Local Billboard Advertisement Shows Joseph and Mary in Bed
Posted by Nel
A billboard in Auckland, New Zealand featuring Joseph and Mary in bed, sponsored by a local Anglican Church has drawn condemnation from the Catholic Church, Reuters reports.
The St. Matthew-in-the-City Church has erected the billboard in the hope of putting in to a debate the conception story of Christmas to be able to highlight the real significance of the celebration.
In the billboard, a dejected Joseph lies along a very sad looking Mary under bedcovers. The caption above it said “Poor Joseph, God is a hard act to follow.”
“What we’re trying to do is to get people to think more about what Christmas is all about. 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?” said the church’s archdeacon Glynn Cardy.
The Catholic Church condemned the billboard and called it “inappropriate” and “disrespectful”.
Family values group Family First meanwhile called it “offensive.” It said that the church can have its debate inside the church, but to present them on a billboard for all to see, church members or not, is no longer necessary and is considered irresponsible.
Due to the attention it got, the church said that their target has already been achieved.
There is another similar “indecent” Christmas-related incident that has hit the news this year. Almost three weeks ago, a Los Angeles store featured a sexy nativity as part of their yuletide advertisement.
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