This is in response to Ann Harlow's request, which was in response to a comment I made that most every Christian has been exposed to depictions of Jesus that were offensive to some. Her posting about Catholic-bashing on "their" Easter struck me as ignoring what other committed Christians experience throughout the world if they challenge the status quo. The controversy seems to be growing at St. Mary's, with members of the Museum's Advisory Board being unhappy and one, a college employee, quitting altogether. That employee's letter was quoted by Ann. The letter expressed the view that artists (and by extension art museum people) are -- with the campus academic community -- committed to the "ethics of leftist political engagement." Golly. No self-respecting college should have on its staff (to communicate with donors, of all things) an individual so paranoid and small-minded. How can this individual "sell" a product that he feels is so badly tainted, poisoned, rotten? I have gone back and read your descriptions of these paintings, Ann. Given that Mary is the mother of Christ, this is a Christian -- not just a Roman Catholic -- issue. So if there is any "anti-" involved, it is an anti-Christian concern. Together, perhaps, these works of art (and perhaps none of them are very good) raise the good question of how far removed our concept and the enormous apparatus of Christianity is, from that envisioned by the Apostles and within the primitive Church. Is the apparatus of wealth and power that is typical of our major Christian denominations a result of the Holy Spirit (dove) at work among us? Hasn't our culture made fun of the essential values we are taught as Christians -- are the meek really blessed in America, why is it that we are more concerned with welfare reform than poverty, what are the ways we think of "success" (living without luxury, or showing off our homes, cars, gifts to museums, etc.). The liberally educated person ought to see these paintings as a critique of our "Christianity" rather than a belittlement of Mary the mother of Christ. If they are trash, that is in the beholder's eye. But if they provoke thought and debate during this holy season about whether we have made a mockery of the Saviour, even though we say we are Christians, then the museum has done the right thing. If I were in Ann's position, but I am not, I would see to it that the dialogue on these paintings were refocused. The issue they seem to raise is not a Roman Catholic one, but a Christian one. After all, in the good old USA, our character-disabled President today remains by far our most-admired public man, ahead of the Pope. Doesn't that say something about our cultural values? What better place, than a church-owned college, to ask these questions? Peace, Ross Weeks Tazewell Va. No woman has ever borne a child And worshipped his eyes and the way he smiled, And reacted with with pride at his first clear word; Who bound up his hurts and loved his absurd Fierce concentration, watching a spider; Who saw him grow till he stood beside her, Straight and tall as a mountain pine; No woman had a son like mine Ever believed that aught than good Could come to this fruit of her motherhood-- No woman ever believed--not I! That this life of her life was born to die As mine, going down from Nazareth to Jerusalem and sorrow and death. Some say he was wrong, some say he was right In the way he did that dark spring night. I only know what is done is done, And I weep for Judas...I weep for my son. "Old Tears in Galilee" by Georgie Starbuck Galbraith