Poor Joseph. God was a hard act to follow

[walrusgumble]

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

The mischievous biblical bedroom billboard was defaced just over five hours after it was erected. The controversial billboard, erected by St Matthew-in-the-City Church about 11am, shows Joseph looking down dejectedly and Mary looking sad. Underneath is a caption, "Poor Joseph. God is a hard act to follow." The church has said it erected the billboard to inspire people to talk about the Christmas story. The church's archdeacon said its mischievous biblical bedroom billboard had provoked support and disapproval in about equal measures. Archdeacon Glynn Cardy said the church had received emails and phone calls since it made the public aware of the billboard yesterday.

The billboard has already raised the wrath of the traditional values pressure group Family First. "The church can have its debate on the Virgin birth and its spiritual significance inside the church building, but to confront children and families with the concept as a street billboard is completely irresponsible and unnecessary," Family First national director Bob McCoskrie said. "The church has failed to recognise that public billboards are exposed to all of the public including children and families who may be offended by the material." Catholic Church spokeswoman Lyndsay Freer said the image was inappropriate and disrespectful.

The archdeacon said the plan behind the billboard was to lampoon the literal interpretation of the Christmas conception story.

The BBC

BLASPHEMY ! BLASPHEMY! BLASPHEMY! BLASPHEMY!

Mary (heads bows) was a virgin, not a two timing ho

What would have happened if Joseph said no? Mary the Single Mother, imagine, the Church's later attitude to those loose wimmen might have being drastically different.

[Mitsui2]

Why can't Christmas cracker jokes be written in this manner?

Because all Christmas cracker jokes are actually written by the sacred-brotherhood-of-nettle-tongued-f**kwits-of-the-tiny-mind.

And you know what inevitably happens to standards in a monopoly industry.

[Andrew49]

In my days at school boys did woodwork and girls learned how to make Breakfast.

The first thing I ever made in Woodwork class was a serving tray .... honest to god!

[gaelach]

Virgin birth? Yeah right! Why anyone has ever believed that fairy story is totally beyond me.

Well, it's no more fanciful than the rest of the bible, is it?

[Cruimh]

BLASPHEMY ! BLASPHEMY! BLASPHEMY! BLASPHEMY!

Mary (heads bows) was a virgin, not a two timing ho

Speaking of which:

Mr Claus, how do you respond to my client's allegation that, on December 24th, in your grotto, in front of witnesses who will testify to that effect, you first pulled her onto your knee, and then accused her not once, not twice, but three times, of being, and I quote, a "Ho"?