Venice: Art Historian Protests Against "Mosque" in the Church and Calls the Police

Church to Mosque

(Venice) In  ongoing Venice Biennale, unbeknownst to the Patriarchate, a Catholic church was converted into a mosque (see Venice Biennale: Mosque installed in the church - "Invitation to Islamists to Conquer" ). During the Patriarchate protested with explanations,  the Catholic art historian Alessandro Tamburini, professor at the Institute of Religious Studies, engaged in  a far more efficient sign of protest.

The tax-financed "artwork",  a contribution from the Republic of Iceland to the art exhibition, has been used since then  by  the Muslims of the area as a mosque. Moreover, Muslims have usurped the church and "artwork"  and taken control of the building.

The "interaction" is welcomed as an "invitation to dialogue" by the Swiss artist and the Icelandic Minister of Culture. Neither the state nor the Scandinavian artist has expressed a word of apology or regret for the profanation of the Catholic Church of Santa Maria della Misericordia - Catholic churches are in contrast to Islamic mosques consecrated places. The Catholic Church seems to have a fictional duty which is put forward as a  matter of course, that it does not even need a mention.

The Patriarchate raised strong protest against the abuse. The fact that the church has been privately owned since the 1970s, complicates matters and limits the intervention of the competent diocese.

Access with Shoes in the "Art Pavilion" Denied

Inscription Above the Door of the Venetian Church, Which Was Converted into a Mosque

Alessandro Tamburini a religious scholar who is well-known in academic circles religious scholar  wanted to look at the "scandal" in person. At the entrance to the church, recte for "work of art", he was stopped by Muslims and asked to  take off his shoes, because he was setting foot in  "a mosque."  When Tamburini refused because it was not a mosque, but a Catholic church, he was denied entry by the Muslims. Tamburini called the police on the spot and made it  publicly clear that this is an abuse and an attack against the Catholic Church and Its believers.

"Professor Tamburini made his courageous decision as an example of how to react in such situations of more or less veiled attacks against Christianity in the context of legality," said  Messa in Latino .

Tamburini lives in Venice and teaches art history of Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Foreign friends had informed him that they were refused entry to the "Icelandic Pavilion" of the Biennale, because they had refused to take off their shoes. Tamburini went on site to his friends and tried to enter the "Pavilion", where he was filming the entire process.

"Is This a Center of Worship? Respect for Whom and What" -  Iceland Refused to Say

"I was denied entry because I refused to take off my shoes. I asked the following question: which is this a center of worship? They agreed and denied me admission, out of respect. I asked, therefore, respect due to whom  and what: Because of the perhaps too expensive carpet? Or because it is an Islamic place of worship? Inside are  praying Muslims apparently. Or because it is a Catholic place of worship? Removing the  shoes is an act of worship. If this is an art pavilion, then this forced  action is severe. Who wants to visit a mosque of cultural or artistic interest in an Islamic country, will be adapted to the necessary rules, conversely, whoever in Italy wants to visit a church. But this can not apply for an art exhibition, which tends to be thought of as a provocation, for which the artist Büchel is indeed well known," said Tamburini.

"What right have Icelanders in Venice to ban access and convert churches into mosques?"

Reporters said Tamburini then: "It is to be rejected and condemned, that the fundamental rights of a citizen of this country can be restricted by Muslims and pseudo artists who encourage surely neither respect nor dialogue but unnecessarily provoke divisions and tensions. The headlines these days in the media speak for themselves: the sharp observations of patriarchy, because a church was converted into a mosque without permission. In addition, I did not know which authority would have the Icelanders to ban Italian or foreign citizens the access to a public place. And what right have the Icelanders to convert a church into a mosque in Venice? Because a mosque is in every respect. Muslims pray in it, forcing their rules keep them occupied in fact. They have already announced plans to celebrate in, Pavilion 'Ramadan. If this place of worship allowed by the prefecture? If the Treasurer informed? The city administration? I called the police and filed a complaint. "

After Protest, the Icelandic Pavilion Director Allowed Shod Access - art historian refuses: "Questions not answered"

Meanwhile, the Muslims have usurped a church with Icelandic assistance "on behalf of the freedom of art" and want to celebrate in Ramadan

After the art historians sharp words, and engaging the police lengthy discussions, the Icelandic director of the "Pavilion" granted Tamburini an "exceptional" permission, and was allowed to wear shoes to enter the building.  "I refused, because it was not just about my rights. Numerous other people  had already been banned access and the same thing would happen to me again. Above all, they refused to respond to my questions: Is this a religion? Respect for what and whom? Because of an obligatory attitude of refusal  they do not encourage dialogue, but provoke and cause division."

Tamburini continued: "We owe respect to  Muslims and the Icelanders, who are guests in our country. I share the opinion of the Patriarchate and can only regret that it is precisely a city like Venice, which has always historically been  a meeting place of different cultures and religious traditions, has become the scene of such a lack of respect for the identity of others, which has happened to us. Respect demands that you first knock on the door before it opens. Icelanders and Muslims have no respect and without asking permission, converted a church into a mosque. On this basis, it is difficult to engage in interreligious dialogue. The pseudo-artists are known for the fact that they do not ask. Islam is well known for the fact that it does not ask for permission. All the more surprising that the Icelanders still promote such an attitude."

Icelanders have the disrespect to convert a  church dedicated in a foreign city in which they are guests, and to transform it into a mosque, but the Icelandic pavilion director refuses to answer  Tamburini's question whether the pavilion is a place of worship and, if so, whose religion. "Because they misuse a Catholic church, therefore a place of worship, they dare not to answer this question, because by what right could they demand respect for a Muslim place of worship, if you have just desecrated a Catholic place of worship," said Tamburini , "I expect that the prefect and the competent public authorities will protect the Italian Constitution and the rights of Italian citizens."

Meanwhile, the art historian is filing a legal complaint against the owner of the church and the organizer of the Biennale.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Milo

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Biennale of Venice: Mosque Installed in Church -- "Invitation to Muslims to Conquer"

(Venice) Provocations are the "business" In the context of the Venice Biennale, a bi-annual international art exhibition. For the first time a sacrilege takes place  as part of the Biennale. "A mosque has not yet been added to the more than a thousand-year history of Venice,"  wrote the Venetian daily Il Gazzetino  just  a few days ago. That was yesterday. Today Venice has its first mosque and indeed this coming November 22, in the framework of the Biennale.

Profanation of a Church as "Art" - Koran Verses, Mihrab and Prayer Rugs

The real challenge, however, is that the mosque was set up in a Catholic church, namely in Santa Maria della Misericordia in Cannaregio district. Although the church is closed to worship, it is still a consecrated place of worship. Now, however, it has been desecrated. That the he Church of "Mercy" falls into these calculations may be a coincidence, but it meets with  the so-called "new Mercy", the not uncontroversial keyword of the current pontificate.

In the Church there is everything: the Islamic prayer niche, Arabic panels with Koranic verses, the floor is covered entirely with carpets, including small green prayer rugs facing Mecca. The mihrab, the prayer niche in mosques, was built so that it covers the large crucifix of the church.  The new adaptation of the church is to be disturbed by nothing Christian. On the Baroque façade only the inscription  "Allah u Akbar" is missing.  The original intention was to install it  so it is  visible far and wide. Ultimately fees were waived because the city administration, as they say, had exerted pressure to omit the words.

Mosque installation as a Contribution by the Icelandic Consulate

And who came up with the "brilliant" idea? The mosque in the church was organized by the Icelandic Consulate at the Biennale. Of course, everything strictly covered under "artistic" creativity and under the panacea "artistic freedom".

With the transformation of the church into a mosque, moreover   the Swiss artist, Christoph Büchel, was commissioned by the Lutheran Republic of Iceland. He called his "art concept" The Mosque . According to the official statement the "installation" is to be a "message against Islamophobia."   The only question is why the Catholic Church prefers  victims of such politically correct "messages". The Icelandic Minister of Education, Science and Culture, Illugi Gunnarsson, explained that the idea to bury a mosque in a church is in order "to stimulate dialogue" - as the Minister - which is "open" in Iceland.

Gunnarsson is representative of the Liberal-Conservative Independence Party, which together with the CDU, CSU (Germany) and the ÖVP (Austria) in the International Democratic Union (IDU), in the European Parliament but seated with the British Conservatives and the German AFD in the Group of European Conservatives and Reformers.

Muslim Representatives Enthusiastic about Büchel Installation

Born in Basel,  artist Christoph Büchel has become known mainly through provocations. He is known for "institutional critique", which seems highly unlikely if he accepts government contracts, such as those of the Republic of Iceland. In 2010 Büchel installed "an area for sex culture" in the Vienna Secession. He designed the room in a swingers club. During the day it was visited by museum visitors, and at night   a Viennese Swinger Club moved its horizontal activities in the museum.

Mohamed Amin al-Ahdabd, the president of the Islamic community of venice showed himself to be enthusiastic about the Büchel Initiative in Venice. Amin al-Ahdadb realized, probably before anyone else, the importance of the event. "This project surpasses,  in effect, a hundred conferences on dialogue between cultures," said the Islamic representative.

A mosque is not ordained like the Catholic Church and therefore not a religious building. It is a meeting place that can be intricately designed more or less. In theory, however, any room is suitable  as a mosque. Therefore, the Installation awakened not only the appearance of a mosque, but is for Muslims a mosque, as the zealous prayer activities show.

Patriarchate Protested Against Illegal Use and Profanation of the Church

Although a Catholic church is being utilized for the "dialogue artwork", the responsible Patriarch of Venice, Msgr. Francesco Moraglia was never asked for permission. There is great vexation in the patriarchate. There is talk of "abuse", which is made worse because the Church was not only made available without permission, but was profaned.

Art as a sacrilege? The church has been closed for worship since 1969. However, this does not matter, because the church was never profaned. "The church is closed to worship and is no longer part of the church. It has fallen since 1973 to private ownership,"  says the Patriarchate in an official statement. Nevertheless, it said in the statement, "each usage deviating from the Christian Catholic cult needs permission by the ecclesiastical authority, regardless of who is currently in possession of the church. This permission was neither requested nor granted."

The church of Santa Maria della Misericordia has been  in use since  the year 936, but could be even older. The original church was byzantine in design.  In the 13th century it was renewed church gothic. Around 1650, the Baroque facade was built. In the church are works of Bernini's pupil, Clemente Moli. During the Napoleonic domination, the church was, like many others, desecrated and left to decay. The second half of the 19th century was followed by renovation work. In1890 the church was rededicated and reopened for worship.

Biennale sat down randomly over patriarchy away

Patriarchy was also know that "was asked in February about asking other churches in the city for this mosque installation. The patriarch, however, refused. "was not even asked for the church of Santa Maria della Misercordia. Since there was no permission, the Biennale director set aside the very decision of the diocese. An "act of arbitrariness", says the Patriarchate. The attitude of the Church is not being respected.

The city administration emphasizes that the speech was only an "exhibition", but not by a church. The Directorate of the Biennale tried to pour water on the fire. The "project" it says "was approved as an artistic installation on condition that it was implemented in a exhibition that is accessible for all".

The Patriarchate accuses the city administration of rank superficiality. Such a matter would have "required greater attention in the test phase" and would " be considered and approved not only by its artistic aspect". The patriarchy also directed its criticism at the Biennale in charge: "The decision to use a church closed for cult, does not resolve this issue, as it is still effectively a sacred site, but this was ignored."

Catholic Organizations are Calling for "Immediate Evacuation" - "The Installation Isn't an Invtation to Dialog  but War"

Several Catholic associations and the media have meanwhile demanded the immediate evacuation of the mosque installation and the restoration of the church. "The fact that the art is used as a pretext to justify any ideological profligacy is not news. But the transformation of the church of Santa Maria della Misericordia into a mosque as an artistic expression of the struggle against Islamophobia goes to far.  Only an idiot can seriously think that the conversion of a church into a mosque could be understood as an invitation to dialogue. Rather, it is an invitation to war, the conquest and occupation of the churches and at a time when in several countries there rages a brutal war of Muslims against Christians  and ever day churches are conquered, repossessed and transformed into mosques," said the chief editor of the Nuova Bussola Quotidiana .

The Patriarchate has raised protest. Not only because the matter is contrary to common sense, but because it is against the law. The patriarch would have to grant his permission. He has not granted this permission. He was not even asked. That's why this installation is as if it 'does not exist'. This is noted but it's not enough. Such a provocation can not be dismissed so that they protested one day, but everything stays the way it is. The symbolism is too strong. The Patriarchate should demand the immediate removal of the installation. No ifs and buts. Should the Biennale defend this disgrace and false message, peaceful resistance  should be passed over  for active resistance, such as the way the Veilleurs occupy  a square and a church, or by holding a silent prayer vigils. Everything left as it is, would be to send a signal of unconditional surrender to Islam, which plays into the hands of  the most radical branch of Islam. It doesn't change the matter when th entire thing is packed as  "artistic"and "on behalf of the freedom of art" happens,  because these do not interest the Islamists in the least.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Nuova Bussola Quotidiana / Chiesa e postconcilio

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Vatican Participates in Satanic Art Exhibition to "Dialog"

Giacomo Grosso - The Supreme Meeting - 1895

Edit: came across mention of the Venice Bienalle which is featuring artists which have been "sponsored" by the Vatican in the Guardian two days ago.  Since then, Father Ray Blake has given a fairly unenthusiastic review.  The Vatican is spending 750,000 Euro on this exhibition which features masters of decadence like Courboursier, and the money being spent (granted, from independent sources), features modern forms of self-expression which are difficult to credit with actually being art.  What's even more frightening is that Cardinal Ravasi plans on encouraging the increasing involvement of these immoral expressions in Church settings.  It's easy to see that the Cardinal has little appreciation for the incompatibility these expressions have with the Church's message, as reported in The Independent:

AC & Frieda Harris - Thoth Tarot "the devil" - Artwork exhibited at the Venice Biennale

"Our presence at the Biennale is the first step in a long journey that involves not only the building of churches in a contemporary style, but the creation of new liturgical objects," Cardinal Ravasi said. He confirmed that contemporary artists will be paid to design new altars, baptismal fonts, tabernacles and lecterns. [God help us]

Among his favourite architects, he said, are the Spanish Santiago Calatrava and the Japanese Tadao Ando, as well as past Modernist masters, Le Corbusier and Alvar Aalto. "We will get artists from all continents involved and in particular we need women artists; they have another language." A plan to fill one of the rooms of the pavilion in Venice with work by the Colombian-born sculptor Doris Salcedo, featuring flowers of the Amazon, was thwarted by incessant rain over the last week in the Italian city, he said.

It's difficult, moreover, to justify the Church's involvement in such an event, particularly in light of the overt Satanic dimensions of the Bienalle, which has been typically hostile to Catholicism in the past, is no less so now that the Vatican has decided to participate.  Blogger  Francesco Colafemmina at Fides et Forma blog actually points out the diabolical nature of the event by the presence of Tarot Cards designed by Aleister Crowley, whose name he only abbreviates as AC, so evil is this man's reputation. Colafemmina writes:

In this capacity, however, the Biennale will host some tarot cards painted by C.and Frieda Harris.  I quote the statement of the Ordo Templi Orientis (the entity created by AC esoteric initiation) published on its website:

"The international headquarters of the OTO and the Warburg Institute organized the inclusion of nine paintings of the Thoth Tarot (Thoth tarot cards NDT) of AC and Frieda Harris. [...] The Biennale is the first occasion on which he so many paintings of the Tarot will be exposed to the public for such a long period - about 5 months.  The participation at the Biennale has reached 400,000 viewers, so this occasion will be a way to introduce Thoth Tarot at a wide and sophisticated audience. We would like to thank Massimiliano Gioni and his assistant-curator Helga Just Christoffersen for the inclusion of the works, and the Warburg Institute, for having made possible the loan of works. It also adds that this year's Biennale includes works by two other  Thelemite painters (the pseudo-religion): Harry Smith and Xul Solar. "

I wonder, quite simply, how the Holy See may once again justify its  presence  in a similar measure from the decadent taste and irreverent fin de siècle. We are mutatis mutandis at the same level of 1895, the Patriarch Sarto Interdict, when the Biennale hosted the work of Giacomo Grosso "The Supreme Meeting." [Except fin de siècle artists were actually talented.] Set in a Church, it showed a girlie spread on a coffin ... After more than a century, we are still at the same point. But the struggle has become more thin, overtly occult, esoteric and ambiguous communications relaxations by a Vatican preaching more or less good and falling badly, very badly indeed.

For our part, we remember meeting ++Ravasi a few years ago at an art event associated with a certain decadent Basilica which features the same kinds of diabolical associations.