Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP has called on the New South Wales Government to withdraw public funding from a controversial arts venture after it announced three events at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. Source: The Catholic Weekly.
The open letter to NSW Arts Minister John Graham argues that Divine Playhouse’s UNHOLY / DIVINE program appropriates and denigrates Catholic beliefs, symbols and rituals.
Promotional material for the October events refers to “processions,” “hymns,” “adoration” and “confessions”.
Divine Playhouse previously operated from a deconsecrated former church in Kent Street, Sydney, before its lease was terminated in July following protests by Christian groups. It received a reported $100,000 grant from Create NSW.
The MCA describes the events as a celebration of “difference, dissent and creative expression”.
Archbishop Fisher said the move from the former church to the MCA did not resolve concerns about the treatment of Christian beliefs.
“They’re basically ridiculing Catholic sacraments and sacred practices,” he said in a video message.
“I think they’re deliberately trying to provoke Catholics and other Christians by this behaviour.
“It’s extraordinary to me that this attack on religion is actually being funded by the government, by the state government, through an arts grant.”
The letter acknowledges the importance of artistic freedom and says it does not seek to prevent artists from expressing controversial views.
However, it asks whether public money should support the “appropriation, sexualisation, ridicule or deliberate degradation” of the sacred beliefs and rituals of any religious community.
Responding to claims that the program celebrates queer culture and reflects hurt experienced by LGBTQ people in churches, Archbishop Fisher said people of diverse sexualities who were also Christians had told him they were offended by the performances.
“It doesn’t have to be us versus them in everything in life,” he said.
“I know this is right throughout our culture at the moment; but we should be trying to build bridges and to be friends and to work together for justice and for respect for everybody.”
Archbishop Fisher encouraged Catholics and others concerned about respect for religion to also sign the letter at sydneycatholic.org/dpp.
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Archbishop Fisher challenges public funding for Divine Playhouse venture in open letter (By Marilyn Rodrigues, The Catholic Weekly)
