Changing Faiths at the Crystal Cathedral

The Los Angeles Times ^ | 9/13/13 | Rick Rojas

[marshmallow]

Once the symbol of a congregation founded by Robert Schuller, the cathedral is now part of a church with rites and traditions that span centuries.

Towering like the Emerald City, the cathedral formerly known as Crystal sits at what might be Orange County's nucleus, a trinity of confluencing freeways, the Angels and Ducks stadium and a glimpse of a sacred place of a different kind — Disneyland

From that gleaming sanctuary, evangelist Robert Schuller delivered sermons that were beamed to television sets around the world. His ministry became synonymous with the megachurch, designed so the light and the breeze could stream through, a grand replica of his humble beginnings preaching on the roof of an Orange drive-in's snack shop.

The Crystal Cathedral was to Schuller what Graceland was to Elvis. Now it has been bought by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, which has long coveted having a cathedral that sat at the center of its vast footprint of 1.2 million Catholics.

The name has already been changed to the Christ Cathedral. But the work of liturgical consultants, priests and architects to transform a temple so closely identified as a symbol of Schuller's sunny, uniquely Southern Californian theology into one that conforms to the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church has just begun.

"The exterior will always be the Crystal Cathedral, at least for a while," said Duncan Stroik, a professor of architecture at Notre Dame and editor of the publication Sacred Architecture Journal. "Catholic on the inside, but kind of Protestant on the outside."

Those who have taken on the project recognize that their assignment is a intimidating one, but they also have faith:

They can turn the Crystal Cathedral into the Christ Cathedral.

[Buckeye McFrog]

It kind of disturbs me that they would want a building this ostentatious while at the same time preaching humility to the flock.

[Alex Murphy]

The Crystal Cathedral was to Schuller what Graceland was to Elvis. Now it has been bought by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, which has long coveted having a cathedral that sat at the center of its vast footprint of 1.2 million Catholics. The name has already been changed to the Christ Cathedral. But the work of liturgical consultants, priests and architects to transform a temple so closely identified as a symbol of Schuller's sunny, uniquely Southern Californian theology into one that conforms to the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church has just begun.

It'll always look like Elvis' Graceland, IMO. No matter how thin you slice it, it's still baloney.

[Salvation]

Pictures from the article:

http://www.trbimg.com/img-5231e097/turbine/la-me-crystal-cathedral-pictures-011/980

http://www.trbimg.com/img-5231e0a1/turbine/la-me-crystal-cathedral-pictures-008/600

http://www.trbimg.com/img-5231e0b9/turbine/la-me-crystal-cathedral-pictures-001/600

http://www.trbimg.com/img-5231e08c/turbine/la-me-crystal-cathedral-pictures-014/600

[ansel12]

It might be fun to see Catholic descriptions of the Crystal Cathedral before the Catholic denomination bought it.

It sounds like a mega church.

[Jeff Chandler]

They were in need of a cathedral for the diocese. I don't know how the cost of building one compares to the cost of acquiring this one.

I don't like it personally. It looks like it was transported from Krypton. Which, I suppose, is better than the Prison Nouveau cathedral down Interstate 5

[Egon]

Ping.

[Uncle Chip]

Are they still going to have the camels and donkeys in there at Christmas???

[svcw]

It is an incredible building.

(I have always wondered how they keep those windows clean, I can’t even figure out to clean my sliders)

[Fiji Hill]

The Catholics should have purchased some land and built their own facility, to their own tastes.

[svcw]

I read once that churches centuries ago were built like this (or other magnificent building) as a representation of heaven.
Pictures and tapestries were used to teach Bible as most people were unable to read.
Do not know if that’s correct, it does make sense though

[Cicero]

Maybe it made some kind of economic sense. Cheaper than building a new cathedral from scratch? But it’s an ugly looking building. It joins the ranks of some other really ugly-looking modernist cathedrals in California.

A cathedral should be beautiful, and it should focus the congregation’s attention on the altar and the Mass. It still looks like what it was, a Mega Church built and run by boastful pastors who went a little too far and couldn’t pull it off.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“They were in need of a cathedral for the diocese. “

Not if they followed the Bible... no cathedrals appear. Not in Apostolic teaching. Not in history until hundreds of years later.

[svcw]

Thanks, very interesting perspectives

[Mr. K]

what happened to Robert Schuller ?

[Buckeye McFrog]

Creative architecture and the Catholic Liturgy do not go well together, I’ve found.

First noticed that in modern churches built with an “in the round” design. The spoke-and-wheel aisle layout makes getting down for Communion quite an adventure. Not to mention trying to navigate those aisles with a casket on a gurney.

[afraidfortherepublic]

I don’t think this is “changing faiths”. Everybody believes in Christ’s message who worshipped/worships at the Crystal/Christ Cathedral. Since Pope John XXIII, Catholics have been taught that following another faith does not preclude your entrance to Heaven. We Catholics just believe that we have better guideposts, that’s all.

This is a beautiful building, and I can see how it can be adapted into a Catholic cathedral. I just pray they have the donations to cover the cost of window washers. (And I hope that they introduce some judiciously positioned stained glass too.)

[Buckeye McFrog]

The modern day Vatican is truly a beautiful example of architecture, filled with many of the world’s great art treasures.

Unfortunately financed through the heresy of selling indulgences. As a Catholic I am sort of torn between the beauty and mortified by the use of resources that could have been used to do so much more for His work.

[savagesusie]

Planned self-destruction.....erasing of everything “medieval” so they can reframe “Truth”-—twist it to mean whatever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Qhtj_jmNvDs#t=411

[Dutchboy88]

"It kind of disturbs me that they would want a building this ostentatious while at the same time preaching humility to the flock."

Schuller was never about the Gospel. He was a protege of Norman Vincent Peale and the Power of Positive Thinking, a cult almost as kooky as Rome. So, it just went from one circus to another.