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CV NEWS FEED // US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced May 15 that he is moving a historic painting of Jesus back to its place of prominence at the Merchant Marine Academy after Biden administration officials relegated it to the basement two years ago.
“Christ on the Water” was painted in 1944 by artist Hunter Wood, who had joined the Coast Guard shortly after the Pearl Harbor bombing, the Daily Wire reported. The painting was installed at the Merchant Marine Academy’s Wiley Hall Elliot See Room in 1947 and stayed there for nearly 80 years.
However, in 2023, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation complained that the painting violated religious freedom, and it was taken down from its display.
“We are moving Jesus out of the basement. To all the great midshipmen at the Merchant Marine Academy, you let me know how important this painting was to all of you,” Duffy stated. “Now, we all know it was taken out of a place of prominence and put down in the basement.”
Duffy is responsible for the Maritime Administration, which operates the Academy, the Daily Wire added.
“I worked with the Academy, and because this is such a historic painting,” he said, “I’m announcing that through that work with the academy, this painting is going to go from the basement back to its place of prominence. It will be a moment to celebrate.”
As CatholicVote previously reported, Duffy is a pro-life Catholic and the father of nine children. His wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, co-hosts Fox & Friends Weekend.
