(ZENIT News / Washington, DC, 23.04.2024).- The Knights of Columbus of Washington, DC will remove Rupnik’s mosaics currently in the Saint John Paul II Shrine, as these works of art are “repugnant to the faith, morality and Christian piety,” and must be removed from sacred spaces, they said.
Many Chapels around the world house mosaics and works of art of Marko Ivan Rupnik, Slovenian priest expelled from the Jesuits, because of scandal and accusations of sexual abuse. Catholic newspapers in the United States are campaigning for the withdrawal of Rupnik’s artistic works.
The Council of the Knights of Columbus of Washington, DC decided to remove Marko Rupnik’s mosaics from the Redemptoris Hominis and the Luminous Mysteries Chapels in Saint John Paul II’s Shrine. A month ago they announced that they were studying the removal of the mosaics and have now decided to do so, replacing them liturgical art appropriate to the celebration of the Sacraments.
The Council also requested the Knights’ national leaders to plan the removal of these works of art and to cover the images until their complete renovation. They urge offering a public apology to the victims for not having addressed the issue sooner.
In their statement, the Knights said: “the mosaics created by Fr Rupnik in Saint John Paul II’s Shrine are repugnant to the faith, morality and Christian piety, and they lack artistic value due to the fact that Rupnik perpetrated his sexual abuse through the creation of his work of art.”
The Knights have already eliminated Rupnik’s works of art from their evangelization leaflets and other published materials. Up to a few months ago, the Vatican’s lithography continued using them for its leaflets.
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