The weekly newsletter I got from BeliefNet this week had an article about some moviestars and models wearing a cross as a piece of jewelry rather than a religious symbol. The Vatican basically put down certain moviestars for wearing gaudy, jewel encrusted crosses as an accessory item. They believe they are direspecting the symbol of Christian faith by wearing not a symbol of faith but as an expression of wealth.
I was wondering how everyone here felt about that.

I personally don't see it as a problem except for people who don't believe in tolerance.
I believe that The Creator gave us free will and wonderfully creative minds that are all individual. Not all people believe in the same thing. So you can't expect them to. If we are intolerant to other people's beliefs then things like violence and war will break out as the intolerance escalates.
I find it strange that this should come from the Vatican.

Nakis,

I don't find it hard to believe that the Vatican is making a fuss. I personally don't have a problem with people wearing religious jewelry in a non-religous fashion unless people are doing it purposely to show contempt and sacrilage. I myself have a very pretty Virgin Mary medal that I wear sometimes only because it's pretty. I have seen many religious jewelry items that are absolutely beautiful and I see no harm in wearing them because of their beauty. The Vatican is being rather silly, surely there are much bigger things to be worried about.

Renee =)

I have no problem with anyone wearing a cross or other symbol as a piece of jewelry, so long as that piece of jewelry itself is not constructed in a degrading way.... like an inverted cross, for instance. But, wearing a cross encrusted with diamonds in not a sacrilege, in my mind.... hey, didn't the Creator make those diamonds???

I think the vatican has too much time on it's hands, or it is trying to focus more attention back on the people, after the big problem with the priests abusing children. They are getting ridiculous. Soon, they will be telling everyone what kind and length of chain they must wear with their crosses, etc. too.... Gimme a break!

I mean no malice nor irreverance toward Catholic or any other faith here.

azspirit

I've got to agree with what Renee and Azspirit have said. As long as it is not meant to be disrespectful, or sacreligious, I don't have a problem with it. I too believe it was probably a feeble attempt to get people's minds off the priest scandal. =\

Not only does this seem a bit picky but also hypocritical. The catholic churches I’ve seen are very ornate – lots of very expensive things in there. I guess it’s the Pope’s duty to pass along his feelings on these things but I’ve always thought you should practice what you preach – I’m sure the poor in those congregations have wondered if the money used for those couldn’t have been put to better use. I think people wear the cross for different reasons but anything that makes people explore their own spiritual side is good – I don’t think you can look at a cross (ornate or not) and not think of Jesus no matter what religion you practice.

I agree with everyone. It doesn't bother me that they're wearing a cross for the beauty that's in it. If they didn't like the cross or agree on some level with Christianity, they probably wouldn't wear it! Maybe these people are just making a bold statement as to their spirituality - and that's ok with me!

Good point you make, Connie, about how ornate the churches/cathedrals are. Even the Pope and the Arch-bishops look mighty fancy sometimes! ;-)

Kell

Technically , the cross is a protestant symbol - the crucifix depicting Jesus ON the cross was always the Catholic version , no ? So , when the Vatican kvetches about an ornate cross ( non- Catholic symbol of the resurrection ) , aren't they just dissing the competition - like they did with the Pagans ? Of course , that was AFTER Christianity became the official religion of Rome . Heh. -Mark

Hey Mark, you're right. There he goes picking on us Irish Protestant again. I just had a vision of a jeweled crucifix that would make the pope go balistic - rings on his fingers and bells on his toes (sorry, am I going to "H" for that one?) :lol:

Well we all have our cross to bear (some are just fancier than others) and I really think it is too trivial a topic for him to bother about but it's also pretty close to Idol worship (which no Christian is suppose to do) if you get too worked up about a cross being a piece of jewelry.