lol. 'Phallic' art sparks row ahead of Pope's Malta visit

[cali]

The mayor of a town in Malta has called for a "phallic" sculpture displayed close to the main airport to be removed ahead of the Pope's visit this weekend.

Mayor John Schembri described the art work as "vulgar" and "embarrassing", saying it should go "as a sign of respect" for Pope Benedict XVI.

Colonna Mediterranea was created by artist Paul Vella Critien and has been on show in the town of Luqa since 2006.

Mr Critien responded by calling his critics "ignorant" and "uneducated".

Pope Benedict's route through Malta will involve passing by the roundabout at the entrance to Luqa, where the monument stands.

<snip>

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8617305.stm

[KittyWampus]

1. Only ONE giant dick shall be on display during the Pope's visit.

lol

And Pope's got that covered in spades.

[SpiralHawk]

22. The church may find this turns out to be a Giant Boner

in that they have drawn far far far more attention to it.

[nc4bo]

2. Channeling Tweety....Whoa, I just got a chill down my legs. nt

[CurtEastPoint]

3. Too many jokes to list just one...

[TorchTheWitch]

16. there's anyone that thinks that's art?

I'm dying to know what in the world a giant multi-colored penis could possibly be a monument to.

[Mist]

19. Well, to big dicks, of course. OTOH, could be a big old "F**k you" nt

[seabeyond]

24. probably the same people that think the vulva is art? nt

[cali]

27. So you don't think much of Georgia O'keefe?

[seabeyond]

32. i dont think i was the one criticizing it as art. nt

[mikeytherat]

39. Looks more like a finger to me.

If that's a schlong, there's something seriously wrong with it.

mikey_the_rat

[YOY]

Nothing to do with the Pope...but I find Freudian Art to be overdone.

Not distasteful so much as ubiquitous.

Just me personally that's all.

[NorthCarolina]

14. I'm sure this would get a reaction from the Pope upon seeing it.

It's probably a good thing that he wears a bulky, loose hanging robe.

[YOY]

17. (Snicker)...

n.t.

[Mari333]

4. oh so they take down a huge prick while another one arrives

so they wont have two

okay. but when I think of the Vatican all I can imagine are a lot of men who wish their phallic symbols still worked.
Patriarchy is just one big old dick anyway, see: Washington monument.

[lutefisk]

5. I guess it is a little Phallic...

"Critien said his creation was not a phallic symbol but a modern representation of a symbol dating back to ancient Egypt."

[grantcart]

30. Realy? I just don't get the resemblance.

[SidDithers]

31. Cute. Looks just like a penis...

except smaller.

Sid

[peekaloo]

6. So basically they'll be molesting the giant penis then sending it away?

Church protocol. }(

[dionysus]

7. wow. that really is a phallic sculpture!

[ET Awful]

8. Not to disparage His Holiness or anything, but isn't his own hat kind of phallic looking?

Just sayin. . . .

[SoCalDem]

9. Drape it in an altar boy outfit.. They'll appreciate the art of it all

:)

[Mist]

18. There's nothing like SoCalDem's snark in the morning! LOL! Thanks! nt

[TeeYiYi]

20. Made me laugh.

TYY

PS--->> Been lovin' your cat picture for days. :D

[Toucano]

35. Duzy Alert! n/t

[Arkansas Granny]

10. Now there's a marketing idea. Psychedelic condoms!

[SpiralHawk]

11. At least it's not 'Faux Republicon Family Values Lesbian Wide-Stance Diaper Bondage' art

There's something to be said for that. I suppose

[and-justice-for-all]

12. Uh, then go a different route....

Yeah, lets not upset the guy who defends pedophiles.

[eShirl]

13. What do they think a church steeple is?

sheesh - do they worship a creator god or not?

[Tailormyst]

15. Oh for goodness sake the man walks around in a hat that makes HIM look like a giant penis

[Arugula Latte]

29. Exactly. He's a Prickhead.

Look at this one. Phallilicious!

[Tailormyst]

33. My son thinks he looks like the emperor from Star Wars

[UTUSN]

21. Eh, they should leave it. He's used to Father Georg's elegance in adjusting his microphone

gaenswein.jpg

*************QUOTE**********

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1728239,00.html

The Heartthrob from the Vatican

By Jeff Israely/Rome

When Pope Benedict XVI touches down for his first papal visit in the United States next week, you may notice that he doesn't have the same onstage flair as his predecessor, John Paul II. But you may also begin to notice a very handsome man of the cloth never far from the pontiff's side. That would be Monsignor Georg Gänswein, the Pope's personal secretary, responsible for everything from deciding who gets to see Benedict, to keeping His Holiness on schedule, to discreetly handing him his papal reading glasses just before a homily or other public discourse. While he is the paradigm of discretion, others have taken liberties with his image. Fashion designer Donatella Versace said her Spring 2007 collection was inspired by Gänswein, confessing: "I was thinking of an austere, severe and ethical man. I find Father Georg's austerity very elegant."

Italians have taken notice of Gänswein, and nicknamed him "Bel Giorgio," which Americans might translate as: Gorgeous George. Paparazzi have snapped photos of him playing tennis in his tennis whites, while the Roman and Bavarian press eagerly report his bravura on the ski slopes and appearances at evening Church functions. Nevertheless, despite the glamour imposed on him by the celebrity press, the tall, athletic and dirty-blond Monsignor in his clerical black, concentrates on his pivotal but quiet job choreographing papal appearances. And that is how Americans will see him, in a supporting role buoyed by his scene-stealing good looks. ....



http://disembedded.wordpress.com/2006/11/18/pope-benedict-issues-formal-vatican-decree-a-smile-is-not-a-sin/

Pope Benedict Issues Formal Vatican Decree: A Smile Is Not a Sin

November 18, 2006

POPE BENEDICT AND MSGR. GANSWEIN, THE POPE’S DEVOTED PERSONAL SECRETARY

The New York Times published an article today that disclosed some of the jokes making their rounds about Pope Benedict and his secretary, Msgr. Georg Ganswein. This brief extract from the Times article describes some of those satirical moments:

Perhaps it is his good looks, or his work in the ever-so-serious Vatican, but for whatever reason, Msgr. Georg Gänswein, Pope Benedict XVI’s secretary, has suddenly found himself the butt of jokes in the Italian news media. ....

In a curious “non-response” to this growing wave of satire, the pope’s secretary told his radio audience that “the Vatican was not offended.” “We’re convinced that smiles bring religion closer to the people,” he said, “because a smile is never a sin.”

Pope is Wrong: This One’s Very Sinful.

In response to the Times article, Andrew Sullivan published this irreverent, biting criticism of the article (and the Pope) today on his Time Magazine blog, The Daily Dish:

“The NYT runs a very curious article today about Italian humor about the current Pope. None of the jokes cited seem to me to be very risque or even funny. The entire argument of the piece is undermined by lack of any real evidence that this pope is subject to any more ridicule than has historically been the case. Except of course for that photograph (see above, seated with Msgr. Georg Ganswein). It shows the actual source of the jokes circulating in the Vatican and elsewhere about this Prada-preferring, Gucci-wearing, high-drama German intellectual (Pope). The actual jokes – which the NYT won’t print – are about how good looking so many of the men are who surround Benedict, especially his personal assistant, Msgr. Georg Gänswein, shown holding the large phallic microphone in front of Benedict’s face. The Vatican gossip merchants call Georg 'Gay-Org.' He is inseparable from Benedict. And he surely is easy on the eyes. There is no evidence that Benedict has ever broken his vows of chastity; but there is no evidence that he is heterosexual either. Hence the gossip; hence the jokes. When you’re a Pope who declares that even closeted, chaste gay men cannot be priests, it’s pushing your luck to clothe yourself in Prada, bedeck your Pope-mobile with luxurious Natuzzi Italian white leather, and surround yourself with assistants who look like they strayed from the pages of 'L’Uomo Vogue.'

"Butch it up, sister. Or the jokes will only get louder.”

******************UNQUOTE************

[Withywindle]

41. Bwahahah, oh my!

Hey Georg - Johnny Weir called. He wants his pink-and-black corset outfit back.

[Toasterlad]

23. Fuck the Pope.

[Lucy Goosey]

37. ...with a big giant penis sculpture.

:D

[Stevenmarc]

25. The Pope is upset, he wanted to be the biggest dick in Malta

[ima_sinnic]

26. here's a "sign of respect," popey

_|_ (if only we still had the "finger smiley")

[DevonRex]

28. What's shocking is that anybody respects that asshole at all. nt

[TheMadMonk]

34. Artist should add some knuckles and turn it into the digitus impudicus. nt

[Toucano]

36. Are they afraid he'll get aroused?

As if he's never seen a phallus!

[Lucy Goosey]

38. A penis is a body part. The pope has one. Jesus had one.

I don't understand the catholic church. In their belief system, they would have to believe that God made penises, right?

I mean I understand they take a vow of celibacy, but does that have to involve trying to pretend that sexual organs don't exist, or that they are somehow evil or dirty simply because they exist?

[cherokeeprogressive]

40. Is that thing circumcised? Hard to tell...