Some Christians say Wren Cross compromise not enough
As I predicted yesterday, some of those who opposed Gene Nichol’s decision to remove the cross from Wren Chapel are not happy with the College’s decision to display the cross in the sacristy along with other religious objects. Although the Save the Wren Cross site is still not updated, two of the activists behind the petition drive were quoted in the article in today’s Times-Dispatch
An Internet petition called savethewrencross.org garnered more than 17,000 signatures calling for Nichol to restore the original policy.
Benjamin Locher, a W&M senior from Pittsburgh and co-founder of the site, said he is satisfied with the compromise.
“Hopefully, this gives us enough common ground that we can all rally behind it,” he said.
Joe Luppino-Esposito, another co-founder of the site who is also chairman of the student Senate, said he has some reservations and would prefer the original policy. “Putting [the cross] in a glass case makes it museumlike,” he said.
Locher and Luppino-Esposito said they spoke only for themselves and would need to consult with others before reaching any decision on the future of their Web site and petition.
It’s just delicious that Luppino-Esposito is now arguing that the compromise is unacceptable because it makes the cross “museumlike,” given that his website exists to “Defend and Honor William & Mary’s History.” If the cross should stay to honor the College’s Anglican history, then making the cross “museumlike” is entirely appropriate.
The T-D’s comments section contains lots of commentary objecting to the compromise as well. Like this one:
I doubt that ACLU, Brown-Shirt Nichol would have been offended by a swastika or hammer and sickle in the Wren Chapel upon his initial arrival to the W&M campus.
Or this one:
Get real President Nichol! Placing the cross in a glass display case does not in any way, shape or form return it to it’s place of honor in the chapel. It must be returned and displayed in the manner which was in effect before the ACLU entered the case. Maybe in years to come it will be seen proper to inter the remains of Gene Nichol in a glass display case somewhere on campus as a memorial to political correctness gone awry. What the heck! It worked for Lenin!
These people want the College to say that Christianity is superior to all other beliefs. It simply shouldn’t do so. The compromise adequately addresses the history of the building without endorsing religion.
