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September 7, 2008 7:59:51 AM CDT

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Sweatshop Crucifixes Stir Up Unholy Mess for Church

Posted Nov 21, 07 2:13 AM CST in Arts & Living 

(Newser) – Revelations that crucifixes in their gift shops are made in a Chinese sweatshop has shocked officials at New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral and Trinity Episcopal Church, who removed the crosses from stores, reports Newsday. Young workers at the crucifix factory reportedly work 15-hour days in poor conditions for only 26 cents an hour. The $1.40 crosses sell for $17.95 at St. Pat's.

Officials from both churches vowed to investigate. But a spokesman for St. Patrick's also accused the labor advocate who announced information about the crucifixes to reporters outside the cathedral of intentionally embarrassing the church. Cathedral visitors were taken aback by the news. "You'd think a church would be upholding the basic principles of human rights," said one.

Sources Newsday, Associated Press

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This is a crucifix produced at a sweatshop factory in Dongguan City, China, and purchased at the gift shop of the Episcopal Trinity Church in New York. Crosses from the same factory have been distributed...   (Associated Press)
Officials at St Patrick's Cathedral have removed the crucifixes from the gift shop   (Archive Photos)
This photo taken secretly in Sept. 2007 by a worker at the at the Junxingye factory in Dongguan City, China, and provided by the National Labor Committee shows workers assembling medallions. The National...   (Associated Press)
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Catholic Church  • sweatshop  • labor movement



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