The Apache Face of Christ
Iconoclasm on the Mescalero Apache Reservation
Abstract
The proper inculturation is one of the most divisive theological and ecclesiastical issues of our time. Related debates tend to elicit strong emotional responses among both progressive and conservative Christians. In my case study, I examine the circumstances surrounding a trauma affecting a particular indigenous Roman Catholic community. In the summer of 2024, the icon of Apache Christ was arbitrarily removed from St. Joseph Apache Mission Church in New Mexico by a Nigerian priest who served in the parish. The icon depicts Christ dressed as an Apache holy man, surrounded by sacred objects of the tribe. I approach the circumstances of its creation, its role in the community, and the resulting conflict from four perspectives. I examine the Apache Christ as an icon, the traditions underlying this unique representation, the historical past of the community, and the possible role of ultra-conservative Nigerian Catholicism in the conflict that has developed. Each of these topics deserves a separate study, but in this paper I would like to highlight the complexity of the situation.
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