Wino Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 The Cahtolic Church simply does not have a sense of humor. WELLINGTON (Reuters Life!) – A billboard sponsored by a local Anglican church that shows Joseph and Mary in bed has set tongues wagging in New Zealand, with the Catholic Church condemning it as others found it funny. The controversial billboard, erected by St Matthew-in-the-City Church in Auckland, shows a dejected-looking Joseph under bedcovers beside a sad Mary. Underneath the image, a caption reads: "Poor Joseph. God is a hard act to follow." (Church website at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=498&id=999) Church archdeacon Glynn Cardy said the billboard was intended to lampoon the literal interpretation of the Christmas conception story and highlight the real significance of the festival. "What we're trying to do is to get people to think more about what Christmas is all about," Cardy told local media. "Is it about a spiritual male God sending down sperm so a child would be born, or is it about the power of love in our midst as seen in Jesus?" The billboard has so far drawn the ire of the Catholic Church in New Zealand, which called it "inappropriate" and "disrespectful." It was also condemned as offensive by family values group Family First. "The church can have its debate on the Virgin birth and its spiritual significance inside the church building, but to confront children and families with the concept as a street billboard is completely irresponsible and unnecessary," Family First director Bob McCoskrie told news website stuff.co.nz. The website also showed a picture of the billboard daubed in brown paint, saying it had been defaced a few hours after it was put up outside the Anglican St Matthew-in-the-City Church. Archdeacon Cardy said the church had also received several emails and phonecalls about the advert, which he said was exactly what it had been intended to do -- provoke debate about one of the most important festivals on the Christian calendar. "The true importance of Christmas is in the radical hospitality Jesus offered to the poor, the despised, women, children, and the sick, and says: 'this is the essence of God'," Cardy said. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091217/od_nm/us_newzealand_billboard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Chang Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 "The true importance of Christmas is in the radical hospitality Jesus offered to the poor, the despised, women, children, and the sick, and says: 'this is the essence of God'," Cardy said. Sounds good to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wino Posted December 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2009 Here is a picture of the billboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Chang Posted December 24, 2009 Report Share Posted December 24, 2009 A friend of mine did some cutting edge advertising on the subway for a liberal New York City church but me thinks the elders and deacons would deem this too risque. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wino Posted December 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2009 Most anything dealing with sex usually makes the church elders worry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Chang Posted December 27, 2009 Report Share Posted December 27, 2009 Here's the most recent church ad that a buddy of mine created for New York subways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rucus7 Posted December 28, 2009 Report Share Posted December 28, 2009 It just goes to show . . . . that Religion's primary function is censorship of free expression. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wino Posted December 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2009 Religion in my opinion was invented to control the people Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lvdkeyes Posted December 29, 2009 Report Share Posted December 29, 2009 I see no other reason for religion than to control the masses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wino Posted December 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2009 How about fleecing the momey from the masses? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lvdkeyes Posted December 29, 2009 Report Share Posted December 29, 2009 Exactly. Been to the Vatican and was so repulsed by the riches while people in largely Catholic countries starve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Chang Posted December 29, 2009 Report Share Posted December 29, 2009 Catholics don't hold a monopoly on keeping the riches with the clergy rather than the poor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lvdkeyes Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 I am sure, but the Vatican is the place where I saw it for myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Chang Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 I never saw the pyramids but built by slave labor I suppose. OOPs, enslaved people these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wino Posted December 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Catholics don't have have a monopoly on it but have had years of practice. These television preachers are just as bad. Always asking for money and targeting the old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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