Why an icon depicting Jesus as a Black man was stolen from a Catholic university

The Gloria Purvis Podcast

At the end of November and in honor of Black Catholic History month the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America unveiled a new icon outside of its chapel. The image depicts Mary holding her dead son, Jesus. Both are dark-skinned. The artist, Kelly Latimore, said the icon was inspired by the murder of George Floyd. Soon after it was displayed, the university began receiving calls and letters alleging the image was blasphemous. A lobby began to remove the icon. Then, it was stolen. Then, a smaller version of the same icon was also stolen. Kelly Latimore joins Gloria to discuss his inspiration for the icon and how it has been celebrated and ridiculed across the Catholic community. Support The Gloria Purvis Podcast by getting a digital subscription to America Magazine! Links: Kelly Latimore Icons After racist comments, Catholic University replaces stolen icon depicting Black Mary and Jesus Second ‘George Floyd’ Pietà icon stolen from Catholic University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About Podcast

Too many voices are not being heard in the Catholic Church today. "The Gloria Purvis Podcast" is a new podcast from America Media hosted by radio personality and Catholic commentator, Gloria Purvis. The podcast centers the opinions, stories and experiences of individuals who have been marginalized in the Catholic Church and in society. A consistent ethic of life informs the conversations and honestly critiques narrow applications of Catholic teachings and ideological attitudes. It's not liberal, it's not conservative. It's all about fostering a culture of charitable dialogue around the most complex and contentious issues in the Catholic Church today. It's just Catholic. Episodes will release weekly.
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Photo courtesy of Joseph Gloor/Word on Fire