If you were to set about artistically rendering Jesus’ “corporal works of mercy,” would you immediately get down to building a well-proportioned muscleman who’s being handed a towel?
That’s apparently what the muses instructed artist Antonio Cantone to create for them/us.
Related: ‘Top’ church official says gay sex within the Vatican has ‘never been worse’
Now his nativity scene is causing outrage and consternation since it was unveiled in St Peter’s Square earlier this month.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Glad tidings of great joy look different: The Vatican's Nativity Scene is a monstrous scandalhttps://t.co/rlJMCybqhr #vatican #catholic #popefrancis #franciszek #vaticano #vatikan #tcot #trcot pic.twitter.com/677ENuwcxz
— Novus Ordo Watch (@NovusOrdoWatch) December 19, 2017
In fact, images of this naked man ISO moist towels were deemed too sexually suggestive by Facebook.
Canton insists this towel-less piece of cheesecake merely represents “clothing the naked.”
“It is not a campy nativity,” says the artist. “It is particular and makes you think. It leaves no one indifferent; there are provocations.”
Indeed there are, judging by social media response.
Many people think this naked linen-seeker is wildly inappropriate.
Others think the whole damn scene is a cultural abortion, considering it features a corpse and your standard, run-of-the-mill desecrated church.
Personally, we think it’s a rather a romp.
I don’t care. Only people in Nativity should be Holy Family—period. None of the displays should be there. Nativity is about His Birth…nothing else.
— Catherine Siena (@1catherinesiena) December 22, 2017
#Nativity Scene at the Vatican! ? The "Seven Corporal Works of Mercy" have been added, but it looks like mockery! Bombed-out church, falling star, naked man, dead corpse too? Is this Christmas or the Apocalypse? https://t.co/56e2THA324#Catholic #CatholicChurch in trouble. pic.twitter.com/F2m6tvZZHn
— EA Bucchianeri (@EABucchianeri) December 13, 2017
An Asian child looks out at this year’s Vatican Nativity scene featuring a homoerotic figure. The crèche, meant to portray the 7 corporal acts of mercy, was made in Montevergine, a town famous for its close links with Italy’s LGBT community. The scene has outraged many Catholics. pic.twitter.com/uXIHRX9mgf
— Edward Pentin (@EdwardPentin) December 22, 2017
Omg if that's really the Vatican nativity, I was right and this pope is the anti christ. ?
— Kim Donadio (@kim_donadio) December 16, 2017
Worth noting: not everyone is displeased with the work.
The president of Arcigay Naples, Antonello Sannino, told Catholic blog Lifesite that “the presence of the Vatican Nativity Scene for us is a reason to be even happier this year.”
“For the homosexual and transsexual community in Naples, it is an important symbol of inclusion and integration.”
It also includes/integrates what look like sorrowful, terrified cherubs with baleful widdle eyes and quavering widdle infant-mouths, who may or may not have been gutted and disemboweled by King Herrod or some other sword-happy, tyrannical baby-hater.
More of this around the holidays, please.
tejuxezeyo444
uuuuuuuuuu
like Timothy answered I am amazed that someone able to make $7869 in four weeks on the
computer . find out here…
animatedgifman
inbred $pammer.
Jaxton
Since when is the male body homoerotic? It’s just the male body. If you need to call the male body per se “homoerotic” then you have some serious mental issues.
godot515
Has anyone looked at the depictions
of Jesus on the cross lately? It’s a man’s body who has worked hard at a menial job (well, carpentry CAN be artful too) and is not a sexual depiction. As a gay Jewish elder I find these comments stupid and irreligious….and remember, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
Lvng1Tor
Have none of these people read the bible? This is exactly what it portrays. Not to mention, most of these people spend Sundays on their knees in front of a hot blonde with abs of steel “hung” on a cross. Always something to get people riled up over nothing.
CanadianGuy62
I didn’t know Jesus was supposed to have been a blonde? Being Middle Eastern, I assumed he had dark hair and darker skin. Who knew?!
You learn something new everyday! ?
irbaboon
Where the hell is Santa ?
Rex Huskey
good one!!!!
Paco
They even find a way to be offended by their own religious imagery. They are probably more offended by the lessons of that imagery because very few Christians actually live by those lessons.
Congrats on the Vatican playing the guilt card. It seems to have worked. LOL
Heywood Jablowme
It’s just that he looks so… generically white Northern European. Or more like, American 1950s. Like he’s the secret closeted boyfriend of Wally Cleaver (Beaver’s older brother). He doesn’t look Middle Eastern from 2,000 years ago. He doesn’t even look Italian. And what’s with the short hair and Gillette shave, lol.
Giandorko86
Really? That’s your comment! Are you gods gift to ……..
jd.cali
This is not a nativity scene but several scenes. It’s Christian art and interpretive but not of simply the birth of the savior and joyous as it is told.
Sorry it’s a spooky catholic circuslike ,sideshow fail