6 The Message M for Catholics of Southwestern Indiana
Shield
"nst evil
Global ethic expo seeks unity
By ANN M. ENNIS
Special to the Message
The World is in agony.
Peace eludes us.
But this need not be.
Thus begins the Declaration
Toward a Global Ethic present-
ed by the Parliament of the
World's Religions in 1993. The
Parliament's message was that
unity of ethics can bring peace
to the world.
In that spirit of unity, Holy
Angels Church, New Harmony,
recently hosted an artistic study
of the Global Ethic: The Global
Ethic Expo. An exciting collection
of more than 55 works of art by
local, regional and national artists
anchored the nine-day event.
Father Earl Rohleder, pastor of
Holy Angels, attended the Par-
liament of World's Religions
conference five years ago and
came away deeply affected.
Father Rohleder pondered the
effect art could have in promot-
ing the ideal of a global ethic.
His interest sparked a fire in a
handful of friends. And a dinner
table discussion became a won-
drous display of art for the sake
of peace.
Joined by Nelia Kimbrough,
David Wells, Missie Carrigan,
Daniel Knight and Janet Lorence,
Father Rohleder wanted to sup-
port the Declaration; to. show the
need for a foundation for peace,
and to recognize the value of art
in expressing ideals not yet fully
understood.
"Others across the country
have told us that this is really a
cutting edge spiritual project,"
he said.
As a universal church, the
Catholic Church is a good study
in setting up a common global
ethic. Multi-national, intercul-
tural, all embracing, the Church
has had to work toward unity
for all its history.
"Catholics are called to be a
world religious family and so
from that world view we have
been rubbing elbows with folks
of other religious in the world
family," Father Rohleder said.
"The Church has come to appre-
ciate that other religions' ethics
are very similar to our own.
Even more, in recent times we
have become aware and attuned
to the need to declare this uni-
versal ethic as a formal Global
Ethic so that each of us can have
even better appreciation for our
personal ethics."
Many of the artists joining the
Expo are members of a Catholic
religious community, Bene-
dictines, Ursulines, and Daugh-
ters of Charity.
With two pieces in the display,
Daughter of Charity Sister Mary
Polvtanovich, said, "The Holy
Spirit works toward unity and
when we work toward peace
and unity, we do the Holy Spir-
it's work in the world." Her
paper collage "They Come
Together" proved a compelling
comment on religious unity, as
did her wood and metal sculp-
ture "Shield Against Evil."
Sister Polvtanovich is a Provin-
cial Councilor for the Daughters
of Charity.
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A wood and metal sculpture, "Shield Against Evil," by Daughter of Charity Sister
tanovich, incorporates many levels of religious symbolism.
-- Message photo I
When he started talking about
art in the parish hall, and sculp-
ture in the driveway, parish-
ioners may have initially thought
it all a little weird, Father Rohled-
er said. But the parish has been
completely supportive through-
out the event.
"We have all been surprised
here at Holy Angels by the ener-
gy of the exhibit, and of the
artists and of the visitors." An
opening night crowd filled the
hall and a steady stream of visi-
tors were in the building during
most of its daily opening hours.
It was a lightning-like exam-
ple of directed energy.
Of her work "Enlightenment"
local artist Eileen Biagi wrote,
"We speak of thd Dark Ages and
the Age of
express the huma €
periods of history.:
religions j,
mon basic
ethics is a small, but t
revolution, a new
ing and a light.
darkness.
Anyone
al Ethic Expo but
ed in finding
ways to apply
to the work
global ethic may
Rohleder at Holy
(812) 682-4224.
Living His
A radio Bible teaching
Dr. Ann Gries
WVHI-- 1330
Mon. - Fri., 11:45 to
Mon. - Sat., 5 p.m.
"your word is a p to my feet and a (ig[it
Psalm 119:105
Father Earl Rohleder speaks to the audience at the opening of the Global Ethic Expo. The artwork
behind him is "Harmony" by Cecile Anne Broz.
Message photo by Ann Ennis
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