Boston College Hangs Crucifixes in All Classrooms
As part of its president's plan to promote Christian art throughout Boston College, the Jesuit college's campus has been adorned with banners, mosaics, and statues—and most recently and controversially, crucifixes hanging above the chalkboard in every classroom, the BC Heights reports.
While top administrators seem to all be on board, citing "our pride in and our commitment to our religious heritage," others worry the crosses send a mixed message of inclusiveness.
One professor said: "Boston College has become a highly respected world-class university. At the same time, the university provided opportunities for students to deepen their commitment to Catholicism, to Catholic-Jesuit values, and religious sensitivities. Placing Catholic iconography in classrooms undermines the successful efforts of Boston College to be a university that welcomes all students, faculty, and staff."
While another wrote: "I was proud to read in the Institutional Master Plan that my institution is committed 'to becoming the leader in liberal arts education among American universities.' It seems to me, however, that the mounting of religious artifacts on the walls in campus classrooms will almost certainly reduce the ability of Boston College 'to achieve the quality and reputation we seek, to achieve the diversity of perspectives that are essential to the fullness of our intellectual and cultural life, and to fulfill the commitment to our students to prepare them for citizenship, service, and leadership in a global society.' " he said, quoting text from the Institutional Master Plan.
Not all professors oppose the crosses, and most have opted not to weigh in on the issue.
Tags: colleges | religion | Boston College
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Reader Comments
Jews
Peter-
I'm very sorry that you have chosen to ascribe to Christian iconography the most negative meaning that you can find. Undoubtedly, there were Christians that participated in, or failed to object to, the Holocaust, but I don't think the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is intended to, or in fact does, symbolize such conduct. I'm sure we would hear a great deal of pain associated with the Star of David by Palestinians, but I doubt such symbolism would be removed from yeshivas in deference to any misconstruction or myopic view of that symbol. BC is a Catholic school. It's entitled to its religious iconography, and those who choose to attend should be tolerant, if not respectful, of the symbolism.
As a former Catholic and current agnostic, married to a Jew, with children raised as Jews, I hope you can broaden your perspective. If the minister sins, it speaks nothing of the sermon.
Some People Just Like to Make Noise
Not only is Boston College a Catholic school, it is in the United States of America. You cannot be forced to attend this institution. If the icons offend a student or instructor they are free to leave. THIS IS A CATHOLIC SCHOOL PEOPLE. Did some of those that responded above not understand that?
When we visited Georgetown every classroom had a crucifix in it. This is not a new thing; Boston College is not setting a precedent with this.
Eagle Alumni
Boston College is a Catholic University. The act of hanging Crucifixes and/or Christian art is wholly consistent with the school's mission and purpose. The wholesale separation of religion from education is foolish in any school much less a school founded by and run by a religious order. Students are fully aware of BC's Christian identity when they apply and choose to attend. Professors are equally aware of this when offered contracts to teach there. Their complaints are particularly alarming. Perhaps they mistakenly thought they were going to profess at Boston University?
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