New York City, N.Y., Nov 11, 2011 / 15:40 pm
Catholic leaders in the Diocese of Brooklyn have objected to a Brooklyn Museum art exhibit’s planned inclusion of a video that includes a disturbing use of the crucifix.
“Ants were crawling on the image of the crucified Christ,” said Msgr. Kieran Harrington, a diocese spokesman. “Certainly we don’t think this would be tolerated if this was the image of the Prophet Mohammed or any other religious symbol.”
The museum intends to show a four-minute edit of a short unfinished film “A Fire in My Belly” by the late artist David Wojnarowicz.
The 10-second section at issue shows a crucifix laying on the ground as ants scamper across Jesus’ body. Other scenes from the film about suffering include images of blood-like drops falling into a dish, a boy breathing fire and bloody sewn-together human lips.