In this Sunday’s reading from the Book of Isaiah, the Lord promises to “bring to my holy mountain” “all who keep the sabbath free from profanation.” An art exhibit at the state-run Cultural Center of the Philippines that combined Christian symbols with sexual objects struck many in this heavily Catholic country as profane. It was shut down this week after it provoked heated debate as well as threats and vandalism.

The decision by the center’s board of directors Tuesday came after former first lady and art patron Imelda Marcos joined politicians and Roman Catholic church leaders in denouncing the exhibit. The board said it made the decision because of “an increasing number of threats to persons and property,” including the artists and cultural center staff.

The exhibit by contemporary Filipino artists including Mideo Cruz prompted heated debate about freedom of expression, with President Benigno Aquino II describing it as offensive to the 85 percent of Filipinos who, like him, are Christian.

Aquino said he reminded the cultural center that freedoms should be ennobling, and “when you stoke conflict, that is not an ennobling activity.”

One sculpture portrayed Christ as Mickey Mouse while a collage combined an image of Christ with pictures of celebrities, commercial products, and characters from children’s TV shows. Condoms, rosaries, and wooden sexual symbols adorned the wall.

Source: An article by the Associated Press