Wow! Who knew that depicting a billboard with Jesus’ parent, Mary and Joseph, looking a little sad after making relations would be a negative thing?
Down there in New Zealand, home of the Conchords and a lot of sheep, the St Matthew-in-the-City Church in Auckland erected the billboard in hopes of turning heads.
They did.
Within hours the billboard was defaced.
The church’s vicar, Archdeacon Glynn Cardy, said the aim of the billboard had been to lampoon the literal interpretation of the Christmas conception story.
“What we’re trying to do is to get people to think more about what Christmas is all about,” he told the New Zealand Press Association (NZPA).
“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?”
He told NZPA that the church had received e-mails and phone calls about the controversial image.
“About 50% said they loved it, and about 50% said it was terribly offensive,” he said. “But that’s out of about 20 responses – this is New Zealand. [source]
20 responses! That’s quite a reaction.
