Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
Careers, Workplace and Religion
Bad Artist

Bad Artist

Last updated on: May 12, 2023 at 1:15 pm by William Droel

0 Comments

Bad Artist 2023-05-12T13:15:14-06:00 William Droel

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Working Catholic: Bad Artists by Bill Droel

Sometimes a flawed individual creates captivating art—music, painting, a novel, a play. Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma by Claire Dederer (Knopf, 2023) is the latest consideration of how the public should ethically treat art that comes from a bad person. Her dilemma is more acute thanks to the courage of the Me Too movement.

The following analogy relies on a dated incident. In early 2022 Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix, now retired, outed a veteran pastor for baptizing people with the words, “We baptize you in the name of the Father…” Citing an August 2020 ruling from the Vatican, Olmsted said using the pronoun we instead of I baptize you makes the 100s of baptisms performed by that pastor “invalid.” The pastor apologized, pleaded ignorance and resigned from the parish. (He is now the pastor at another place.)

Back in the day everyone who took a graduate course in sacramental theology (admittedly a small crowd) learned the distinction between ex opera operantis and ex opera operato. Is it possible for a sacrament to take effect even though the conferring priest is a sinner or, in Dederer’s word, a monster? The Catholic answer is yes. The sacrament itself confers its own grace. There is a qualifying criterion for effectiveness: The celebrant and the recipient must have the right intention. Such seems to have been the case in Phoenix. The pastor admitted his error.

This blog does not intend to settle a technical/pastoral application of Catholic rules. Its purpose is to give guidance to those sensitive to the discrepancy between an artist’s moral character and the art. Generally, in my judgment, the work of art stands on its own merit (ex opera operato), presuming the artist and the viewer/listener/reader have the right intention.

Caution is advised when judging an artist’s intention. Did she or he state that their purpose in making the art was to spread their own sin? It’s possible, but unlikely. Did she or he repent from their sin subsequent to making the art? Being judgmental is not healthy.

There is another way to sort out the discrepancy between a bad person and his or her quality art. Some people use descriptions like Christian rock or Catholic novel. There is no such thing, really. All art that displays the truth (lower case t) is pleasing to God. The good morality of the artist is no guarantee that the art is worthy. In fact, so-called Christian music can be so insipid and a so-called Catholic novel can be so mediocre that neither qualifies as art. Try again, God will say. God wants art with all its teeth.

Droel serves the board of National Center for the Laity in Chicago.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

May 3, 2023

Poverty

Next Post

June 7, 2023

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"Bill-I observe that subsidiarity/localism is actually a big issue. Some of the alienation that is ..."

Chicagoan

Localism

"l think that this commentary by Bill Droel offers a perspective that can help the ..."

Chicagoan

Turning To Politics

"Droel commits the sin of lying to the innocent and unable to defend themselves. He ..."

I Love Libertarians

Strikes

"I propose that the best way to help working class people in the US is ..."

bill wald

Extreme Capitalism

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 May 2022 April 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 June 2021 May 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the name of the first book in the New Testament?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Luke John Mark Matthew