Keith's Christmas card to his dad!

stryfe · 12-17-2009, 11:15 AM

An unholy row has broken out in New Zealand over a church billboard aimed at "challenging stereotypes" about the birth of Jesus Christ.

A dejected-looking Joseph lies in bed next to Mary under the caption, "Poor Joseph. God was a hard act to follow".

St Matthew-in-the-City Church in Auckland, which erected the billboard, said it had intended to provoke debate.

But the Catholic Church, among others, has condemned it as "inappropriate" and "disrespectful".

Within hours of its unveiling, the billboard had been defaced with brown paint.

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."

But Lyndsay Freer, spokeswoman for the Catholic Diocese of Auckland, said the poster was offensive to Christians.

"Our Christian tradition of 2,000 years is that Mary remains a virgin and that Jesus is the son of God, not Joseph," she told the New Zealand Herald. "Such a poster is inappropriate and disrespectful."

The family values group Family First said any debate about the Virgin birth should be held inside the church.

"To confront children and families with the concept as a street billboard is completely irresponsible and unnecessary," Family First director Bob McCroskrie told the news website stuff.co.nz.

BBC News - Unholy row over New Zealand Mary and Joseph billboard

BrownEyedBtch · 12-17-2009, 12:14 PM

I think it's funny. How unfortunate to follow something that never has a sense of humor about itself.

stylizethis · 12-17-2009, 03:50 PM

Really? I thought it was amusing... I don't know about "funny." As for the billboard itself, I wish it had better typography...

indianprincess · 12-17-2009, 09:31 PM

"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?"

I like the phrase "God sending down sperm." How many men have I heard say this . . .

Kydizzle · 12-18-2009, 09:00 AM

"But that's out of about 20 responses - this is New Zealand."

I lol'ed at that.

punk'n · 12-18-2009, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stylizethis

Really? I thought it was amusing... I don't know about "funny." As for the billboard itself, I wish it had better typography...

Hahahah! Designer! Agreed, the fonts are tired.

Ant-LOX · 12-18-2009, 12:09 PM

Yeah, they needed a bold sans serif.

PrinceValiant · 12-18-2009, 01:56 PM

"Our Christian tradition of 2,000 years is that Mary remains a virgin and that Jesus is the son of God, not Joseph," she told the New Zealand Herald.

No shit, dumbass. That's the joke.

cupcakesnsprinkles · 12-19-2009, 04:39 AM

I'm gonna hafta quote Kevin Smith's movie "Dogma" -
believing that Mary and Joseph never got it on is just plain ignant"

But will say I agree that having a billboard that eludes to sex like that on the street for all to see is pretty irresponsible, especially for a church.

MaH112 · 12-19-2009, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stryfe

St Matthew-in-the-City Church in Auckland, which erected the billboard(...)

Wondering if this pun was made intentionally

12-17-2009, 11:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
stryfe Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 156	Keith's Christmas card to his dad! An unholy row has broken out in New Zealand over a church billboard aimed at "challenging stereotypes" about the birth of Jesus Christ. A dejected-looking Joseph lies in bed next to Mary under the caption, "Poor Joseph. God was a hard act to follow". St Matthew-in-the-City Church in Auckland, which erected the billboard, said it had intended to provoke debate. But the Catholic Church, among others, has condemned it as "inappropriate" and "disrespectful". Within hours of its unveiling, the billboard had been defaced with brown paint. 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." But Lyndsay Freer, spokeswoman for the Catholic Diocese of Auckland, said the poster was offensive to Christians. "Our Christian tradition of 2,000 years is that Mary remains a virgin and that Jesus is the son of God, not Joseph," she told the New Zealand Herald. "Such a poster is inappropriate and disrespectful." The family values group Family First said any debate about the Virgin birth should be held inside the church. "To confront children and families with the concept as a street billboard is completely irresponsible and unnecessary," Family First director Bob McCroskrie told the news website stuff.co.nz. BBC News - Unholy row over New Zealand Mary and Joseph billboard
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12-17-2009, 12:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
BrownEyedBtch Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 879	I think it's funny. How unfortunate to follow something that never has a sense of humor about itself.
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12-17-2009, 03:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
stylizethis Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 27	Really? I thought it was amusing... I don't know about "funny." As for the billboard itself, I wish it had better typography...
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12-17-2009, 09:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
indianprincess Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 130	"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?" I like the phrase "God sending down sperm." How many men have I heard say this . . .
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12-18-2009, 09:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
Kydizzle Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 438	"But that's out of about 20 responses - this is New Zealand." I lol'ed at that.
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12-18-2009, 12:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ant-LOX Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 273	Yeah, they needed a bold sans serif.
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12-18-2009, 01:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
PrinceValiant Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Queens Posts: 58	"Our Christian tradition of 2,000 years is that Mary remains a virgin and that Jesus is the son of God, not Joseph," she told the New Zealand Herald. No shit, dumbass. That's the joke.
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12-19-2009, 04:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
cupcakesnsprinkles Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Japan Posts: 108	I'm gonna hafta quote Kevin Smith's movie "Dogma" - believing that Mary and Joseph never got it on is just plain ignant" But will say I agree that having a billboard that eludes to sex like that on the street for all to see is pretty irresponsible, especially for a church.
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