June 24-27, 2011

from KittKatt
to almalopez310@gmail.com
date Mon, Jun 27, 2011 at 11:34 AM
subject [Alma Lopez] New comment on I Love Lupe - Video Trailer.

KittKatt has left a new comment on your post "I Love Lupe - Video Trailer":

Thank you for your wonderful visions of Our Lady -- and for your courage in the face of controversy. I blogged about the latest blasphemy charges over your exhibit at the Irish university June 23-25, and sent a letter of support. I also encouraged my blog readers to send letters of support, and at least six of them did.

You can see my letter (and other letters posted as comments) at the following link on the Jesus in Love Blog on LGBT spirituality and the arts:

Our Lady & Queer Saints art attacked as blasphemy - Show support now!

Once again, thank you and I look forward to seeing more of your art in the future.

 

from Mickey Mathis
to Alma Lopez <almaloveslupe@gmail.com>
date Sat, Jun 25, 2011 at 8:33 AM
subject Re: "Our Lady" Re:

I have nothing more to say to you. To claim you are a Christian is blasphemy. You are one sickening piece of humanity

from Mickey Mathis
to almaloveslupe@gmail.com
date Sat, Jun 25, 2011 at 4:40 AM

Human garbage and sewer slime. To desecrate the image of the Virgin Mary is beyond belief. This isn't art. It's disgusting and repulsive

 

 

From: White May [mailto:mary-doherty@hotmail.com] 
Sent: 25 June 2011 15:43
To: Finnegan, Nuala
Subject: re- Art Exhibition

Dear  Nuala

     Many religious people are very distressed and offended at the blasphemous and disrespectful image of Our Lady of Guadulupe on exhibition at UCC.

     We would like to know why such an image was allowed to be exhibited when I’m sure it was apparent that this image was blasphemous and disrespectful
     to the Mother of God and that it would offend the religious faith of believers.

     If UCC caused such an offence to Muslims, it would most certainly not do so
     a second time, but it seems quite ok to offend the religious belief of Catholics and Christians.

     Sincerely Yours
     Mary Doherty

 

 

 

From: Caitríona Connolly
Sent: 25 June 2011 03:11
To: Finnegan, Nuala; Murphy, Michael (Pharmacology)
Subject: Knowing the difference

Dear Dr. Murphy & Professor Finnegan,
 
When university 'presidents' and 'professors' don't know the difference between blasphemy and art it's nigh high time they were given their walking papers! The Examiner says that you have spoken about this matter between you (which is only to be expected given the gravely distasteful nature of the matter at hand and therefore, the appropriate controversy it has generated) and the 'conference' and 'exhibition' are set to continue! Well..... if everyone in your circle is jumping over the cliff with you it's got to be o.k. hasn't it??? 
 
How dare you insult the Mother of God by organising this blasphemous exhibition to run in UCC. And please understand - that, primarily, is what you are doing! Along the way, you insult the Catholic Church, her members, and a multitude of others from other religions and faiths. But the most important thing to remember here is that you are actively participating in and furthering blasphemy and insult toward the Mother of God.

Before anyone starts defending their actions in promoting this blasphemy, and misappropriating to themselves the words "harassment....abuse.....riducule" etc., when in fact they're the instigators and levellers of this at Our Lady, the Catholic Church, Catholics and other devotees worldwide, yes, not just in Cork - before any of you get on that bandwaggon know this -

Our anger is justified - lack of the 'passion of anger' is a vice! Because the one who truly and forecfully rejects evil will be angry at it! The lack of anger makes the movement of the will against evil lacking or weak. Unreasonable patience is the hotbed of many vices; it fosters negligence and incites not only the wicked but the good to do wrong. And in a case such as this, to tolerate what must not be tolerated.

But that's largely unintelligible and unacceptable to present-day critics who have no knowledge of the component of passion, with its inevitable physical aspect, thinking it something alien and incongruous, and excluding it mostly due to nominalism and a false concept of freedom which is so ingrained in Western culture.

You owe a debt of apology to a lot of people, starting with Our Lady; suffice to say, nothing less than a public apology to Our Lady will do in this case.

Yours faithfully,

Caitríona Connolly
Richmond, Templemore, Co. Tipperary

 

c.c. The Examiner

 

From: david hegarty [mailto:davidjohnhegarty@gmail.com] 
Sent: 24 June 2011 20:02
To: Finnegan, Nuala
Subject: Offensive exhibition at UCC

Dear Dr. Finnegan,

I note with the greatest of distaste, the exhibition which you have organised at UCC. The depictions which you have organised for display are grossly offensive, blasphemous and repugnant to the beliefs of citizens and taxpayers who fund UCC.  I am at a loss to see how the College and your department can pretend that this offensive display is aligned with pluralisim and fair treatment of the beliefs of ordinary people, students, staff and the public.  At a time when third level colleges are struggling to pay outgoings and running costs, I wonder at how members of staff and management can display such crass  insensitivity and downright poor judgment.

Sad to say that it seems to be Catholic values and beliefs which are  singled out for offensive treatment and this is downright prejudice. 
I earnestly recommend that the exhibition is removed and non offensive material is selected for use.   

David Hegarty

 

 

From: Daniel Pyburn [mailto:danielpyburn@hotmail.com] 
Sent: 24 June 2011 00:03
To: Finnegan, Nuala
Subject: Exhibition

Dear Nuala,
 
I am a PhD student in UCC. 
I am disturbed that your Department finds it acceptable to offend a core element of Catholic faith. 
This is not acceptable in an academic institution which should promote a liberal respect for people's deeply held devotional practises.
There is no such thing as absolute academic or artistic freedom; human agency is always excercising some control or other on expression. We need more respect towards others and less offensive representations within society and academia.
 
Yours sincerely
 
 
Daniel Pyburn 

 

 

 

 

from JesusInLoveInfo
to almaloveslupe@gmail.com
date Fri, Jun 24, 2011 at 6:03 PM
subject forwarding another letter of support for Our Lady & Queer Santas

Hi Alma,

Here is another letter of support -- from a gay artist. Many people are supporting you and your vision of Our Lady!

Thanks,
--Kitt
___________________
Kittredge Cherry

In a message dated 6/24/2011 12:35:57 PM Pacific Daylight Time, counterlight@earthlink.net writes:

Subj: [Jesus in Love Blog] New comment on Our Lady &Queer Saints art attacked as blasphemy ....
Date: 6/24/2011 12:35:57 PM Pacific Daylight Time

To: kitt@jesusinlove.org
Sent from the Internet

 

Counterlight has left a new comment on your post "Our Lady &Queer Saints art attacked as blasphemy ...":

Here is what I sent to the Hispanic Studied Dept. on their "comments and queries" link:

Just a note to congratulate you on your current exhibition, to thank you for your insight and courage, and to support Alma Lopez. As an artist who has found his work featured for attack on right-wing websites, you should send your critics the same message that I send mine, "Thanks for the free publicity." Keep in mind that the Vatican, especially the Sistine Chapel, swarms with homoerotic imagery. Both Ms. Lopez and myself make art that is not intended to demean anyone, but to find a new imagery for the Christian faith that speaks to actual experience, rather than relying on Timeless Tradition Once Received By All The Saints in the form of Heinrich Hofmann (19th century) or Carlo Dolci (17th century).
Best wishes and deepest thanks to the Hispanic Studies Department at the University College Cork, Ireland.

--Douglas Blanchard

 

from Dave Ricks
to almaloveslupe@gmail.com
date Fri, Jun 24, 2011 at 5:06 PM
subject Our Lady vs. Ireland's new blasphemy law

Hello -

Ophelia Benson's Notes and Comment Blog mentioned Our Lady today -
http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2011/like-discussing-the-rules-of-quidditch/

because of this article about the University College Cork exhibition -
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jun/24/artwork-blasphemous-blasphemy-laws

and how it might spark a case under Ireland's new blasphemy law.

Regards,
Dave Ricks

 

from Brian Melaugh
to "almaloveslupe@gmail.com"
date Fri, Jun 24, 2011 at 11:50 AM

Hello just a small note to say that I absolutely support your right to display your picture of the virgin mary in UCC. Well done to the university for taking the decision to display the work. This is about freedom. Good luck with the exhibition.

Kind regards

Brian Melaugh

 

from Ciarán Ferrie
to almaloveslupe@gmail.com
date Fri, Jun 24, 2011 at 1:29 AM
subject online discussion about exhibition in UCC, Cork

thought you might be interested in this - there is overwhelming support for your exhibition in Ireland despite what the church hierarchy and conservative politicians say.

http://www.thejournal.ie/a-holy-mess-bishop-and-td-weigh-on-on-controversial-ucc-exhibit-161807-Jun2011/

 

 

 

From: Brendan Guilfoyle
Sent: 24 June 2011 10:22
To: Finnegan, Nuala
Subject: Letter of support

Dear Prof. Finnegan,

just a short note of support for the Chicano/a conference you have organised this weekend. It is rare for Ireland to host a conference in this area and the quality of the scheduled speakers is pretty impressive - I did my PhD in Austin Texas (although in a different area) and am familiar with some of the speakers.

With regard to the "controversy" surrounding the art exhibition, it will blow over, and I hope that it doesn't detract from the success of the conference.

Yours sincerely,

Brendan Guilfoyle