8-foot Apache Christ painting controversy divides Mescalero Apache tribe's St. Joseph Apache Mission in New Mexico.
In New Mexico, an 8-foot Apache Christ painting, depicting Jesus as a Mescalero medicine man, has sparked controversy within the Mescalero Apache tribe's St. Joseph Apache Mission. The painting, which has hung behind the church's altar for 35 years, was removed by the then-priest Peter Chudy Sixtus Simeon-Aguinam on June 26. This has led to a tense debate among the close-knit community over the intertwining of their Indigenous culture and faith. Members of the mission's parish council have expressed shock and concern over the decision, as the painting has served as a reminder of the sacred union of their culture and faith.
July 27, 2024
28 Articles