Boston College Hangs Crucifixes in All Classrooms

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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.

Frank Inserra of MD 7:44PM May 27, 2009

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.

Michelle Strateman of CT 3:17PM March 25, 2009

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?

BC Alum of NJ 6:08PM March 20, 2009

I go to Saint Joseph's in Philadelphia, another Jesuit University, and I'm fairly certain there are crucifixes hanging in all of the classrooms, at least in the older buildings.
It's no big deal; to be honest, they're rarely noticed. I have a Jewish student sitting in my room right now and when asked, he said he never even really gave it any thought. No surprise there. Anyone who has a problem with it A) should not have chosen a Catholic Jesuit University if they are THAT sensitive to symbols of Catholicism and 2) simply need to lighten up and focus on the more important things in life.

SJUHAWKS of PA 11:57PM March 19, 2009

The crucifix to many Jews - myself included - is a symbol of hate, intolerance and of a religious group that abdicated their "Christ like" responsibilities during the holocaust. It is offensive to many and should remain out of the classroom.

Peter Bloy of MA 12:24PM March 10, 2009

Personally, I disagree with Boston College's decision to hang crucifixes and other Christian symbols in their classrooms. BC may be a Jesuit school, but not all students there are Catholic, and promoting Christianity isn't particularly sensitive to these students. However, I understand that, as a private institution, they have the right to do this. I simply disagree with the message it sends.
On a slightly different note, the opening line regarding the "president's plan to promote Christian art" caught my attention. Why does Boston College feel the need to promote solely Christian art? Why not promote art of all kinds? Why not display art from a variety of religions and cultures throughout the world? At the least, it would make students more aware of other cultures, and it might even help them achieve a better understanding of those cultures and their values. In my opinion, such understanding is a worthy goal for any college to work towards because ignorance regarding people of other groups is one of the most serious problems facing the modern world. Of course, promoting multicultural art would probably get BC some positive press attention and increase their international credibility as well, which never hurts.

Kristie of MA 7:44PM February 20, 2009

"I wonder how people like "Newportson of IL" would feel if the Shahada (Islamic inscription in Arabic that reads, "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah") or a Hindu idol were suddenly placed on the wall of their classroom? "Uncomfortable" would be the likely answer."
If I'm at BC, yeah that WOULD be unfortable. But, if I were at a religious Saudi school, I wouldn't expect anything else. In fact it would be wrong for me to demand an Islamic school remove anything for my "inclusion."
"Inclusion" and "openness" is a two-way street. If someone is really troubled by having to see a crucifix in a classroom of a private college, I'm afraid it is that someone who has the "problem" with diversity....not the college.

Rich Horton of WI 11:56AM February 18, 2009

what better place to display christian art than at a college that is christian?

cindy of PA 11:15AM February 18, 2009

what is wrong with appropriate art at a college? what would be wrong with the ten commandments? sin and forgiveness are learned.

seethepositive of PA 11:08AM February 18, 2009

I wonder how people like "Newportson of IL" would feel if the Shahada (Islamic inscription in Arabic that reads, "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah") or a Hindu idol were suddenly placed on the wall of their classroom? "Uncomfortable" would be the likely answer. Similarly, not everyone is Christian and not everyone is comfortable being surrounded by Christian iconography.
As for the straw man argument constructed by Newportson, outside of theology and perhaps philosophy, academic learning has nothing to do with the "objective truth and moral guidance that is derived from the belief in Jesus Christ crucified." Painting all opponents of this move as "pagan and anti-Catholic hordes" is amusing, though I personally doubt many BC professors and students are practicing Wiccans. There is, however, a clear record of Jesuit education "as being antagonistic to the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom" in the early modern era; countries like France, Prussia, and even deeply Catholic Austria expelled the Jesuits in the 18th century to temper the obscurantist influence they had on university education.
That said, as a private college, BC has the right to make this call.

Herrence of DC 10:33AM February 18, 2009