Would someone please prick me with a virtual fork. A Gold Coast teen has been charged with offensive behaviour after police arrested him on Monday for wearing a T-shirt by metal band Cradle of Filth that reads ‘Jesus is a cunt’ and has a picture of a nun masturbating.
It doesn’t look very classy, but c’mon, this isn’t that town from Footloose. John Lithgow isn’t running QLD (Anna Bligh is… oh).
The Reverend Matt Hunt of the Helensvale Baptist Church said it was sad people spoke about the Lord in such a way.
“It’s fairly common language these days to express sadness, anger or hurt,” he said. “It’s a degrading word to use and Jesus is anything but that. It’s like calling white black.”
Mr Hunt said using the Lord’s name in vain was a serious sin.?
“When someone comes to the point of saying Jesus is the devil or Jesus is ‘expletive’, the Bible does say be very careful because you’re on thin ice.”
I’m waiting for Kevin Bacon to somersault through my office window.
?
Lawyer Bill Potts said the arrest highlighted the need for a Bill of Rights in Australia.
“If a person was wearing the shirt in a church or a religious rally where it was specifically intended to offend or cause disruption, then perhaps the prosecution might stand a chance.
“However, to criminalise juvenile or boorish messages is to bring the law into disrepute. The police are acting like the thought police and censors.”
I think the arrest also highlights the need for a bit of f’ing common sense. You mind your business, and I’ll mind mine.
63 comments
Cole says:
Jun 22, 2010
And to Tim Tom,
“Should we also allow child pornography, or teens wearing shirts with a dog having sex with a child? How about if I take a picture of your wife/girlfriend/child, and then use Photoshop to doctor the pic. and have a dog having sex with YOUR wife, YOUR girlfriend, YOUR child? Would that be ok? Anything goes? ”
The difference is that child pornography, bestiality and my girlfriend actually exist outside of peoples beliefs. Jesus (as a religious concept) is like Santa Claus or the toot fairy.
Cole says:
Jun 22, 2010
To nanogherl:
“what…you gotta be kiddin me…u need Jesus in your life like seriously..he’s done so much for us and he is my God…I dont know how you people can be so cruel he created us and died for us!!”
What are you, 12?? You’re so dumb you can’t tell the difference between Jesus and God!? “he created us and died for us” So god’s dead is he?
Stick to listening to Britney Spears and wearing pink… should be easy enough for you.
Cole says:
Jun 22, 2010
and another thing… if God ever existed, then he has left the building a loooong time ago. Why else would we be on the brink of extinction?
But I believe in the devil.
His name is Donald Rumsfeld.
Peter says:
Jul 10, 2010
I think most of the respondents to this article have seriously lost the plot (assuming they ever had a clue to begin with).
It is NOT right to deliberately set out to offend people just for the sake of causing offence, and the idiot who wore this T-shirt deserved to be arrested. I am quite sure that most people these days would not appreciate being given an offensive label based upon, for example, their nationality or physical appearance, and if someone were stupid enough to have a word that expressed contempt for a particular ethnic group they would be arrested as well (assuming that a policeman could get to them in time before they were beaten up).
The intent behind such displays are malicious, so why is it acceptable for people who happen to believe, for whatever reason(s), in the Bible to have to tolerate such nonsense? Freedom of expression does NOT include the freedom to insult and demean, and whilst I do not support censorship it would be helpful for people to realise that ‘pushing the boundaries of taste’, for want of a better expression, just gives the puritans amongst us another excuse to introduce draconian laws (like the Conroy internet censorship disaster).
It is a fact that if someone attempted to wear such an obviously offensive T-shirt in an Islamic country, they would be executed without hesitation. Be thankful therefore that we are lucky enough not to be living under Sharia Law.
By the way, I think that I should mention that most of those who thought the T-shirt was grand have very poor literacy skills. Their use of grammar, the lack of proper punctuation and poor spelling suggest to me that they should seriously consider returning to school.
FrikkStixx says:
Jul 29, 2010
Okay, I don’t understand how people can have such strong faith in something that we have no proof ever existed (religious ideas) that you would get so offended by a T-shirt. I can’t believe in what I don’t see.
Also, all the people who say ‘I’ll pray for you!’ as Nadia-Francina Ryder said: I don’t want you to pray for me, and I don’t need you to pray for me.
‘Jesus loves you, whatever you do’ – If this is true, why are you getting so worked up over a teenager who is probably only supporting a band he likes? It makes no sense.
Also, Is there even a law against wearing something like this? Or are they just trying to keep the christians happy?
Think about it.
Just sayin’
And if there is some magical dude up in the sky, who is responsible for mankind, then he is, in some part, responsible for this shirt also. What i’m saying is, we are all responsible for our own actions, so stop complaining.
Finaly, When did we start caring about the kids so much? These kids are just going to grow up and learn these things anyway, and if anything it’s saving them a shock for when they can understand it. There’s no point in trying to protect a child from hearing things like this because the only way to truly do that would be to lock them up and have them never communicate with anyone. It’s natural, and they’re just words.
Kaizaga says:
Oct 3, 2010
It’s only a T shirt and since I enjoy the band Cradle of Filth’s music I’d happily wear a shirt of this caliber to support them and any future album release. I don’t care much for Jesus, God or any religion as I see them as all being exactly the same thing and one of the main causes of hatred and violence among humanity… People say I must not be a happy person without “religion” in my life but to be honest I am actually quite content and happy with my life; I’ve just about finished my degrees at university in psychology and criminology, I have a great relationship, I have good friends, good health and a good family who gave me a fairly decent upbringing I believe plus I’m happy with my current part time work… How could I not be happy with all of that and if anything “Jesus” or “God” had no input in any of that it was all me wanting to actually make something of myself instead of being a pathetic ass sitting at home on the couch on the dol or better yet homeless and poor!
I own several band shirts including ones with anti-religious statements but I never bought them once thinking, “To hell with religion” I bought them out of pure band support and to have something to wear that was different and interesting instead of the same shirt everybody wears from clothing outlets.
The fact people are so enraged over something so very trivial is just childish in itself because at the end of the day it’s only cotton and fabric paint, we don’t see people going completely NATO and arresting those who are wearing say Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga shirts… What if I’m offended by those t shirts, does that mean that I could call the police to come take you away?
I also wouldn’t really care if it was a loved one on the shirt instead of the nun as hey they’d be spread and bought by a quantity of people world wide so there would be a profit gained in the end money wise, possibly fame wise and they could possibly even meet an amazing band!
Besides what guy in their right mind doesn’t like seeing a naked girl? and as for one touching themselves that in itself is pree’ arousing why not help em out! ;]
Damian says:
Nov 16, 2010
You dont have to be a believer to acknowledge that a man named Jesus may have existed, but that he resurrected and was the son of GOD —give me a fucking break…was he a CUNT, no, just the idiots who decided to create a whole fucking stupid CULT called Christianity based on him…fuck people are stupid…GO CUNT-T-SHIRT!
Matthew Nakatani Brown says:
Nov 25, 2010
I’m glad he was arrested.
I get more and more shocked with this increasing lack of morals in society and this urge to be unnecessarily violent all the time.
Bob says:
Jun 4, 2011
What’s the world coming to when being offensive is against the law?
Christians are the minority, and anyway they get offended at simple things like rock music, what chance do they have with a rude T-shirt? Cunts.
Rex Smithy says:
Jul 29, 2011
I think people are missing the point. People are basing their opinions solely about whether or not you believe in Jesus or not. It’s irrelevant really, the point is wearing a shirt that has offensive imagery and offensive language on it. I don’t think it is okay for my 4 yr old daughter, who is starting to learn words, to read Jesus is a Cunt and see a woman masturbating in public places that are meant for everyone, not just Cradle of Filth fans. Anyone who does, please don’t have kids, you are not qualified. If you don’t believe in religion or anything, that is fine, I don’t give a fuck about your views. It is amusing to listen to the religious haters talk so boldly with pride about their distaste for religion when they have been ignorant to the subject to begin with. Yes there are people who exploit religion for money and shit and they distort and twist religious teachings, but if you look at what religion really says, it isn’t bad at all. I am not religious by the way but I do believe there is more to life than just this earth. What it is? I don’t know. I don’t discount everything because, “it isn’t cool”. Anyways, keep up the hate people, it is what this world needs according to 16 yr old Filth fans. Gay band by the way, listen to some real death metal, not clown rock. One more note, comparing this to Footloose in the article was moronic, if you can’t figure out the difference then stop writing articles. They hand out diplomas way to easily now-a-days.
Mark says:
Oct 1, 2011
Once and for all, let’s clear a few things up.
Jesus probably did exist as a rambling prophet (there were many of them at the time). God – has anyone seen this chap /woman ?
What would you do if your Missus came home and said she was pregnant and you hadn;t had sex with her yet ? Personally, I would go mental ! Apparently, nobody had slept with her !!!
Wake up and smell the coffee kids – it’s all a fabrication to keep people in line.
Why are people so sceptical about everything else (UFO’s)as they haven’t personally seen one but yet are okay to blindly believe the fact that two people are living in the sky looking over us all ?
Before you comment, watch Charlotte Ullenbrook’s programme called Cousins. If you do watch you will struggle to look passed the Darwin theory !
chema says:
Oct 7, 2011
o wow. i am so glad he was arrested.
why would you insult and offend christians? what have
they done to you? i think he only weared that shirt to
draw attention anyways. and for the people talking
about christianity, this is not about if you are a christian, you should have some morals andrecognise what it good or bad, go beyond your own beliefs and show respect. Whould you approve someone wearing a shirt in public that said “death to niggers”? i think not, and even if you are not black you should have enough morals to disaproove it.
well its just the same thing. if you want to say you are not religious, that does not mean you have to insult and offend people of that religion. its plain easy, why cant you get it? im not black and i respect black people and treat them like any person. i am christian and really get offended by these types of things but the worst thing is the comments that support it! im spanish, and i didnt know that americans were so rude! i feel sorry and ashamed of you. and even if you dont want me to pray for you i will because its my duty as a christian. simply insane…
Simon says:
Dec 14, 2011
“why would you insult and offend christians? what have
they done to you?”
Oh, a lot of them only parade around smugly telling people that they’re going to suffer for eternity because they don’t believe in the same thing… Hmmm, I could go on.