wing traditionalists who objected vociferously to it describing it as a pagan and idolatrous image.  Gerry believes the extreme right reacted in such a manner because they are afraid of the synodal and much more collaborative direction the church is taking.  He says the alt-right is acting like the Pharisees who in the Gospels, laid traps to try and ‘catch Jesus out’ and undermine his work. He explains more to Pat Coyle.