Buenos Aires, Argentina, Dec 2, 2004 / 22:00 pm
In an effort to address the concerns of Catholics, the Secretary for Culture of the city of Buenos Aires, Gustavo Lopez, apologized to “those who may have been offended” by a controversial “art exhibit” which ridiculed the Catholic faith, the Blessed Mother and the saints. However, the exhibit will continue to be on display.
Gustavo Lopez said there was “no intention” to “offend anybody” and that he thought the works by militant atheist Leon Ferrir were “controversial” but not “offensive.”
”Its one thing for a work to be controversial, which is what we consider in art, and another for it to be offensive. We never think in aggressive terms,” he said in response to a letter by Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, who called on Catholics to be courageous in the wake of this “blasphemy which is an embarrassment to our city.”
Lopez the signs posted at the entrance to the exhibit warning visitors that, “for religious or moral reasons some individuals might be affected” by the display was sufficient.