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Manhattan Diary by Cahir O'Doherty

Pope Benedict kissing Imam controversy in Benetton ad

Posted on Friday, November 18, 2011 at 08:59 AM

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Controversial Benetton ad - Pope Benedict kissing Iman

Everyone has their pieties, even nonbelievers. It's how we respond when we see them debased that underlines who we are.

That's why the responses to fashion house Benetton's latest ad campaign have been so depressingly predictable. In fact it's why Benetton supported the campaign at all.

When Benetton signed off on a provocative image of Pope Benedict passionately kissing an Iman they knew (in fact they were depending) on the controversy it would create among a lot of people.

They got exactly what they asked for, too. Along with the controversy, they have promoted the Benetton brand. They're riding some people's outrage all the way to the cash registers.

But consider this, if you're a believer, then you believe that God created the vast and unfathomable universe. From the smallest leaf to the mightiest mountain, from a comet to a quasar, it's all His work.

So it's quite hard, given all that, to imagine He'd be bothered by a tacky ad campaign, isn't it? And it's unlikely He needs your support at all.

That disconnect - between the majesty of creation and the small thinking of the many who attribute it to a God - has always puzzled me.
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12 comments

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Ezekiel | May 15, 2012, 05:26 PM EDT

Irish have been unfairly and hatefully stereotyped for centuries as hopeless illiterates and drunks. Irish, of all in the world, should know better than to apply hateful stereotypes to others. Some priests have done horrible things to boys (and some to girls); but that doesn't make it open season on bigotry toward the rest of those who haven't.

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Bannor.P | Nov 23, 2011, 06:38 AM EST

The problem is the pope is depicted kissing another man. If it had been a young boy instead it would have been OK....

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snakehips | Nov 22, 2011, 03:57 PM EST

What's wrong with the picture, Catholic priests are used to kissing men in a passionate manner. Not that I care...just saying.

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IrelandNorth | Nov 21, 2011, 07:36 AM EST

Was unconfortable about the possible underlying homosexual evalgilisation vibe. But if the motivation was ecumenism, and most religious leaders are patriarchs, then understandable. Would love to see one of the pope snogging the Queen of England. Now there would be reformation for ya!

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hollabackgurl | Nov 18, 2011, 11:47 PM EST

Right, first God created the universe and then He hated some of it. And if you're part of what He made that He now hates you're out of luck. That makes so much sense PiperMac52. Totally.

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PiperMac52 | Nov 18, 2011, 05:59 PM EST

God's vast creation came with a set of laws(found in natural law) many who claim faith in that creator inexplicably reject those laws that don't fit their subjective, cultural whims. The photo is offensive to believing Catholics on the grounds that Islam is the antithesis of Catholicism in its unbending totalitarian belief system that oppresses adherents, especially women and calls for barbaric punishments under Sharia law. This "religion" is not from God. Anyone who has studied the Quran and Hadith or followed the history starting with Muhammad in an objective fashion would have to admit that.

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hollabackgurl | Nov 18, 2011, 01:58 PM EST

It's not a gay issue at all, it's an ad company playing the public like a piano by exploiting their prejudices.

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wyalusingjohn | Nov 18, 2011, 01:31 PM EST

The Pope objected, as did the White House on behalf of the President to the Popes (presidents) photo being used for a commercial purpose, your trying way too hard to make this a gay issue. By the way what has this to do with Ireland?

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bogsidebunny | Nov 18, 2011, 01:25 PM EST

The Pope was fooled into believing the Imam was really an 8-year old altar boy in disguise.

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rugbyplayer | Nov 18, 2011, 01:05 PM EST

What I want to know is who's the top and who's the bottom?

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joemccullough | Nov 18, 2011, 12:03 PM EST

Well stated.

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cillowen | Nov 18, 2011, 11:10 AM EST

Great Gay propaganda - who knew? The morphing power to make us part donkey .. whatever.