The first story I want to talk about is one in which a woman was disfellowshipped (a severe punishment which is adequate for most serious transgressions) by her local LDS Church for starring in an erectile dysfunction TV commercial. The action was found necessary because they considered the commercial to be in extremely poor taste.
The woman says she did it for the money and that she was aware the commercial would offend a lot of people. But I’ve seen the commercial, and it doesn’t seem offensive unless you’re an uptight religious figure who’s having erectile issues when approaching altar boys, or a prudish idiot.
The ad is embedded below so you can see for yourself.
And now onto the second story, which is about the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney and his disapproval of “St Mary Mac and her holy rack.”
ZOO Weekly, a men’s magazine, has published a tribute lingerie spread to celebrate Australia’s first saint, Mary MacKillop. The spread features a busty model wearing a nun’s habit and halo, and in some of the pictures her “heavenly hooters” are being blessed by a dwarf dressed as the pope. The Archdiocese said “The ZOO Weekly Mary MacKillop spread is not only an insult to her legacy, but it is also demeaning to all Australian women.” Which sounds absolutely understandable when you’re a high ranking church official and skimpy dressed boys better fit your interests.
Seriously though, he probably finds all the lingerie pictures ever published to be disgusting. And I admit the spread is rather edgy, but is it demeaning or insulting? Don’t think so.
“We think Mary would be thrilled and flattered at her portrayal,” editor Paul Merrill said.
“But we think she’d probably be shocked at the less than saintly response we’ve had from some Catholics.”
Merrill also said he thought the tiny Pope impersonator was “a fair representation of his Holiness”. (agreed)
The controversy is not the first time the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney has targetted the men’s magazine.
In April, the organisation supported a call for magazines including ZOO, RALPH and People to be banned from service stations, supermarkets, newsagents, convenience stores and milk bars.
Now think about how many more people would go to church if nuns looked like this. Also think about how many people are pushed away from church by the prudeness of religious figures.
Mary Mac and her holy rack.
