THE Vatican has condemned the sale of Jesus Christ fancy dress kits, which can be bought within walking distance of St Peter's Basilica.The "Jesus Party Wig", available across Italy to wear at the street festivities that precede Lent, costs $A20 and comes with a flowing beard and a plastic crown of thorns.
Senior Vatican figures called it "blasphemous" and "shameful". One added that a similar Muhammad outfit would cause widespread outrage.
"The vilifying of religion is a crime and this should be investigated by the police," said Bishop Velasio De Paolis, secretary of the Apostolic Signature, the Vatican's Supreme Court. "It's come to the point where the Catholic faith has no defence and it is something to be laughed at. The Christian doctrine is exploited but everyone is very careful to be respectful of Islam."
A Milan firm, Widmann, distributes the outfits, which are made in China. It also offers a luxury version, at $40, which adds a long white tunic and a plastic staff. Father Vittorino Grossi, secretary of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences, said: "This is regurgitated paganism and is a shameful insult and blasphemous to millions of believers.
"It's worse than the Roman graffiti of 1800 years ago that showed Christ with a donkey's head," he said.
No one at Widmann would comment. But one stockist, who would not give his name, said: "I don't see what the problem is. To me it's just a novelty wig and beard."
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