‘God is Trans’: Manhattan Catholic church sparks controversy over blasphemous exhibit

The "God is Trans: A Queer Spiritual Journey” exhibit is a series of three paintings on display at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle. The display, by artist Adah Unachukwu, describes the abstract art work as representing a “queer spiritual journey in three steps: Sacrifice, Identity, and Communion.”

The exhibit has been met with a mixed reaction from the community.

“The church should not be promoting this,” one angry parishioner told the New York Post. “I understand there are transgender people. I pray for all people but enough is enough.”

“It seem like they are trying to force the agenda on others,” the parishioner added. Also, when a friend asked a priest about this they didn’t answer. You can’t put this out on the altar and then hide. That’s what gets the church in trouble.”

According to the description accompanying the art work, the Sacrifice painting speaks to the need to “shed an old life and personhood in order to be able to focus on your spiritual need.”

“There is no devil: just past selves,” Catholic worshippers are told.

Identity is described as the “most impactful part of the exhibit.” It asks, “What does holiness look like? What does your God look like? Are these two portrayals that can be merged?”

Lastly, there’s Communion, which “rounds out the spiritual journey, by placing God and the mortal on the same plane to speak to one another.”

“This part of the installation is about a spiritual home and the ways we can achieve this home on our everyday lives.”

Images from the exhibit

While some were displeased by the presence of such a controversial message being placed next to the church’s altar, others were supportive, arguing that it demonstrates the church is “in the present.”

“I don’t understand the art, but this church is very liberal, which is why I love this church,” Cherri Ghosh, 80, told the New York Post. “They are really in the present when others are not.”

“The queer community has been accepted here for a long time now,” said Bill O’Connor, 79. “It’s wonderful having this here and a wonderful church.”

“This is a place of welcome,” he continued. “It’s also a place to question one’s own path.”

The church is known for its support of the LGBTQ+ community. Back in 2021, the New York Times reported on its “gay friendly” Sunday mass.

St. Paul’s is far from the only church to embrace the doctrine of gender identity ideology. A Lutheran pastor recently declared transphobia to be a sin and trans people to be divine, and back in 2021, another Lutheran pastor dressed in drag while conducting a service.

In the Church of England (CofE) is reportedly considering making God “gender neutral” in order to be “more inclusive,” and Bingo Allison, the Church of England’s first “gender-queer” priest visits schools in order to normalise being transgender for children.