Billboard implying that Jesus was 'GAY' stirs controversy in New Zealand

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
12/18/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Reverend says that billboard tries to humanize Jesus

The idea is as unconventional as it is uninspired and obvious. The Church of St. Matthew in Auckland, New Zealand has put up a billboard that implies Jesus was homosexual. The image shows the baby Jesus lying in a manger with a rainbow halo - the rainbow being the symbol of the modern homosexual rights movement, with the slogan "It's Christmas. Time for Jesus to come out."

According to the Reverend Glynn Cardy, the billboards are intended to 'lift' the humanity of Jesus. The reverend says the billboard is asking the faithful if anything would have changed if Jesus had been gay.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The controversial billboards are on display throughout Auckland.

According to the Reverend Glynn Cardy, the billboards are intended to "lift" the humanity of Jesus. The reverend says the billboard is asking the faithful if anything would have changed if Jesus had been gay.

"The fact is we don't know what his sexual orientation was," the reverend says.

The church is certainly no stranger to controversy as last year it put up billboards showing the Virgin Mary looking shocked at the results of a pregnancy test. An angry protestor tore that particular advertisement down.

Cardy was satisfied that the billboard had already gone viral on the Internet by that time, being seen by millions around the world before it was ton down.

"In the internet age though the image will be out there forever. They can do what they want to it."

Reverend Cardy wishes to remind others that homosexuality was not a word until the 1800s and any mention of it in the Bible or other documents would have mistranslations.

Fellow Reverend Clay Nelson said the billboard tries to humanize Jesus by getting people to think about the challenges he would have had growing up.

"Some scholars have tried to make the case that he might have been gay," Nelson says.

"But it is all conjecture. Maybe gay, maybe not. Does it matter?

"There is almost nothing in the record of his teachings about sexuality while there is plenty about the perils of being rich. Certainly he always supported the marginalized in society."

A similar billboard provoked outrage in the United Kingdom. The gay lobby group, Stonewall, had a bus poster campaign stating "Some people are gay. Get over it.

In one clear instance, at least one Christian bus driver from Rotherham left a bus-full of angry passengers waiting as he would not drive a bus with the banner on the side.

Earlier this year, London Mayor Boris Johnson blocked a Christian group from running a "Not gay and proud: Get over it" campaign on London buses.

� 2012, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Billboard, homosexual, Christmas, Jesus, New Zealand

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1 - 5 of 5 Comments

Margaret
5 months ago
It's mind boggling to me how people can use scripture to suit their own desires. I guess this "reverand" does not believe that all scripture is inspired since he only wants to pay attention to the small number of Jesus’s teachings that were recorded. Scripture addresses the action of men lying with men and women lying with women in multiple ways and in multiple places. Even if it didn’t, it makes clear what fornication is. Sexual activity outside of valid marriage is forbidden whether it’s between people of the opposite or same sex. In order to believe that Jesus was “gay” you’d have to reject his divinity as well. I hope that’s not another screwy teaching at this church.
youkokun
5 months ago
Hold it, my local parish is called St. Matthews... this is a Catholic Church?! If it were Anglican or Episcopal I'd understand, but these weirdos have no excuse! Even as a joke it's blasphemy! Btw, love the bit about the English busdriver, and the counter-ad. That's free speech!
DLL
5 months ago
The more I see articles of this nature the more I think that being gay is a mental illness for most who are so insistent on declaring that they are gay and deserve rights that no one else can or should,demand. I do know some gay people who are responsible and they are gay but not an in your face gay type. They are nice calm people. The in your face types are aggravating and immature. They need help. Not all gays just them. Jesus Gay! Sorry gay folks so inclined to think so,Get help! Fast.
Bill Sr.
5 months ago
I suggest anyone who is as appalled as I was upon reading this to go immediately to the webpage below which will help you understand what is going on in the world today.

http://www.markmallett.com/blog/2012/12/warnings-in-the-wind/#more-8145
Mustang
5 months ago
News flash everyone, St. Matthews has been doing this for aaaages. I lived in NZ for the better part of a decade and every Christmas, Christians nationwide would cringe when these idiots would put up their ridiculous schlock signs. Its all about the publicity, folks. I wish the bishop would put his foot down to this utter nonsense but I am not holding my breath.

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