The ritual of washing feet has a deep-seated tie to Holy Week, a symbol of the humility Jesus showed in performing the act for his disciples the day before his death.
Craig Taffaro, president of St. Bernard Parish, La., took that custom into the workplace Thursday (April 1), going around the government complex throughout the day to wash the feet of willing employees.
“As the chief executive officer of St. Bernard Parish Government, I thought it was an appropriate gesture to show that I am as humbled as any other sinner in the world, so much so that I would offer to wash the feet of the employees,” Taffaro said.
Taffaro did not publicize his actions. A reporter was alerted to the matter by several phone calls from people who had heard from government employees whose feet were washed.
The title is a little too cute and the overall tone of the report seems rather cynical. But for the ACLU to register a formal protest is sad and strikes me as a typical overreaction. Freedom [b]of[/b] religion isn’t the same thing as freedom [b]from[/b] religion, as the ACLA and its supporters so easily tend to suppose.
Perhaps it’s worth noting that there was a venerable tradition for centuries that the English monarch would wash a few people’s feet on Maundy Thursday, to display (or inculcate) a proper sense of humility, much as Christian clergy (including the pope himself) have done for ages. The present queen doesn’t wash feet, but Elizabeth I did
David Handy+.
I think it was neat that he did this but it doesn’t sound like he executed it well, from the comments of one of the employees. Instead of going around the company, he probably should have sent a memo explaining it and offered to wash the feet of anyone who went to him.
As someone who really doesn’t like having others touch her feet (I never participate in the foot-washing at church and I do my own pedicures!), I think I would have felt uncomfortable being approached by my boss in this manner. I wouldn’t have complained to anyone, though!