Spanish Moor-Killing Saint Is Given The Chop
The Times, London, May 3
Santiago cathedral is to lose its politically incorrect sculpture
A STATUE of Spain’s patron saint, Saint James “the Moorslayer”, is to be removed from one of the country’s most famous cathedrals and pilgrimage centres in case it offends Muslims. The decision, announced by Santiago Cathedral’s church authorities, has outraged traditional Catholics, many of whom still light candles and pray to the 18th-century statue in the tiny chapel inside one of Christendom’s three greatest pilgrim places of worship.
Although the cathedral’s spokesman insisted the decision was taken four months ago to remove the Moorslayer sculpture — which depicts the sword-wielding apostle of Jesus astride a white charger, trampling the beheaded corpses of Saracens — Spain’s national press said the announcement had more to do with the March 11 massacre of 190 people by Islamic terrorists in Madrid.
El Mundo said that the echoes from mainland Europe’s worst terrorist atrocity had accelerated the withdrawal of the famous symbol and its translation to a museum. St James, according to custom, guided the Christians to reconquer Muslim Spain.
“According to our sources, the authorities fear that the expressive image could attract the anger of the Arab world in a period of high tension,” the newspaper said.
The cathedral’s spokesman said the basilica received visits from people of distinct and various traditions and therefore needed to avoid a situation in which “persons of other cultures felt offended”.
The cathedral intends to replace the politically incorrect sculpture with another one also made in the 18th century by the same artist, José Gambino. However, it will depict the more peaceful tradition of the apostle, Saint James the Pilgrim.
“The pilgrim apostle is a universal image, whereas the other sculpture was related to a historic epoch and very particular circumstances,” said cathedral sources.
Nevertheless the mythical role of Saint James the Moorslayer still exerts a powerful attraction to Spaniards. Troops being withdrawn from Iraq as a result of the Socialist general-election victory three days after Madrid’s terrorist massacre, wear the Moorslayer’s red cross on their uniforms.
Legend has it that St James, son of Zebedee and Salomé and St John’s brother, had preached Christianity in Spain before returning to Judea where he was beheaded by King Herod Agrippa in AD44.
His body miraculously floated in its stone sarcophagus across the Mediterranean and around the Iberian peninsula. It landed at Iria Flavia, a short distance from Galicia’s capital, which was later named Santiago de Compostela after him.
His body’s return to Spain inspired the Christian troops fighting the Moorish occupiers at the Battle of Clavijo in 844. He appeared on a white cloud and urged them on with his sword. The crusaders shouted to him: “Santiago y cierra Espana! St James, we will reconquer Spain!” The story reinforced the Catholic Church’s identity as a crusading force whose great aim was to defeat Islam. Monarchs, including Carlos V and Felipe V, had their portraits painted sitting on horses and dressed in similar attire to the Moorkiller.
Cervantes’ great hero, Don Quixote, called St James the Moorslayer “one of the most valiant saints and knights that the world has ever had”. The removal of the statue was welcomed by Muslims as “a great step towards achieving peace”.
Housaam El Mahmoudi, president of the Association of Moroccan Students in Santiago said that the statue’s withdrawal would open the way to “understanding and living together”.
He added that Saint James the Moorkiller was one of Christianity’s most savage symbols and “a provocation to the Arab community”.
But one conservative commentator, Cesar Lopez Llera, attacked the decision-makers, saying that it would not be long before “they surprise us with the naming of a nun as bishop or the recommendation of the use of condoms to avoid Aids”.