Lay Catholics Reject "Heavenly Bodies" Exhibit in NYC

We may be living in an age where real Faith is lacking and even vanishing, but the torch of fidelity and love of God could not be ignored by anyone visiting the Metropolitan Museum in New York City this past Saturday, June 9th, 2018.

More than 600 good souls gathered for a rally of protest and reparation in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue to oppose and make reparation for an exhibition entitled “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” which opened in early May.

The New York City protest event was organized by the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) and its America Needs Fatima Campaign.

The highly offensive exhibition features sacred symbols and objects like crosses and rosaries adorning immodest fashions. There were also caricatures of sacred vestments such as bishop’s robes made into evening gowns. These and other displays have caused scandal and outrage among many Catholics who see the exhibition as a mockery of all things Catholic.

The offense was made worse by the cooperation of Vatican officials who lent over fifty sacred vestments and objects to be displayed in a gallery as part of the exhibition.

The rally coincided with the memorial feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Catholics from all over New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and other states assembled in front of the stately museum where they chanted Marian hymns and prayed the rosary to oppose the blasphemous display that was being allowed inside. As the rosary went on, some onlookers came up to ask what was happening. Others perceived and shouted profanities. Many were sympathetic and ended up joining the rosary.

The rally of reparation took up roughly a block in front of the museum with banners and signs. Two of these read: “Lay Catholics offer reparation for the sacrilegious Met ‘Heavenly Bodies’ exhibit,” and “Cardinal Dolan: Mixing sin and sanctity is a sacrilege.” The hymns were sung to the accompaniment of bagpipes and drums.

New York City’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan attended the May 10th Met Gala opening night of the Heavenly Bodies exhibition, which featured shockingly immodest and religiously themed fashions worn by celebrities, popular singers and public figures. Many Catholics were offended by the event.

ANF Volunteer William Siebenmorgan said, “We are the Church Militant. As Catholics we are obliged to fight and defend the Church whenever and wherever She is under attack. That is why we are here. To console Our Lord and His Mother and to tell the Metropolitan Museum that this exhibition is intolerable and unacceptable.”

We thank all the participants at the Rally of Reparation and all of the donors who generously made this rally a great success!

May Our Lord Jesus Christ, through the blessed Virgin Mary, bless you and reward you now and always.