Some consider a statue of a female pirate scantily dressed in Schuylkill county inappropriate.
It has treasure and boots, tight fitting pants and some say not enough clothing on the top. The pirate statue sits in front of a antique store in Girardville and it’s ruffling some feathers, especially those of a Roman Catholic priest.
“I believe that it’s indecent. I guess it would categorized as soft porn. If there is a definition of that I would call it soft porn,” said Father Edward Commolly.
He believes the statue is a public assault.
The statue has been moved back from the sidewalk, the owners said, because it’s windy but on the day of a recent protest the pirate was standing in full view.
Father Commolly commanded the owners to remove it.
“He pointed to the statue and very dictatorially and said, ‘I curse you. I curse this place. I want to see this destroyed. I want her destroyed,'” said pirate owner Peggy Kanigoski.
“Nor did I curse in the sense of putting a curse on them. In fact I did quite the opposite. I blessed them,” Father Commolly said.
Some people are surpised about the controversy.
“I think it’s art. I don’t see nothing wrong with that,” said Randy Smith of Girardville.
“I think there is worse on television, to tell you the truth. If they want to do anything they shouldn’t worry about a statue, they should start on television,” said Heidi Martin.
The priest said he won’t let the matter drop. He might visit the statue and pray for it’s removal.
The owners said it will remain, drawing potential customers to see their business on the busy main drag.
Hard to know who said what here, though I am skeptical about Fr. Connoly (who also blogs) said what he was accused of saying. Though I do think their might be better things for him to protest than this statue. Though not being worse than what you see on TV is not much of a standard anymore.
8 comments
The thing about TV is that you can turn it off and avoid it if it offends you. That’s not true of “art” on a “busy main drag.” One can’t take responsibility for exposure if there’s no way to avoid it. In that way, the statue really is a public assault in a way that TV is not. Good for the priest for having the backbone to object, and on the news, too.
I blogged on this as well — it’s a pattern — it’s more than just a story about a pirate statue
I don’t like it, but I’ve seen folks wearing less than that on an average day in the mall.
Shoot, a bikini is far more indecent.
This might not be a good choice of battle.
The fight for public decency has to start somewhere. I’d have picked another venue but that just shows a difference in judgement. Any form of immodesty should be fair game.
Agree with Subvet: all indecency should be fair game. We get so much practice passing up little battles on the grounds that they are too small, that it becomes a habit; and pretty soon, we’re sitting out the big battles, too. Eventually, we get to the point where no battle could possibly be big enough to be worth taking on, and the next thing you know, we’re tolerating all sorts of things that used to be regarded as unthinkable. How many Catholics, for instance, think we could be devoting our time and energy to something more worthwhile than worrying about Notre Dame inviting Barack Obama to take an honorary degree and speak at commencement?
When he was bishop of the diocese of St. Agatha of the Goths, St. Alphonsus Liguouri actually called on the police to put the sleaze kings out of business. I don’t think he would have thought twice about seeing to it that such a statue got the heave-ho. And I remember reading somewhere that St. John Vianney paid people to get out of the business of hosting vice (when persuasion didn’t work). Maybe that’s an option to consider here.
By the way, that is a very indecent statue. It shouldn’t be out in public.
I have to weigh in on the “you see worse things on TV” excuse. It’s all a part of a pattern, so that it appears that sins are on a sliding scale instead of the two categories: mortal or venial.
Oh, sure, I used foul language, but I’m sure you and/or that child has heard worse. I took this pen and paper from work, but it’s not like I stole it from a store. And it didn’t cost as much as the money that’s missing from my 401K. My co-worker and I gave each other more than a peck at the office party, but it’s not like a slept with him.
And on it goes, all the itsy-bitsy sins.
I agree, Laura K. I was visiting my daughter in San Francisco a few years back and was astounded that you can find strip joints (with graphic photos on the outside) right next to a Subway or Dunkin Donuts shop. My first thought was what about families that live in the area? Or are visiting and come by with the kids while seeing the city? A friend gave me the old “it isn’t any worse than what they see on t.v.” line. I thought the same as you….at least at home the parents can turn it off. Should they be forced to bring blinders with them to walk down the street on “busy main drags?” 🙂
A little humor and perspective might go a long way. I hate to see such a relatively innocuous statue receive so much attention – far more than if the priest had simply crossed himself and moved on.
This only serves to reinforce the view that Christians are scowling, embittered, puritanical busybodies.
Decency, yes, but let’s pick our battles. We can’t expect everyone to behave like a Christian. We can’t spend our time complaining about everything that offends us.
Let it go.