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'God is trans': the controversial artwork on display in a New York Catholic church

"It seems like they are trying to force the agenda on others. ... You can’t put this out on the altar and then hide. That’s what gets the church in trouble," one parishioner pointed out.

Iglesia de San Pablo Apóstol de Nueva York

Iglesia de San Pablo Apóstol / Wikimedia Commons

Published by
Alejandro Baños

St. Paul the Apostle Church in Manhattan has sparked controversy among Catholic parishioners after hosting an exhibit by artist Adah Unachukwu called "God is Trans: A Queer Spiritual Journey."

This presentation, which was reported in the British daily newspaper Daily Mail, has three parts named after Catholic and biblical terms. The author describes his presentation as follows:

God is Trans maps the queer spiritual journey by three significant points: Sacrifice, Identity and Communion. ... The painting Sacrifice and its complementary act in the film speak to the need to shed an old life and personhood in order to be able to focus on your spiritual need. There is no devil, just past selves. ... Identity is the most impactful part of the exhibition. ... What does holiness look like? What does your god look like? Are those two portrayals that can be merged? [Communion] rounds out the spiritual journey, by placing God and the mortal on the same plane to speak to one another. This part of the installation is about a spiritual home and the ways we can achieve this home in our everyday lives.

Criticism was not long in coming. "The church should not be promoting this. I understand there are transgender people. I pray for all people but enough is enough," one parishioner told the New York Post.

"It seems like they are trying to force the agenda on others," commented another parishioner. "Also, when a friend asked a priest about this they didn’t answer. You can’t put this out on the altar and then hide. That’s what gets the church in trouble."

St. Paul the Apostle Church in New York also hosts the Out at Saint Paul LGBT ministry, which aims to "engage our Catholic faith through service to our community, social activities and exploration of Catholic spirituality."

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