Friday, December 23, 2005

Transvestite Nativity Shocks Rome

From Ananova.
A nativity scene that includes naked women and transvestites standing near the baby Jesus has caused outrage in Italy.

At least the Italians are still capable of outrage; that’s mor than I can say for us.

The scene was created by the Scuotto siblings from Naples, who are famous for carving traditional nativity scenes.

Their latest, more controversial, offering is now on show at the San Giacomo church in Rome.

Father Raffaele has refused to remove the set despite members of the congregation expressing their outrage at the "blasphemous" scene.

Arrogant clergy ramming blasphemy down the throats of the laity? I thought that was more typical of American Anglican parishes. I wonder if Fr. Raffaele is a Jesuit.

Defending the sordid depiction of the birth of Christ, Salvatore Scuotto said: "Such scenes are a part of reality.

"The real scandal is when figures such as Bin Laden or George Bush are used in nativity scenes."

I feel sorry for Mr. Scuotto if such scenes are part of his reality. I live in what most people think is a pretty offbeat town, and it sure as heck isn’t part of my reality. Of course, all normal people find moral equivalence between George W. Bush and Osama Bin Laden. And the Euros wonder why ordinary Americans hold them in contempt…