The Australian Family Association says the creators of a play that depicts Jesus as a gay man have committed “a big enough crime” by neglecting to treat Christianity and Christian believers with more sensitivity.
Corpus Christi, which is set to open at the New Theatre in Newtown on February 7, shows Jesus and the Apostles as gay men living in modern day Texas. This is the first time it has played in Sydney since it opened in New York in 1998.
The AFA aren’t the only ones to express outrage though. Anglican Bishop of South Sydney, Robert Forsyth, said that the depiction of the son of God and some of his disciples as homosexual was “unhistorical and untrue.”
It is deliberately, not innocently, offensive and they’re obviously having a laugh about it.
However, New Theatre says on their website that the moralists miss the point.
This is not a play that mocks Jesus; it’s a play that speaks out against inhumanity by providing a witty, contemporary interpretation of Jesus’ life.
Stephen Green of UK based Christian Voice reviewed the play:
Whether it is even a good play is not something I can pass comment on, although I can see it is a good piece of homosexual propaganda. The question is, was it blasphemous? Was it valid to protest about? The answer is yes on both counts.
A performance of Corpus Christi in Melbourne during 2001 attracted a little picketing. Box office intake naturally increased and I suspect the same will happen in Sydney. Gotta love free press on behalf of the bible thumpers.
So if you like the sound (or moans) of Jesus, mixed with a little Brokeback Mountain, here’s where you can catch Corpus Christi:
Corpus Christi
by Terrence McNally
Directed by Leigh Rowney
7 – 29 February 2008
New Theatre, 542 King St, Newtown, NSW
$27 full / $22 concession
BOOKINGS: 1300 306 776 / www.mca-tix.com
4 comments
Underbelly causes outrage, not to be shown in Victoria - Somebody Think Of The Children says:
Feb 12, 2008
[...] family groups like the AFA (the same people who said a stage play that depicted Jesus as gay was a crime) are pissed. The Australian Family Association (AFA) yesterday threatened to take the matter to [...]
Leigh Rowney says:
Feb 21, 2008
MY CHRISTIAN ANGLICAN MINISTER SAW THE PLAY, AND ITS DIGNITY, AND LOVED IT. HE UNDERSTOOD THE GRIEF GAY PEOPLE SUFFER BEING TOLD THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. SO TOO DID MANY OTHER PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIANS AT A RECENT FORUM DISCUSSING THE RIGHT FOR GAY PEOPLE TO BELONG TO A CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY AND TO EXPLORE A REL;ATIONSHIP WITH OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. WHAT DO THE JUDGEMENTAL CRITICS OF MCNALLY AND NEW THEATRE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT?
Australia’s 20 Worst Cases of Censorship and Moral Outrage in 2008 - Somebody Think Of The Children says:
Dec 28, 2008
[...] said the creators of Corpus Christi, a play depicting Jesus as a gay man, have committed “a big enough crime” by neglecting to treat Christianity and Christian believers with more [...]
Mitur Binesderti says:
Jun 25, 2010
So what if it ridicules religion? If you do stupid things, say stupid things, believe stupid things, and try to force other people to go along with it, going so far as to legislate your superstitious beliefs, then you deserve to be ridiculed. I say ridicule religion all day. What? Jesus can’t defend himself? Must be a pretty weak god.