Row over 'crucifix' protest

2006-04-13 21:17

Vienna - A row erupted on Thursday over plans by animal protectionists to symbolically "crucify" three activists with animal masks in a Good Friday protest outside Vienna's St Stephan's Cathedral.

The militant pro-animal group PETA said the activists would be suspended from crosses with crowns of thorns on their heads.

The slogan of the protest action would be "We suffer and die for your sins of nourishment."

PETA said its aim was to catch the attention of consumers who ignored the suffering of animals.

Head of Vienna's central 1st district, conservative People's Party (VP) politician Ursula Stenzel, condemned the plan.

Her office spokesperson Angelika Mayrhofer-Battlogg spoke of "mockery of a religious community on one of the most important days of the Christians".

"The action would be more blasphemy than animal protection."

The Archdiocese of Vienna said: "It's a completely unacceptable falsification of the religious dimension of Good Friday."

As well-intentioned as the animal protectionists might be, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was not suited "to transport secondary messages".

The square outside the cathedral was a "sensitive" place where not anything could be permitted to happen, it added.

- SAPA