Don’t let the date of this article fool you. I checked, this event was really planned. Recently I was reminded that one good Friday many moons ago at a West Philly show featuring the band More Fiends a mock fight went down between “David Koresh” and “Jesus H. Christ.” A huge wooden cross was also brought into the basement venue and revelers were encouraged to shoulder the burden if they liked.
Controversial crucifixion plans axed by nightclub
Wednesday April 01 2009Â |Â www.newrossstandard.ie
WEXFORD NIGHTCLUB The Music Factory has cancelled a controversial plan to stage a dance floor re-enactment of Christ on the cross over the Easter weekend.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the venue’s co-owner Peter May said ‘It is with regret that we will not be going ahead with the planned theatrical production of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday’.
The decision was made following discussions with Church representatives, he said, and was based on the fact that the Music Factory does not wish to ‘offend any sector of the church or public’.
The cancellation was prompted by a storm of protest from church personnel in Wexford including the Catholic Church, the Church of Ireland, the Presbyterian Church and the Wexford Christian Fellowship.
After the club’s theme night was publicised last week, Mr. May appeared on South East Radio in a discussion with Fr. John Carroll, secretary to the Bishop of Ferns.
The issue was also covered by national newspapers and radio stations as well as religious publications and Christian websites.
The nightclub owner offered to organise the event in consultation with church representatives to ensure that no-one was offended but the Diocese of Ferns subsequently issued a statement saying:
‘It is expected that all businesses would be conducted in a manner respectful of religious belief and in good taste. The Diocese of Ferns does not vet proposals that come from nightclubs nor has it received any’.
‘Any decision made regarding a proposed event at a nightclub in Wexford town on Easter Sunday is the decision of management of the nightclub alone’.
Among the reactions to the story was a statement from Stephen Rea, a Minister of the Wexford Presbytherian Church. He said the people who killed Jesus laughed and jeered while doing so. ‘Are you happy to identify with this?’, he asked before appealing to the venue to reconsider.
A Catholic organisation called Thought & Action, founded in 2007, contacted the Music Factory and the Bishop of Ferns to register its opposition to the event.
Pat Murphy, pastor of the Wexford Christian Fellowship said he would use the strongest word that God used in the Bible -’abomination’-to describe the nighclub proposal.
Peter Wickham who co-owns the nightclub with Mr. May said the venue received a mixed reaction from members of the public with letters for and against.
He said one correspondent Michael Quinn from Castleknock, Dublin wrote that he was surprised the Church did not seize an opportunity to embrace the youth of today and reach out to all those ‘prodigal sons and daughters’.
‘While I agree your venue may not be appropriate. I would assert that it would be more successful in reaching a lost generation than an empty church’, he wrote.
The venue is now planning an alternative show which Mr. May said will be ‘as exciting as the original plans’.
And starting this weekend on April 4, the first Saturday in every month will be ‘White Night’ with the place decked out in white decor and powerful ultra violet illumination making everything including the dancers glow in the dark.