Violence and Religious Zeal
Dear Friends: I discovered this news story this morning and felt that it offered us an opportunity to learn more about the nature of "sarx" and the ways we humans devise to "set things right" through threat, violence, and the words we use to defame one another. Is blasphemy in the defacement of the church; the language used; the intentions of those who did the deed; and/or the targeting of Gays and people of color?
Read the story below in relationship to what we have been studying and see if you find any connections or insights that you would like to offer.
Homophobic graffiti deface St. Mark's
By SAM SKOLNIK
P-I REPORTER
A vandal armed with a big black marker recently defaced St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral with homophobic and racist messages, causing concern among church leaders and police.
The Very Rev. Robert Taylor, the openly gay dean of the Capitol Hill cathedral, said the graffiti attack was the second in two months. The first incident occurred in mid-May, he said, after the visit of South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Taylor and police said that the more recent hate-filled messages were discovered on the morning of June 13 on the cathedral's front pillars and on two separate church buildings.
"It was pretty harsh, racist and homophobic language," Taylor said. "Pretty violent."
Taylor said he didn't know whether he had been specifically targeted by the graffiti artist, though he acknowledged it was a possibility. "I sincerely hope not," he said.
Taylor, 48, is from South Africa and is a protege of Tutu. He arrived at St. Mark's in 1999, and leads about 2,400 members.
Taylor, who has a longtime romantic partner, Jerry Smith, is one of the highest-ranking openly gay deans in the national Episcopal Church. Last month he lost an election to become the new bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California.
Most of the insults written on the church were targeted against gays, said Taylor; at least one was also aimed at racial minorities.
Seattle police spokesman Rich Pruitt said the messages -- written on the church buildings either the evening of June 12 or early the following morning -- were "directed at the church's stances, at the church, and maybe at (Taylor)."
"We treat this like a malicious harassment," Pruitt said.
Pruitt said no suspects had been identified, but neighborhood patrols are keeping an extra eye out.
The words have been cleaned up, Taylor said. But the personal damage will last longer.
"This was envisioned as a 'Victory Cathedral' " after World War I, he said, "a place of reconciliation. The violent nature of the graffiti goes against everything we're about.
"It's a stark reminder of the work that still needs to be done."
More headlines and info from Capitol Hill.
P-I reporter Sam Skolnik can be reached at 206-448-8334 or samskolnik@seattlepi.com.
Read the story below in relationship to what we have been studying and see if you find any connections or insights that you would like to offer.
Homophobic graffiti deface St. Mark's
By SAM SKOLNIK
P-I REPORTER
A vandal armed with a big black marker recently defaced St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral with homophobic and racist messages, causing concern among church leaders and police.
The Very Rev. Robert Taylor, the openly gay dean of the Capitol Hill cathedral, said the graffiti attack was the second in two months. The first incident occurred in mid-May, he said, after the visit of South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Taylor and police said that the more recent hate-filled messages were discovered on the morning of June 13 on the cathedral's front pillars and on two separate church buildings.
"It was pretty harsh, racist and homophobic language," Taylor said. "Pretty violent."
Taylor said he didn't know whether he had been specifically targeted by the graffiti artist, though he acknowledged it was a possibility. "I sincerely hope not," he said.
Taylor, 48, is from South Africa and is a protege of Tutu. He arrived at St. Mark's in 1999, and leads about 2,400 members.
Taylor, who has a longtime romantic partner, Jerry Smith, is one of the highest-ranking openly gay deans in the national Episcopal Church. Last month he lost an election to become the new bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California.
Most of the insults written on the church were targeted against gays, said Taylor; at least one was also aimed at racial minorities.
Seattle police spokesman Rich Pruitt said the messages -- written on the church buildings either the evening of June 12 or early the following morning -- were "directed at the church's stances, at the church, and maybe at (Taylor)."
"We treat this like a malicious harassment," Pruitt said.
Pruitt said no suspects had been identified, but neighborhood patrols are keeping an extra eye out.
The words have been cleaned up, Taylor said. But the personal damage will last longer.
"This was envisioned as a 'Victory Cathedral' " after World War I, he said, "a place of reconciliation. The violent nature of the graffiti goes against everything we're about.
"It's a stark reminder of the work that still needs to be done."
More headlines and info from Capitol Hill.
P-I reporter Sam Skolnik can be reached at 206-448-8334 or samskolnik@seattlepi.com.
posted by Father Bob+ at 9:51 AM
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