The vicar of St Matthew’s, Archdeacon Glynn Cardy, said: "Progressive Christianity is distinctive in that not only does it articulate a clear view, it is also interested in engaging with those who differ."Its vision is one of robust engagement," he said
The vicar has more than succeeded in stirring robust engagement! The Auckland Catholic Diocese has called the image "inappropriate, disrespectful and offensive to Christians." That was only one of the first shots fired over the bow.
The billboard of a dejected looking Joseph, with Mary by his side in bed, apparently having had sex featured the slogan above them: "Poor Joseph. God was a hard act to follow."
The billboard seems to scandalize people the world over rather than provoking thought and discussion of the true meaning of Christmas, as Auckland’s St. Matthew’s intended. Fundamentalist groups such as ‘Family First’ whose directer Bob McCoskrie spoke out saying it was "inappropriate and disrespectful". Fundamental groups and the Catholic Church cannot seem to get past the literal interpretation of the word virgin, which arguably has different meanings in some of the languages translated into the Bible. Even if the literal version makes you happy, Mary and Joseph are obviously in bed after her memorable Dear Diary days, such as being told that she’d bear the son of God by an angel, becoming preganant while a "virgin" through miraculous means, and likely have three kids and a mortgage by the time they’re depicted in the poster. Tsk tsk for jumping to conclusions!
Poor Mary and Joseph, Spokeswoman Lindsay Freer mirrored many when she said that for a church to put up a poster which implied the Virgin Mary and Joseph had just had sex was disrespectful to the church. It was 2,000 years ago, could you forgive them if they did Ms Freer? I suppose it’s too much to ask for the
detractors to ask Santa…er pray fervently for open minds, and maybe a sense of humor? Mary, Joseph, and SEX…billboard raises unholy ruckus in Auckland, NZ