Churches slam The Edge Radio Station

Churches slam The Edge Radio Station

Today the leaders of the Catholic and Anglican Churches in Auckland sent a letter of protest to The Edge radio station for lampooning Jesus as part of a Good Friday stunt.

This stunt depicted a Jesus look-alike whom they call "Fat Jesus of Suburbia" holding a banner stating "Jesus is a Boobies man".

The Edge website showed a picture of this look-alike caressing a woman's breasts. It also showed him with arms outstretched in a cruciform position imitating Jesus on the cross.

Following is the text of this letter.

As Church leaders of Auckland, we have been alerted to today’s “Morning Madhouse” programme in which you lampoon Jesus, described as “Fat Jesus of Suburbia”.

This promotion is especially deplorable, not only to us, but I am sure to the hundreds of thousands of Christians in your reception area, particularly in this special week that leads up to the most sacred time in the Christian world culminating in Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

You are aware that the person of Jesus is revered and loved by Christians. Good Friday, the day on which we commemorate the death of Jesus, is a day that we hold most sacred. Your depiction of Jesus is both crass and offensive to all of us.

This has nothing to do with whether or not we have a sense of humour. It’s about people’s deepest and most sensitive feelings. If you have any regard or respect for your listeners, we ask you in the strongest possible terms to terminate this promotion immediately.

Yours faithfully,

Bishop Patrick Dunn
Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Auckland

The Very Reverend Ross Bay
Vicar General of the Anglican Diocese of Auckland

ENDS