A Queens congregation is torn over a “cheesy” life-size cutout of a “grotesque” bloody Jesus, with some comparing it to “terrible Halloween decorations” and even a slice of pizza. There is.
A controversial new cardboard figurine at Our Lady of Grace in Howard Beach depicts Jesus Christ on a bloody cross, appearing next to the altar last week at the start of Lent leading up to Easter.
Some parishioners said on Facebook that gaping, bloody wounds covered the statue almost from head to toe, scaring children.
One even recommended visiting another parish during this season.
“Very disturbed by the grotesque cardboard cutout of a bloody Jesus at Our Lady of Grace Church,” one woman wrote in the original Howard Beach Dads group post.
“Our children don’t need to see a nightmare version of Jesus when they go to church.”
Others in the famous Italian community mistook the fleshy raw wounds for cheese or tomato sauce.
“I went to pick up Ash on Wednesday and thought he looked like a meat lover’s pizza slice,” one person wrote.
Another suggested pepperoni.
One polite parishioner objected to the artistic value of this work.
“I would have no complaints if this work were recreated by a more talented classically trained artist,” the critic said in the post, which garnered nearly 200 comments.
But others praised the new structure, which stands alongside a statue of the cloaked Virgin Mary next to the altar, saying the point was to cause discomfort and that children could learn from it. .
“This is our religion. It really happened,” one woman said.
The church committed to its passion for Christ and focused on new additions.
“It’s not pretty, but [it] In a post on the church’s Facebook page, Pastor Dominic Delaporte will move us to grief, redemption, prayer, and most importantly, reconciliation.
Cancel culture is trying to erase what Catholics believe happened to Jesus, he said.
“The culture we live in wants to cancel out what is unacceptable to our way of life, and we want to live in a society where it is better to change what we don’t want to see or hear. ” Mr. Delaporte wrote.
What happened to Jesus “doesn’t change anything,” he added.
