So, the Brooklyn Museum has done it again.

It was back in 1999 that the once revered institution in Crown Heights hosted “Sensation,” an exhibit that featured elephant dung and pictures of female genitalia on a “portrait” of the Blessed Mother.

This time, it plans to show “Hide/Seek,” which the museum bills as “the first major museum exhibit to explore how gender and sexual identity have shaped the creation of American portraiture.”

Unfortunately, part of that show is a film by the late David Wojnarowicz titled, “A Fire in My Belly,” which includes a scene depicting a crucifix covered with crawling ants.

The filmmaker, who died of AIDS, once called the Catholic Church a “house of walking swastikas.”  Bigotry or art?

When this show was sponsored by the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.  Bill Donohue and The Catholic League jumped at that opportunity to depict the anti-Catholic sensibilities of the film and eventually the show packed its bags after a public outcry and left town.

The Brooklyn Museum, perhaps seeking to attract public demonstrations that would boost their attendance, latched onto “Hide/Seek.”

Arnold Lehman, director of the Brooklyn Museum (he also was there in 1999), proudly proclaimed, “From the first moment I learned about this extraordinary exhibition…, presenting it in Brooklyn has been a priority.”

Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, who did not want to call attention to the exhibit, quietly reached out to museum officials by letter, asking them to remove the vile anti-Catholic clip.

Responding to the bishop’s missive, John Tamagni, chairman of the museum’s board, replied, “Nothing in the exhibition was meant to be offensive.” Apparently, that referred not only to the film but also to the scenes of naked men kissing, sadomasochistic images and photos of AIDS-ravaged corpses.

At least Bishop DiMarzio received a personal response and not the generic response sent to Bishop Daily in 1999 addressed to “Mr. Daily.”

Even if no offense was meant, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be offended. The Brooklyn Museum is supported by public funds that should not be used to offend large segments of the population.

The crucifix is a sacred item, especially for Catholics. Any attempt to violate that space is viewed as sacrilegious.
The point has been made many times that if it was a Torah or a portrait of Mohammed being defiled, the exhibit would never see the light of opening day because of the public outcry. But we Catholics have gotten lazy and we almost take it in stride when we are smacked around.

Even after the insult of 1999, Catholics have tried to kiss and make up with the Brooklyn Museum. We held one or two fundraisers there, which, by the way, many Catholics refused to attend. But the museum directors do not seem to have learned their lesson.

Even now, the bishop has not called for a boycott and would not have made a big deal about his objections to the show if reporters had not come to his door asking questions.

Personally, I have not set foot inside the Brooklyn Museum since 1999 and I must admit I had frequented the place often. No more! I see bigotry when such a show is mounted and I do not want to support it in any way.