“Tod Mahal” Renamed. Let’s Hope It Does Not Stop There.

Vesper? Here?

The “Tod Mahal”, also known as the USD 57m former Crystal Cathedral, is now going to be renamed as “Christ Cathedral”.

The name change is all fine, and Christ being rather well-known – at least by hearsay – even among secular journalists there is some hope the new name will catch very soon.

The “only” thing to do now is to try to transform what is clearly a monument to Protestant glitz in something at least doing its best to reflect Catholic values. I am, I must say, very curious.

In another parallel news, the Protestant community founded by Mr Schuller will,we are informed, move into a nearby…. former Catholic church, from which the TV broadcasts will take place. Again, I am curious to see how the spectacular scene of the Crystal Cathedral (fitting for a flashy Protestant outfit, but very questionable as a Catholic cathedral; unless your name is Tod, or course) will be replaced by the rather more modest appearance of a conventionally built and much smaller Catholic building. Someway, the idea of the powerful music and the cavernous voice saying “The Hour Of Brick and Mortar In Our Reduced New Premises” does not really catch my imagination.

I still have the hope in a couple of years – when we are rid of Tod – the real estate prices will catch up a bit and the new bishop will be able to sell the thing to other interested parties – like another university; or perhaps it could be converted into an office building – and use the money to build a sensible, traditional, truly brick-and-mortar edifice exuding Catholic spirituality.

First thing, though, is to wait that Bishop Tod takes the exit.

Mundabor