Removal of Cross from William and Mary College Chapel.. Your Opinion?
@whiteheather39 (24403)
United States
February 4, 2007 9:56am CST
I think that as everyone knows William and Mary's college is a catholic college shoul they have to remove the cross. If is offends some people then they should go elsewhere. What is your opinion?
Removal Stirs Va. College Ccampus Sat Feb 3, 3:39 PM ET
As a Catholic, Vince Haley often went to Mass at the College of William and Mary's historic Wren Chapel when he was an undergraduate in the 1980s. Also a Catholic, school President Gene R. Nichol often goes to the 120-seat chapel alone at night to think in the quiet.
Both agree the chapel is a sacred space meaningful to students, alumni, faculty and staff of the public school who use it for religious services and secular events.
They clash, though, over what to do with an unadorned, 18-inch brass cross that had been displayed on the altar since about 1940.
Nichol ordered the cross removed in October to make the chapel more welcoming to students of all faiths. Previously, the cross could be removed by request; now it can be returned by request.
7 people like this
30 responses
@sunshinecup (7871)
•
4 Feb 07
It just shows what many are willy to sell for the mighty dollar. I think it's sick to take a religious institution and remove it's cross so they can collect tuition from students of different faith.
3 people like this
@Eskimo (2315)
•
4 Feb 07
Even though I am not a Catholic, I would be offended by removal of this cross. Most people should know that Cross's are important to Catholics - I certainly do. In fact this cross could probably be acceptable to most Christian Religions. A Catholic School or college should be allowed to express its faith the way it wants to do. If non Catholics wish to study at a Catholic college then I don't have any problems with that but they should respect Catholic traditions and values.
It seems to me that in these days of Political Correctness that Christians are losing to other non Christian religions. In fact in my country one health board is banning Easter, because they feel it will upset non Christian religions, which is unsuitable for a supposedly Christian country.
2 people like this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
4 Feb 07
It seems as if they will never stop. How about removing Christmas trees from store because they may offend a customer!!
2 people like this
@thewolf777 (581)
• United States
5 Feb 07
why cant they just stop interferring? this never use to happen! people just excepted other peoples faiths and went on with their lives.
@wmg2006 (5381)
• United States
4 Feb 07
That is ridiculous! The cross should stay, it is a symbol of the Catholic religion. If they want other faiths to enter a chapel, then build a chapel for them. If this is for the Catholics then let the Catholics decide if they want the cross removed or not. The world is losing its focus on things. Some people just want the power to say I had this changed, because I am somebody. I think the Catholics should refuse the removal and demand it be returned. It is time for each of to take a stand and be firm about our beliefs.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
4 Feb 07
Seemingly many students are fighting to get it back. Thanks
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
4 Feb 07
I think it is a shame.Since this is a founding principle of that college, faith and items of faith should remain. If a college says it is a Catholic school, or a Christian school, or a Hebrew school or_____________(insert religion here) then people are warned in advance that that school might display items pertaining to their faith. If others do not like that fact they should go somewhere else. This is a very strong pet peeve of mine.
1 person likes this
@mjsdls (1840)
• United States
5 Feb 07
I'm not a Catholic, but being forced to remove the cross is wrong. Wrong as can be. That is what is wrong with America we have kicked God out of everything. No wonder the enemy is attacking us left and right.
We have welcomed people from different counties with loving arms. We have not ask them to leave their religion behind. They have brought their religion with them. They are allowed to worship whoever they worship without anyone saying a word.
We as Americans are being punished for serving God ( exspecailly those who follow Jesus). If one person in the crowd do not agree with everyone else the call the ACLU and get our rights taken away. That my friends is truely wrong. We are suppose to be free. That means free to worship whom we serve.
So in my opion being forced to take down the cross is a no no. It is wrong!
2 people like this
@Louiethe20th (127)
• United States
5 Feb 07
I could not agree anymore you said it all right there.
1 person likes this
@scorpiobabes (7225)
• United States
4 Feb 07
If William and Mary College is a PRIVATE school, anyone chosing to go there should know it's a Catholic school and will be displaying the cross. I'm not saying this because I'm Catholic, but if I selected to go to Morehouse (historically black) or Brigham Young University (a college influenced by Mormons), I've consciously made the decision to accept that those beliefs or faiths are part of the school's make up. However, if W&MC is a PUBLIC school (accepting public funding), then yes, the cross and any other religious icons/symbols should be removed. Wasn't the USA founded on the basis of freedom of religious persecution and there is currently a separation of church and state? Find out what type of institution you're attending (public or private) and either deal with it or move on!!!!!!! There's is too much political correctness these days, makes it hard for those of us that are not in the minority of something!!!
@cheetah311 (343)
• United States
4 Feb 07
The cross should stay. If people find it offensive they should go elsewhere. I have gone into many different churches from many different faiths and have not found their statues or whatever is adorned in their house of worship as offensive. I respect all religions and would never find anything there to be offensive even though I don't practice their particular religion.
2 people like this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
4 Feb 07
Exactly! What do they expect to find in a Catholic Chapel??
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
4 Feb 07
the cross should remain as it is a catholic colleges how do other religions get into a cathlic place anyhow and if they want to pray or what ever they dont have to look at it been there for ^6 years didnt hurt any body then and dont hurt anyone now
1 person likes this
@mom2chriskel (1060)
• United States
5 Feb 07
Well that is wrong. The cross should stay where it is and not be removed. If you don't want to be a Christian, that is fine. But why go to any type of Christian school?
We have a Christian College in my town. They are privately funded so they don't have to abide by the same rules a state funded school does. I would be upset to hear that they had to remove any of their stuff because someone doesn't agree with it. They have a few rules that could be changed but going along with the Christian faith, I understand why they have them.
The simple solution is to go to another school.
@rahuldmhatre (736)
• India
5 Feb 07
no the cross should not be removed, i am not a christian but i believe that every institution has its tradition which it should follow and the codes of conduct should be laid down by the management only, not by those who want to study there....if they are offended they can go to many different institutions around.....
@thewolf777 (581)
• United States
5 Feb 07
they should NOT have to remove the cross. it is the symbol of our religion and should stay. why is it that every other religion demands that Catholics remove what represents them? like christmas decorations and the ten commandments. and other things. its the jews, the muslims, the whatever religion and yes atheists. im not a hater to those faiths, but why are they demanding removal of our religious objects/displays? i havent heard of Chatholics or christians tell othr faiths to get rid of their symbols. never. and i dont believe any will. everyone has a right to profess and display their religion. its a right. and why now over this last decade and such are people SUDDENLY offended??????? its so so so very annoying!! its just mind boggling. come on! i bet the parents of these offended people dont even care who displays what. why must you cause conflict. isnt the middle east a fair example of what happens when religions fight?? learn from others mistakes.
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
5 Feb 07
I agree that they should keep the cross BUT William & Mary isn't a Catholic college.
@thewolf777 (581)
• United States
5 Feb 07
and another thing, it is a CATHOLIC school!!!! whats a Catholic school without the cross??? are they going to get rid of the school next?? why dont other relgion based schools have these conflicts? i cant even see why this is an issue!
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
4 Feb 07
What? Removing a cross from a chapel. It wasn't on the lawn of a government owned building. It was in a chunch! I don't understand.Anyone who goes into a chunch should expect to see a cross. It like removing a menorah from a synagogue! It is a religious symbol inside a religious building. Anyone that would be affended, shouldn't go in.We are not forced to go into any religious building.I just don't understand.I wonder if the same people would want Budha removed from a temple they visit.
1 person likes this
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
4 Feb 07
Sounds awkward to me. It is a Catholic church, so why are they trying to welcome people from different religion?
Even United Church has a cross and they welcome more variety of Christians. The cross has been there for 60 years, it also has historical value that they didn't consider before removing I guess ?
Students from different faiths shouldn't go to Catholic school, should they? If they do then they will keep up with Catholic faith, hence they can go to church without a problem.
@Louiethe20th (127)
• United States
4 Feb 07
Yes they should go elsewhere if they are offended by the cross, period.
1 person likes this
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
5 Feb 07
I'm a Catholic too and William & Mary College in Virginia is NOT a Catholic college and was never a Catholic college. It was founded by William of Orange and that's about as far away from Catholic as one can get!
@nishdan01 (3051)
• Singapore
5 Feb 07
I am a christian,not a Catholic.It is wrong to remove a cross.A catholic institution should be named as such in public.There is nothing to hide.The people should know about the church and christianity and come there.
People should change and fit in the church.It should not be the other way as church changing for the people.
I pray that the condition of Americans should not be that of people whom God led out of Egypt.Tasted the goodness of God and then turned to their human way of thinking.
It is time to rise up and pray for the country.As a non-American I feel that way.
@djbtol (5493)
• United States
5 Feb 07
Nope, absolutely not. The school should not be told to remove the cross from the chapel. If some hypersensitive liberal can't handle it, they should go elsewhere.
The school has been know for being very liberal (which is bad) for many years.
@mygreyparrot (1461)
• United States
5 Feb 07
That's kind of weird. It's a Catholic school, so I'd think nothing of seeing the cross. I'd find it odd not to see one actually. I'm not a religious person, but I'm certainly not offended by religious artifacts at religious schools. I would be offended it if was a public school however.
@rosie_123 (6113)
•
5 Feb 07
Well it is damned stupid if you ask me. If it is a Chapel, then by it's definition it is a Christian place, and a Cross is a Chritian symbol, so I fail to see the problem. Here in the UK they are bending over backwads to be "politically correct" to those ot other Faiths, whilst seeming to forget the majority of British citizens are still Christian. If people are offended by a Cross, then surely they should not be going to a Catholic college anyway! And, no I am not a fervent Christian, in fact I am an Atheist, but religious symbols do not offend me, so I really do not see the point.
@Rittings (673)
•
5 Feb 07
I agree. You won't see any other religions removing their symbols just apease the minority...
And people talk about the subjecation of muslims and jews! haha.
About time the Christians took a stronger stance on their beliefs and stopped backtracking to please small groups.
Love and light.
@maildumpster (3815)
• United States
5 Feb 07
I think this is rediculous. If a Catholic building can't have a cross then who can?
I am getting fed up with this whole thing. The US was founded by Christian but it seems that being of any Christian faith is a big no-no!
I am tired of everyone bending over backwards to make sure that non-Christians are not offended! What about Christians; maybe they/we are offended by not being able to say Merry Christmas or have a nativity scene outside our church.
Anyone who goes to a Catholic college needs to EXPECT to see crosses otherwise they should choose a secular school.
