USMMA Superintendent Significantly Augments MRFF’s Constitutional Victory Regarding Sectarian Religious Painting Looming Over U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
February 20, 2023
On January 10, 2023, the Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Vice Admiral Joanna Nunan quickly responded to MRFF’s initial demands on behalf of 17 clients (now up to 26 clients) in regards to the gigantic sectarian religious “Christ on the Water” painting. This painting loomed over all functions conducted within the ‘Astronaut Elliot M. See Room’ in the Academy’s main administration building.
MRFF had originally demanded the religious painting be moved to a more constitutionally appropriate location such as the USMMA Mariners Chapel. In response, Vice Admiral Nunan, citing the massive size of the painting as the reason it couldn’t be moved elsewhere, responded with an alternate solution — to cover the painting with curtains (which was done immediately). MRFF and our clients were satisfied with what appeared to be a sensible and reasonable compromise.
Cue the Christian Supremacists… On February 9, 2023, 4 Christian Nationalist congressmen wrote to Vice Admiral Nunan demanding that the Merchant Marine Academy “Immediately return the painting to the way it was displayed” and “Cease all effort to remove or limit displaying of the painting.” A fifth Christian Nationalist congressmen wrote to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on February 13, 2023 demanding that he act immediately to “correct” the covering of the painting (please note: the Merchant Marine Academy is under the Department of Transportation rather than the Department of Defense).
On February 15, 2023, MRFF Senior Research Director Chris Rodda wrote an article entitled ‘Five MAGA congressmen on a crusade to get Merchant Marine Academy ginormous Jesus painting uncovered’ in which she completely dissected then destroyed the flimsy “legal & historical arguments” posed by the 5 Christian Nationalist congressmen as a basis for their demands. Within two days of Chris Rodda’s rebuttal, on February 17, 2023 the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy issued a revised statement on how the matter will be addressed:
UPDATED: Statement on Painting Entitled “Christ on the Water” at the United States Merchant Marine Academy – February 17, 2023
In early January, the Academy received a complaint about a painting located in the Astronaut Elliot M. See Room. The Room is in the Academy’s main administration building—Wiley Hall. The painting, titled “Christ on the Water,” depicts an image of Jesus appearing before merchant mariners adrift in a lifeboat. From 1942 to 1961, the Elliot See Room served as the Academy’s interfaith chapel. Since then until February 2023, the Room was used by administrators, faculty, staff, and midshipmen for meetings and events. The Elliot See Room was also used as a venue for proceedings held to determine whether a midshipman had violated the Academy’s Honor Code.
The complaint suggested that the painting sends an improper message of preferred faith in violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the Constitution. The Academy evaluated this complaint. In balancing our responsibility to foster a community of mutual respect and adhere to the law, we have decided to discontinue use of the Elliot See Room for official business. The Room will remain available to members of our community who wish to view the painting. Finally, we will engage a vendor to clean and restore the painting and eventually display it at the Academy’s Chapel. [emphasis added]
MRFF commends the swift action, integrity, and constitutional commitment of Vice Admiral Nunan and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy regarding the extremely divisive and blatantly unconstitutional demands by 5 congressmen in support of Christian Nationalism.
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What a nice follow-up.
I hope all military and civilian leaders who respond promptly and effectively to an MRFF complaint know they are inspiring many. Especially in this day and age where certain members of Congress are deranged enough to try to bring the heat down on them for taking action that is 100% legal and 100% right.