‘Anty Christ’ at the Smithsonian

A Smithsonian museum video of ants crawling on a crucified Christ has triggered a backlash from the head of the Catholic League president Bill Donohue who claims that the artwork is “hate speech.” 

“A Fire in My Belly,” by late artist David Wojnarowicz, is part of “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture,” an exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery which runs through Feb. 13. 

Donohue said the four-minute video “was designed to insult and inflict injury and assault the sensibilities of Christians.” He blasted the museum’s federal funding. 

“If the government can’t fund the promotion of religion, it shouldn’t be in the business of funding animus to religion,” he suggested.

Smithsonian spokeswoman Linda St. Thomas declined to comment “on people’s opinions on art.”

Does Donohue have a point? If government cannot fund pro-religion art, can if fund anti-religion art?