Virgin Mary car tax ad 'wrong'

2005-01-22 21:23

Rome - The Roman Catholic Church in Italy has described as "blasphemy" an advertising campaign in Saturday's daily newspapers using the image of the Virgin Mary holding the steering wheel of a car.

"I find this is a clear offence to good taste, showing a lack of respect for all believers and a clear and manifest blasphemy," said prominent priest and commentator Father Antonio Mazzi.

The advertisement, for a private company specialising in online auto taxation and registration services, shows a miniature statue of the Virgin on the dashboard of a car holding a miniature wheel.

"I don't think it's altogether correct to exploit one of the most sacred figures in Christianity in such an unconsidered way, even to promote the payment of car tax."

Another priest, Father Gianni Baget Bozzo, a theologian and political commentator, described the ad campaign as a "profanity".

- AFP