Austrian cardinal defends art exhibit

Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, O.P.

Function: Archbishop of Wien, Austria

Title: Cardinal Priest of Gesù Divin Lavoratore

Birthdate: Jan 22, 1945	Country: Austria

Elevated: Feb 21, 1998	More information: www.catholic-hierarchy.org, Stephanscom.at, The Schonborn Site

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Austrian cardinal defends art exhibit
Apr 09, 2008
Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schönborn (bio - news) has issued a statement defending the decision to host an art exhibit featuring homo-erotic images of Christ and the apostles at the Vienna cathedral's museum.

Vienna, Apr. 9, 2008 (CWNews.com) - In response to a query from the German-language kath.net news site, Cardinal Schönborn noted that Alfred Hrdlicka, the artist whose works have provoked charges of blasphemy, is "one of Austria's most notable living artists."

Hrdlicka, the cardinal said, "has dealt with biblical subjects all his life, especially with the suffering of Christ." He noted that the controversial artist "has appealed for 'compassion' with the 'Passion.'" Cardinal Schönborn conceded that Hrdlicka "expresses this 'compassion' in a most perturbing way." The cardinal called for the removal of one work from the exhibit, responding to complaints from viewers insulted by the depiction of the Last Supper as a homosexual orgy.

Cardinal Schönborn said that he gave his approval for the Hrdlicka exhibit, without knowing details about the works that would be presented in the cathedral museum, because of his respect for the artist's reputation. He explained: "In spite of the fact that he claims to be a Communist and an atheist, he nevertheless has a burning interest in the Holy Bible, and has personally admitted that he has a great longing for faith."

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