An unidentified vigilante sawed off the head of a provocative sculpture of the Virgin Mary in the act of giving birth to Jesus in a Catholic cathedral in Linz, Austria. The sculpture, titled “Crowning”, was meant to address the birth of Christ from a feminist perspective and had provoked controversy among conservative Catholics. The vandal remains unknown.
Key Points
Sculpture titled “Crowning” depicted the Virgin Mary giving birth to Jesus
Vandalism condemned by some and praised by others
Debate sparked on freedom of art and religious sensitivities
Pros
Addressed the birth of Christ from a feminist perspective
Provoked important conversations about women's roles and gender equality
Cons
Considered blasphemous by conservative Catholics
Resulted in vandalism and destruction of the sculpture