Heh, I’m trying to picture this scene. An enraged elderly woman takes a knife to the thing and then is restrained by a group of homeless people. You can’t make this stuff up!

I read elsewhere that the billboard has been under a constant barrage since just a few hours after it was installed. I guess this was the icing on the cake and the cleric cried “uncle.” Weird how he is still trying to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, though.

The Rev Cardy said there had been hundreds of messages of support from around the world

yet again a “progressive” who thinks the rightness of his action is determined by popular vote. No doubt he does theology using the same process.

I am somewhat surprised at the reaction of the Bishop of Auckland—hardly a conservative himself.

  However, the Bishop of Auckland, the Right Reverend John Paterson, says he is “disappointed” that St Matthew’s chose to go ahead with displaying the replica.

He says there are a multitude of other issues for a city and the wider church to focus on than a billboard.

“Discussion of theological perspectives and diversity is encouraged in a respectful way, but this approach is insensitive to communities across the Anglican Church as well as other denominations,” he says.

From here
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/church-billboard-attacked-second-time-3313808

I notice also the story has grown in the telling. The “elderly woman” has become a “knife-wielding Christian fanatic” and the “bystanders” are now “homeless people who care about our church”. I wonder when Glynn Cardy will become Captain Invincible to Save the Universe!!!

I suggest he try it with Muhammed and his child bride.  Just to keep things equal and all.

MargaretG, maybe by tomorrow she will have evolved into a “deranged frothing-at-the-mouth bible-thumping fundamentalist flat-earth knife-wielding Christian fanatic disbeliever in global warming.”

Bruno needs to tell him to be not afraid.

#5: you forgot ‘homophobic, islamophobic..’

Just what “debate” was supposed to be inspired by hyper sexualizing the Incarnation?

Also… the pastor criticizes the ‘knife wielding’ as violence…which, of course, it is.  I wonder if the pastor can see the violence he and his congregation are doing to the Gospel?

#9—Here’s the rule you must have missed:  Liberals can do and/or say anything they want, because their motives are always good, and they are just trying to stimulate debate.  If you react, since we know your motives are always bad, you are a fanatic, who is trying to stop debate.  #4—This, of course, does not apply to Islam, because we have to be culturally sensitive to their religion of Peace. Just ask anyone who was in Manhattan on 9/11/2001.

This generates as much theological discussion as the “artwork” of a crucifix in a jar of urine did…which is to say none at all.

It does show the tenuous divide between the secularists and “progressive” Christians (or more accurately progressive “Christians”). If you read the liberal blogs, such as Ruth Gledhill’s, the progressive “Christians” and the secularists are equal in cheering the events leading to the demise of the AC. In fact, it is difficult to remember which is which. Ironic, the people that would like to see Christianity wiped from the face of the earth are indistinguishable from this “clergy” member.

I think this rector got just what he was looking for - a chance to get himself in the spotlight, to attract attention, and to glory in being so superior to those evil faithful people who can’t accept making a joke of God and the Incarnation and the Virgin Mary - smack in the midst of Advent. What a devout and holy man.