An indigenous statue of a pregnant woman from the Amazon region was observed as attendees gathered for the opening prayer of the Amazon synod at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on Monday, October 7, 2019.
Vandals have decapitated a sculpture of the Virgin Mary giving birth to Jesus at Austria's largest cathedral, St. Mary Cathedral in Linz. The sculpture was part of an art project exploring women’s roles and gender equality, but it sparked controversy and criticism from some Catholics who found it blasphemous.
The incident occurred on Monday and has since been reported to the police by the Linz diocese. The identity of the vandals remains unknown, but Austrian traditionalist Catholic Alexander Tschugguel, known for a previous act of vandalism at the Vatican in 2019, claimed to have been contacted by those responsible.
In a social media post, Tschugguel praised the vandal as a "Hero of Linz" and shared a statement allegedly from the vandal. The statement cited ignored complaints to the diocese about the sculpture, describing the beheading as a necessary response to what it called an "abominable and blasphemous caricature."
The Rev. Johann Hintermaier, the diocese’s episcopal vicar for education, art, and culture, condemned the destruction of the statue while acknowledging the controversy the installation had provoked. He expressed regret if religious sentiments were hurt but strongly denounced the violent act, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and artistic freedom.
Esther Strauss, the artist behind the sculpture, also condemned the vandalism, noting that her work aimed to reclaim Mary's portrayal from patriarchal interpretations. She criticized the brutality of the attack, interpreting it as a reflection of ongoing challenges to women’s bodily autonomy.
The controversy echoes Tschugguel's previous involvement in the "Pachamama" incident at the Vatican in 2019. During the Amazon synod, he removed statues of pregnant indigenous women from a Roman church and threw them into the Tiber River, sparking global debate over the display of non-Christian symbols at the Vatican.
The incident underscored divisions within the Catholic Church, pitting conservative and traditionalist factions against more progressive elements represented by Pope Francis. The statues were later retrieved by Italian police divers and returned to the Vatican, with Francis apologizing to Amazonian delegates offended by the act.
In summary, vandals have targeted a controversial sculpture in an Austrian cathedral, reigniting debates over religious symbolism and artistic expression within the Catholic community.
