The Cathedral of Christ the Light

I'm torn. While I think the complex has some nice architecture, the whole world of catholic creepiness pervades everything. The Cathedral itself is better on the inside than the outside, which looks like it's paved with shower doors. What a pity they opted to mask the massive, sexy bent wood ribs that support the sides and roof of the yoni-shaped space. But on the inside, the echoing starkness of the concrete walls sets off the smaller chapels tucked away along the sides. And the alter looks like a random wall of 2 x 4s, splayed out in a loose arc behind the alter. The huge digital saint I can take or leave. It seems like perhaps a color, or a video of the sea, would bring more life to the space. There's also a small garden that memorialized the children abused by priests, something that the church should display as a vivid apology for the worldwide scandal that continues to unfold, but try and find it. It's guiltily tucked away on the Grand Avenue corner, just grass, a couple curving benches backed by boxwood hedges, and a boulder with a plaque. It feels more like they're taking the same attitude that Nixon took towards Watergate. Yes, it may have happened, but, no, we're still not taking spiritual responsibility, and they continue to blame shortfalls in charity and conservation programs on the victims who sued the church. So, while it's a notable and obviously very expensive building complex, everything else shouts business as usual. If you want spirituality and bliss, bring it with you. I you want to make sure that Gothic eeriness can thrive in a modernist building, this is the place for you.