Abbey-Roads2

The private chapel of St. Rita.

Craig Hamilton’s work has not gotten much airing on the internet, or even in American classical circles; yet, this handsome private chapel (Georgian Award, 2006) in northern Britain shows a remarkable freeness and ease within the architectural language chosen, quietly mingling aspects of Sir John Soane’s work with Michelangelesque pediments and a convincing surety of form. I can only hope to see more documentation on this unjustifiably-neglected architect in the future. - New Liturgical Movement

NLM is one of the very best blogs online, and Matthew Alderman is working on a series of posts focused upon contemporary ecclesial art and architecture by traditional artists and architects.  Mr. Alderman writes:

One thing I would like our readers to consider over the next few days as I post other new architectural and sculptural work by outstanding traditional artists, I think many of our readers–and many Catholics of a traditional bent–are too quick to reject the work of most of the few talented artists out there because of issues of style. This is unfortunate, as often the only other option is to resort to inferior, mechanically-produced copies, a solution seized upon entirely too quickly as a viable option. This is not to say style is immaterial, but the issue of Gothic versus Classic versus Romanesque at this point in time serves to cloud the larger issue of artistic quality. Not all Gothic, or Romanesque, or Baroque, is created equal, and a partisan enthusiasm for one particular traditional style over another, whatever its legitimate merits, should not excuse faulty workmanship. -NLM 

St. Rita; a bronze for a marvelously inventive private chapel done by British architect Craig Hamilton. - NLM

So what’s new?

Many, many people have complained about the lack of press coverage for the annual March For Life in Washington, D.C., which took place last week in opposition to our country’s abortion laws.  It happens every year - the press virtually ignore the event.  Most political leaders ignore the event as well, and although our pro-life President never shows up, he makes a safe, diplomatic, phoned-in speech of support. 

This year the lack of press coverage has been blamed (by some)  on the death of a movie actor.  Pro-life supporters believe the secular press used coverage of Heath Ledger’s death to ignore what they usually ignore every year anyway - the March For Life.

“It also goes without saying that the little tin gods in the media did their level best to ignore and obfuscate this colossal event. When the homosexual propaganda film star, Heath Ledger, died of a drug overdose on two nights before the March, that provided the hedonistic media the perfect reason to wail and gnash their teeth for a prolonged period of time about their immoral agenda and derail coverage of the life event.” - Fr. Euteneuer

I have the deepest respect and admiration for Fr. Euteneuer, and I certainly appreciate the frustration with the press in his statement.  I also have no doubt there is media bias against the pro-life movement - we witness it every year.   Having said that, how do we explain the fact that media in our country also ignores just about every other humanitarian news story that doesn’t have a connection to celebrity news, economic fears, climate change, or the political race for president?

What network news agency in this country is actively reporting upon the terror the people of Kenya  are currently enduring?  Or the murder of priests  and nuns so often repeated throughout African and Muslim countries?  Although it is old news, what do we ever hear of the ongoing genocide in Sudan?  Or the continual sufferings of peoples just about anyplace you look in Africa?  While NO ONE in this country ever seems willing to report on the progrom of extermination against the Palestinian people  by Israel?

So what’s up with that? 

[Photo:  Kenya in flames.]