Mary and Joseph billboard from St Matthew-in-the-City church in Auckland
The billboard is intended to challenge the stereotypes of the Christmas conception story, but it has been described as offensive to Christians
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".
FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE
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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?"
Mary and Joseph billboard from St Matthew-in-the-City church in Auckland
The billboard was defaced within hours of its unveiling
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.
HERE IS MY RESPONSE ON THAT STORY
Very sorry that the picture on the billboar failed to load!!! Sorry indeed
I think the billboard should be put up again--but this time, guarded 24 hours a day for one week by people armed with digital cameras. Violence should be avoided. If a nation is serious about Freedom of Speech and Press rights--and this would include billboards--there should be laws against defacing a billboard. During the first day, there should have been two volunteers in cars with digital cameras with good batteries so make sure the flash attachment will work if the defacer works at night. Have cell phones ready for the police to arrest the man, make sure to get the person's license number. If he removes his license plate beforehand, have him arrested for driving without a license plate affixed as required by law. When the person has been identified, file a lawsuit against him.
I see an example of how wars--as between Serbians and Kosovars--start over religion.
As for this sentence: "The family values group Family First said any debate about the Virgin birth should be held inside the church."
Wouldn't it be nice if all debates of a religious nature would be held in churches, including those about abortion and GLBT rights. There should be NO laws regarding abortion or who goes to bed with whom, or how and when an individual decides to end their lives. Nonetheless, religionists ram their superstitious beliefs down our throats, first by electing religious personnel to public office who then introduce bills of a religious nature and, with the cooperation of other religious law-makers, pass laws of a religious nature.
So why not vote for secularists seeking public office? We atheists must educate the public so that those who express their religious inclinations are not voted for by 51% of the electorate. Yes, those who run for public office may exercise their freedom of speech, but those who vote can also exercise their freedom by not voting for religious office-seekers--through the secret ballot.
In the U.S., they've been trying to get citizens to understand the principles of separation of state from church, that they don't elect Christian displays on public property which is maintained by everyone's tax dollars. This idea, after more than 200 years, is finally sinking in. And yet, in Illinois, the message hasn't gotten through. This Christian display makes Jews, Moslems, Hindus and atheists feel like they're not first class citizens. Yet they can't allow all religious groups to fill up government space with their religious displays. For a secular nation, as they are supposed to be, no religious displays should be allowed
see this link http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8417963.stm
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