Washington National Cathedral Rebuilds After Earthquake (VIDEO)

WASHINGTON -- HuffPost got a peek inside the Washington National Cathedral Thursday as crews of engineers and stone masons work to repair the damage done by an earthquake last week.

Part of their efforts included installing safety nets along the ceiling of the Cathedral to catch falling debris.

The cathedral plans to reopen the weekend of Sept. 11.

Comments

[Carmen Slade]

01:14 PM on 09/05/2011

And yet, there are still people left homeless from Katrina...

[Treehuggindirtworshiper]

07:32 PM on 09/07/2011

And Episcopal Relief and Development has been there since day one. As well as the east coast, Greensburg Kansas, Joplin Missouri and so on. But instead of having to wade through red tape to help, this is our church and we can get the repairs done without waiting for the government to approve.

[3dtrix]

01:16 PM on 09/02/2011

Why does the USA - a secular nation - even have a "national cathedral?"

I've got nothing against the building, nothing against churches in general, and only object to the more toxic manifestations of religious dogma conceptually - but why do we need a "national" church in the first place?

[theoriginalmatt]

04:50 PM on 09/02/2011

It's not national in the sense that it is established by any governmental authority. And in fact, that is not its official name. It's more of a nickname so-to-speak that it has acquired over time. Its real name is The Cathedral Church of St. Peter and St. Paul.

[3dtrix]

11:05 PM on 09/02/2011

Thanks for that!

[barnowl]

08:20 AM on 09/08/2011

It is a beautiful place and was the last Episcopal Church to offer the 1928 liturgy exactly as I had grown up with it....at least when I attended many years ago on a trip to DC I hoper the repairs are entirely successful and will see if there is a way to help defray the expense.

[MirrorMonkey]

01:22 PM on 09/03/2011

Sooooooo clueless. It's like reading a post from "Emily Litella" of the old Saturday Night Live....

[3dtrix]

02:28 PM on 09/03/2011

I asked a question - which is a form of admitting a lack of information (when the question is not a rhetorical question, which mine wasn't).

You have managed to insult the asker without offering a lick of information - I have no handle on your remarks whatsoever. Do you dispute this is a secular nation? Do you assume everyone knows why we have - or should have - a "national cathedral?"

The poster above you offered real information, for which I offered a thanks - now I am better informed, which was the point of asking my question.

For you, I suppose, there is no more appropriate response than to invite you to kiss my grits...

[Alex Luck]

02:34 PM on 09/03/2011

So your answer is that some coarse, impolite, and ignorant people wanted it? Hardly seems likely, but if you say so.

[talkstocoyotes]

12:02 PM on 09/02/2011

I haven't been Christian for many decades; but I'm so glad they're not wasting any time in repairing the cathedral. It's a beautiful building and a work of art, and everyone ought to be able to respect that.

Some of the remarks here make me wonder if the posters would have applauded the Taliban destroying Buddhist artworks a few years back.

[Numskll]

07:55 AM on 09/02/2011

I can't tell the tea partiers from the atheists from the rival christians in this thread. lol

[BuckoForce]

03:16 AM on 09/02/2011

God bless atheists.

[alterego55]

01:32 PM on 09/02/2011

Dog bless Christians.

[jestermarcus]

03:16 PM on 09/02/2011

Please don't condemn me like that. His blessing don't seem to mean much in this world.

[brokerthanu]

02:16 AM on 09/02/2011

But why? Don't they respect the work of their god?

[BuckoForce]

03:15 AM on 09/02/2011

Let the people fix their church. Not everyone believes in nothing.

[jestermarcus]

03:19 PM on 09/02/2011

Its actually a decision to not believe in something that has no proof of existence. But don't worry, you were pretty close.

[gevan]

05:18 AM on 09/02/2011

God doesn't build cathedrals

[jestermarcus]

03:20 PM on 09/02/2011

But he did cause the earthquake that remodeled it.

[Trekkiefandom]

12:25 AM on 09/02/2011

OMG.. there is a crack in a building. However, lets not rush to re-build our poor infrastructure.

[Hysterian68]

03:09 AM on 09/02/2011

It's the work of God. He's trying to get into the Episcopal Church.

[jestermarcus]

03:18 PM on 09/02/2011

Can't he just use the door? Does he really have to destroy the walls to get in?

[barnowl]

08:23 AM on 09/08/2011

He is there always.

[theoriginalmatt]

06:41 AM on 09/02/2011

The National Cathedral has historically been and continues to be a major voice in Washington advocating for the poor and disenfranchised. They have been at the forefront of civil rights, equal rights for women, as well as LGBTQ rights.

[Trekkiefandom]

01:52 PM on 09/02/2011

I never said don't fix it, but I rather most of the energy go to re-build an infrastructure that has more than just a simple crack in it.

[mrvnlimar]

11:51 PM on 09/01/2011

I think that the pic is of the tip of the Washington Monument, not the Cathedral. I saw the video of the damage to the Cathedral on the news and it sure didn't look like that. Statues of figures had fallen, some were just shaken apart and stayed up. Am I the only one to see this or am I hallucinating?

[scotttimscott09]

02:30 AM on 09/02/2011

You are correct. I've been to both personally. Though it could be human error (that we're all capable of) my guess is that Huff's picture archivist is more qualified to name the birth order of the Kardashian Sisters via a photograph than recognize these historical national landmarks.

[mrvnlimar]

01:18 AM on 09/04/2011

I love it. Nothing like a tongue firmly planted in ones cheek. I've been there too but never had the opportunity to view them up close and personal, Was always the driver and not the observer. At least I was able to spot the difference. Keen eyes, y'no.

[scotttimscott09]

02:45 AM on 09/02/2011

Let me correct my nearby entry. The Washington Monument is a National Landmark, but the Washington National Cathedral is on the National Register of Historical Places. But you get the gist of my post.

[THE GREAT PURIFIER]

09:12 PM on 09/01/2011

That was fast.

It surely pays to have friends in high places.

[idonthinkso]

08:18 PM on 09/01/2011

didn't they get THE MESSAGE? god does not want expensive symbols of warship. he wants his flock to take the money and feed the hungry. what's wrong with these people.

[Hysterian68]

03:11 AM on 09/02/2011

Actually God does indeed want expensive symbols. Ever read Leviticus and all that gold God wanted on his place and the jewels in the high priest's breastplate?

[voxproveritate]

12:19 PM on 09/02/2011

That is an incorrect assertion based on one snapshot of the meta-narrative. The reason for these artifacts, as explained throughout the Jewish holy texts, is that God desired to be the first object of the Israelites' affection - more valuable than gold and jewels. These commands were to create a place of sacrifice - only the purest, most worldly expensive materials were used, which forced the people into a new perspective of wealth and value. Their tithings forced a life of sacrifice, which humbled the proud and bred compassion.

God's command to return all acquired lands and release all indentured servants after a period of years was to stifle the hoarding of treasures, and other Jewish traditions and texts show this rejection of worldly wealth as well.

If God were invented by man, He would have commanded treasures be an indication of just how holy one is. And ironically, this is what religion has become today.

[thinkingwomanmillstone]

09:41 AM on 09/02/2011

since God is made of man and man always covets gold, most religions have large treasuries of gold, and other property. They don't truly care about those on the bottom of society just the bottom line.

[Hectrev1]

08:12 PM on 09/01/2011

The shape its in is indicative of the shape the Episcopal church is in, I hope the damn thing crumbles to the ground along with the Episcopal Church.

[Asmodean1]

09:34 PM on 09/01/2011

As a baptized Episcopalian i bed to differ. I have been to service in the National Cathedral several times. As a born again deist (lol) i so enjoyed the ceremony. I would never go to a local (plain) wooden church for any reason under god. I went there becuase of the beauty of the structure. The time and artistry that went into creating it. In my opinion it is what a testament to "god" should be. As a deist I like to think of going there to pay homage to my deity - In thanks even if i do really believe "it" can't or doesn't hear me.

[brokerthanu]

02:18 AM on 09/02/2011

I bet you DO bed to differ!

[talkstocoyotes]

12:05 PM on 09/02/2011

***As a born again deist (lol) i so enjoyed the ceremony. I would never go to a local (plain) wooden church for any reason under god. I went there becuase of the beauty of the structure. The time and artistry that went into creating it. In my opinion it is what a testament to "god" should be.***

I don't know what else we'd agree on but we definitely agree on that.

Not passing any judgment on the motives of church builders, but I never have figured out why anyone would want their church to look like an old shed or a warehouse -- or, for that matter, why anyone would be expected to admire that. If you're going to worship the Deity, make the place special in some way.

[Hysterian68]

03:15 AM on 09/02/2011

The papists are in even worse shape with that gay bashing old Bavarian bureaucrat with his pomp and circumstance surrounded by all those cross-dressers in the College of Cardinals. If evil and corruption are grounds for a church crumbling, then St. Peter's basilica is destined to crumble fall into rubble as well.

[Andythelawyer]

08:06 PM on 09/01/2011

A religulous waste of money.

[Gay Iberian]

07:23 PM on 09/01/2011

I'd rather see it disappear, as all churches should. And give the money to the poor!!!!!!

[KennebunkportIndependent]

07:35 PM on 09/01/2011

Indeed.  But what will the poor do with it?

[HekmagaJuximaxx]

08:34 PM on 09/01/2011

Buy food, for starters

[AldoMertens]

12:00 AM on 09/02/2011

As an African pastor, I can see you have forgotten or has no experience of the enormous part a living church community can play in sharing, charity, but more than charity - creating an economy of caring, like in the first church as described in the book of Acts in the Bible. Where this doesn't happen, its no reason for a wish that the church should disappear, but rather that this glorious institution should come to its own again, be less focused on buildings and more on its real identity and purpose, in the footsteps of Christ Himself.

[Javida]

09:25 PM on 09/01/2011

Your post reflects major ignorance about the generous charity churches extend for the poor and everyone else. Pretty lopsided intellect working on your behalf.

[Gay Iberian]

12:17 AM on 09/02/2011

I'd appreciate it if you would refrain from insults. Your have your beliefs and are therefore free to post them here without being attacked, and I have mine and don't expect attacks and insults but rather intelligent non-heated discussions.

[brokerthanu]

02:25 AM on 09/02/2011

"The generous charity churches extend" unfortunately happens with my tax-dollars, courtesy of the "big guvmint" they despise.

The poor they serve are usually there own congregants. This "charity" of course compensates their god-men generously as well.

[MB1East]

07:17 PM on 09/01/2011

It is a beautiful building and great architectural achievement. I am glad they are repairing it.

[KennebunkportIndependent]

07:36 PM on 09/01/2011

Thanks.  It will be beautiful in 500 years.  Megachurches will be dust.

[brokerthanu]

02:27 AM on 09/02/2011

Not if the 'god' has its way!

[owlafaye]

01:37 AM on 09/03/2011

Like Osimandias?

[zlohcuc]

06:59 PM on 09/01/2011

Hey, where did the money come from...what cuts were put into place to make these funds available, when did the recessed Congress vote on the measure and how did this happen so fast?

[KennebunkportIndependent]

07:37 PM on 09/01/2011

Entirely from donations from Episcopallians and other well wishers.  Not on penny from the tax payer.

[Javida]

09:29 PM on 09/01/2011

Episcopalians go quietly along their way and are some of the finest people you'll ever know. I know plenty of them because I grew up in and still attend an episcopal church. They generously support children's summer camps, various charities and respond to needs in disasters.

Some of the posters on this board are entirely clueless about the great good churches do throughout the world. The episcopal church is just one example.

[Javida]

09:30 PM on 09/01/2011

Oh, yes, and I should add Episcopalians take care of themselves, asking for no handouts. I truly admire the Episcopal Church.

[padrushka]

11:27 AM on 09/02/2011

at first i thought karl rove might have donated some of his pac funds..

[theoriginalmatt]

05:18 PM on 09/02/2011

Karl Rove is an atheist (according to his friend Christopher Hitchens)