“It is truly ugly. How very sad,” Deacon Keith Fournier of the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia, tweeted. “The Catholic Church has such beautiful art. This increasingly ugly world is hungering for beauty. Why would this be chosen?”
A host on Relevant Radio, a Catholic network, called the display “unusually modernistic.” Art historian Elizabeth Lev in America Magazine, a Jesuit publication, noted the “universal outpouring of mockery.” And The New York Post said “if it were a Broadway play, it probably would have closed on opening night.”
Seemingly on the defensive, an article posted this week to the Vatican’s official news website says the 2020 “Christmas crib” is said to hold “cultural heritage not immediately visible to the eye.” The 52-piece ceramic display was made in the style that is typical of Castelli, Italy, which is known internationally for its pottery, the article states. Students and teachers assembled the set over 10 years, from 1965 to 1975.
Unusual Nativity Scene Gets Criticism
December 18, 2020
An astronaut figurine stands among the nativity scene display at the Vatican, December 15, 2020. (REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane)
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St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican has had a few unusual nativity scenes over the years. But this year’s scene looks like it came from outer space. Many people have criticized it.
A nativity scene is a group of objects organized to show the birth of Jesus Christ. Nativity scenes are traditionally shown during the Christmas season.
This year’s nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square has an astronaut and a
Mad Minute stories from Tuesday, December 15th khq.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from khq.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Vatican’s futuristic nativity scene gets thumbs down
Reuters, VATICAN CITY
St Peter’s Square in the Vatican has hosted a few unorthodox nativity scenes over the years, but this season’s entry looks like it came from outer space.
The futuristic ceramic creche which includes an astronaut and a character reminiscent of Darth Vader from Star Wars has received so many terrible reviews that, if it were a Broadway play, it probably would have closed on opening night.
Some social media users perhaps in keeping with the prevailing mood of this year called it disturbing or lacking reassurance.
An astronaut figure stands, 10th left, is pictured among other ceramic figures in the Vatican’s nativity scene on display in St Peter’s Square on Tuesday.
Jack Guy, CNN • Published 15th December 2020
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(CNN) Jesus, Mary and Joseph don t normally appear alongside astronauts or Darth Vader-like figures, but the Vatican has upset some Catholics by bringing them together in its latest nativity scene.
Pope Francis inaugurated the scene, which features a number of life-sized ceramic figures, on Friday, but many people have expressed their disapproval of its unusual appearance.
The Catholic Herald ran an article labeling the nativity comically awful. The article, titled The Vatican s Embarrassing SciFi Creche, added that some more excitable people called it demonic, pagan and idolatrous.
On Twitter, Tim Stanley, historian and contributing editor for the Catholic Herald, called the nativity absolutely terrifying.