Home » The Feed » Stop "blasphemous" art exhibit or we'll sue, lay Catholic groups threaten CCP

Stop "blasphemous" art exhibit or we'll sue, lay Catholic groups threaten CCP

Published: Aug 3, 2011 - 7:03am

(SPOT.ph) Non-profit organization Pro-Life Philippines has threatened to file charges against the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) for permitting to show "Kulo (A Gathering of Artists of the UST)," a "sacrilegious and blasphemous" art exhibit which features the unconventional use of religious images, reports GMA News. The group sent letters both to the CCP and the artists demanding the display's removal. "By Thursday afternoon, we will file a case if they do not stop the exhibit and if they do not also make amends because stopping is not enough. The damage has been done," Pro-Life president Eric Manalang told CBCP News.

 

Jo Imbong, former CBCP lawyer and executive director of the St. Thomas More Society, said "Kulo" violates Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code (offending any race or religion), reports Malaya.  "Is it our cultural heritage to mock and insult religious personages and icons? Is it aesthetic to vandalize a venerated representation of objects of worship and reverence? Is vulgarity and blasphemy a Filipino value? Is this our national identity, and CCP promotes it?" she asked. Meanwhile, outspoken retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz and founder of conservative political party Ang Kapatiran Reynaldo Pacheco revealed their disappointment and shame over their alma mater, UST, for its involvement in the showcase.

 

According to the CCP website, the exhibit was allowed "based on the determination that the premise of the exhibit and the works in question are legitimate art expressions by artists who have already established reputable track records through national and global awards, grants and expositions." CCP also clarified that the showcase is not an official project of UST but serves as the artists' response to Rizal's 150th birthday and connects it to the University of Sto. Tomas' 400th anniversary. Some of the art featured in the exhibit are: a crucifix draped with a stretched-out condom, a photo of Jesus Christ with Mickey Mouse's face, and an image of Jesus Christ with a male genitalia pointing toward his face. CCP will also hold an open forum about "Kulo" on August 5. Unless terminated, "Kulo" will run until August 21.

 

For more on this story, log on to GMA News, Malaya, CBCP News, and the CCP website.

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  • @may 10 months ago Report Abuse
    KOREK KA DIYAN! Down with CLERICO-FASCISM!
  • may 10 months ago Report Abuse
    There is a matter of different opinions and interpretations of what could be considered blasphemous art or not. Yes, even Michael Angelo's art in the Sistine Chapel was considered blasphemous by some people, even Jesus' words were considered blasphemous by some religious Pharisees' convictions. So an art in general can not be considered illegal. But when a person is deliberately attacking and offending God with his art, this art can be considered blasphemous. We respect one's art even demonic creativity but not at the expense of our God. In reality some persons have an evil will toward Catholicism because they despise its true teachings on faith and morals.They want to exalt themselves to be talked about, to justify their own sins. They deliberately attack Catholicism with these blasphemous art because of hatred, malice,and immorality in their lives.
  • jev 10 months ago Report Abuse
    i agree with smartahss. it's not only our Lord who got disrespected but also us, who belong to the christian family. i wouldn't even consider those works as art because i believe that art as a sign of expression, should not go beyond the limits of disrespecting others.
  • cha 10 months ago Report Abuse
    It is evident that most of of those who commented in this site are supporters of the insane artist. I hope you all know what you meant by a true freedom of expression. Who in the world would find such a sacrilegious act to be from someone sane? I hope you all seek psychiatric advice.
  • mario 10 months ago Report Abuse
    Anong art art pinagsasasabi netong mga toh?! binastos nyo ang relihiyon na pinaniniwalaan ng tatay at nanay nyo, lolo at lola nyo, lolo sa tuhod at alak alakan. Di lang dito sa Pinas kundi sa buong mundo. Kung sa ibang relihiyon yan tulad ng sa Muslim ang binastos nyo, pinugutan na kayo ng ulo. Di nyo alam ang ginag*g* nyo. Sa dinami daming pwedeng gawan ng art, yun pang pinakasagradong tao na sinasamba ng milyon milyong pilipino ang pinili nyo pang babuyin. Anong freedom of art/expression pinagsasasabi nyo?! Palibhasa kasi ganyan ang klase ng pakikitungo nyo sa mga magulang nyo. Wala kayong respeto. Wala kayong respeto sa pinaniniwalaan ng ibang tao. Kung di ka bininyagan sa simbahan ng magulang mo, maiiintindihan pa kita. Kung di mo alam ang pagiging isang ganap na Katoliko, mauunawaan pa kita. Pero kung ang isip at katwiran mo ay baluktot, dahil di ka pinalaki ng tama ng magulang mo, wala na kaming magagawa sa inyo, ipagdarasal ka na lang namin na sana huwag ka mapunta sa impyerno.
  • michael 9 months ago Report Abuse
    You do not know what you are doing. Repent and Return! You will know all these when your soul left your body and face Our Father in Heaven. STOP THIS BLASPHEMY. THE CUP IS BRIMMING OVER....
  • smartahss 10 months ago Report Abuse
    the issue here is not their artistic sense, its the way they use Jesus in their art. If that was done to you or your father, would you like it?rnrnI definitely wouldn't. Dont be a smartahss and say yes. We both know you wouldn't like it.rnrnJesus is Christianism. By doing this, they didnt only disrespect our God, they disrespected our believe and our religion. rnrnThat are is just plain st*p*d. No matter how good it was made.rn
  • bellyjean8 10 months ago Report Abuse
    From the way I see it, since it's a response to Rizal's 150th birthday, it (the exhibit) could be a visual representation of the irony of the Philippine Church in his books, Noli and El Fili - a response to the issues at that time - and not necessarily a mockery of the Church today. I'm a Catholic, and although I understand that this may be a form of "sacrilege and blasphemy" as some might put it. If they did something extreme like shot a statue of Jesus in the name of art, then that WOULD be going too far. Even art has its boundaries and not right to freedom of expression can change that. But since they didn't, I really don't find anything overly offending about the exhibit. In fact, it could even be a revolutionizing step for CCP and Philippine art. That's just my opinion, and I'm always open to others so don't bash. Say it nicely people.
  • link 10 months ago Report Abuse
    This post was deleted due to its inappropriate content. Please click this link to read our posting guidelines. - Webmaster
  • law 10 months ago Report Abuse
    Freedom is not absolute. Study law.
  • dan 10 months ago Report Abuse
    What dumb logic Jamie.rnrnSo, I can paint a picture of your beloved mom or dad with a male genitalia pointing towards their face because I have the right to freedom of expression? And it's ok because you and your siblings may like it or not anyway?rnrnSuing is OA. But being a Catholic (like 80% of the population), we all have the right to feel insulted and offended by these so called art. rnrn
  • jamie 10 months ago Report Abuse
    well, we all have the right to freedom of expression. Those artists have the right to paint whatever they want and the audience has the right to like it or not.
  • pop 10 months ago Report Abuse
    Why do you people connect this to reproductive health bill issue..?!rnrnI may be against the church's stand on RH bill... But this thing you call art is not art at all... Stupid... I dare this artist and st*p*d intelectuals do the same to Islamic symbols...! Freedom does not mean insanity...
  • mikeinmanila 10 months ago Report Abuse
    A Taliban-like response to 'freedom' is precisely what the lay faction of the CBCP wants when it is confronted by anything it doesn't like. Artists produce something deemed offensive, lets burn them at the proverbial stake! These sad people are paid hacks of priests and bishops, driven by medieval dogma and their finely honed Catholic guilt complexes. Alas this nation provides a tremendous breeding ground for such insanity
  • idol 10 months ago Report Abuse
    The CBCP smacks of idol worship if they actually pursue this...
  • dan 10 months ago Report Abuse
    being the first commenter to post a dissenting opinion, i am now ready to be crucifixed (pun, intended).rnrni am may not agree on the suing thing, but as a catholic myself, i see the validity of the reaction of the lay catholic group. i feel that there are just some lines one doesn't cross (again, pun intended. lol).rnrnnowadays, it is easy to be called an "artist". one can be blasphemous and offend many people and call it freedom of expression or call it art.rnrnjust even on aesthetics point of view, i don't see the beauty, sublime or otherwise of a male genitalia pointing towards someone's face. unless of course.... lol.rnrnrnrn
  • lalaland 10 months ago Report Abuse
    These people need to get laid.rnOh wait...
  • artistic freedom 10 months ago Report Abuse
    After the billboard issue at EDSA, I will not be surprised that the pro-Taliban justice system will prevail.
  • pm phd 10 months ago Report Abuse
    Nice, suing someone for his artistic impression is a way toward a better democratic society. A state will not trample the right of an individual to express his/her opinion on a particular topic (unless you're killing someone along the process). If Pro-Life Philippines wins this case, it sends a chilling message that a person cannot criticize an organized religion in a matter he/she deemed effective. Moreover, it implies that the state is skewed towards a particular religion which is not championed in a democratic system. Let them do the art exhibit, if Pro-life thinks it is blasphemous let then let the people confirm the case (and subsequently if it is indeed offensive then the show will flop, people will not buy any of the work of the artists involve and we we will all live happily ever after).
  • maximus 10 months ago Report Abuse
    This is madness! This is Sparta!
  • maw 10 months ago Report Abuse
    objects of worship? that's all it is, it's an OBJECT. a crucifix or a somewhat accurate image of jesus is not god himself. everyone has the right to freedom of expression. besides, if art only catered to conventional things, if it is limited only to a certain extent then it wouldn't be called art. rnrnang kakapal naman ng mukha nilang mag-demanda over something so shallow, parang powertrip lang? Pero wala namang nagdedemanda sa pangungurakot nila. i wish these religious authorities would stop yelling blasphemy on everything when their hands aren't even clean.
  • puzzled expat 10 months ago Report Abuse
    Sue who? sue for what?
  • my world has been shatter 10 months ago Report Abuse
    Aylvaette!
  • sensei 10 months ago Report Abuse
    so wiat.. Micky Mouse IS'NT Jesus?rngadamn. my world has been shatter
  • xoxo 10 months ago Report Abuse
    sana mapanood ko ang exhibit bago ipasara. para itong da vinci code. nasa nagbabasa ang interpretation.
  • gabriela 10 months ago Report Abuse
    Ha! This group is fortunate to live in the Philippines and not in the United States. If this is in the United States, it is the artist who will sue for trampling on his right to free expression. And earn damages at that. On a side issue, would you believe that all medical insurance companies in the US are REQUIRED, again, REQUIRED to include in their insurance package, without fee to the insurer, medical tests related to reproductive health. Also, in San Francisco, a bill was filed to prohibit groups or institutions from deceiving the public on false advertisments or statements regarding reproductive health. These are pro-women bills that our local authorities can benchmark on not now but in the future.
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