CBCP hits ‘blasphemous’ use of Christ costume in viral video

The Catholic Church slammed the use of the image of Jesus Christ as a costume for being disrespectful. (File photo by Darth Narutorious, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA – The Catholic Church slammed the use of the image of Jesus Christ as a costume for being disrespectful.

In a statement Wednesday night, Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines – Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs (CBCP-ECPA) said the act posted on social media is already bordering on “mockery and profanity”.

“Dancing to the tune of a sacred and biblical prayer, with matching sacred costume to boot, is completely disrespectful not only of people and institutions practicing such faith but of God Himself,” he said in a statement.

Secillano was referring to the video where former Drag Den Philippines contestant Pura Luka Vega was seen wearing makeup and a costume resembling Jesus Christ while performing to the tune of the liturgical song “Ama Namin” (Our Father).

The July 10 post on Twitter has so far more than 13 million views, 7,551 likes, and 980 retweets.

Secillano noted that individuals must be “extremely prudent” with their acts, especially those that will involve elements of religion and faith.

“Faith and sacred objects are not for entertainment purposes. They are useful for channeling our deepest desire to have recourse to the Divine,” he said.

Unacceptable

Meanwhile, CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Liturgy chairperson and Capiz Archbishop Victor Bendico said any kind of blasphemy against the Lord is not acceptable.

“May God have mercy on him. The sacred liturgy is a sacred celebration where God encounters his people through his word and the sacraments,” he said in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas on Thursday.

“The liturgical celebrations of the Church should glorify God and not dishonor God. They are meant to sanctify people and not People will blaspheme,” the Catholic prelate added.

Bendico said the use of clothes and prayers in activities that do not glorify God is blasphemy.

“God is present there whenever the word of God is read, through the person of the minister, whenever people are gathered in His name and in the Body and Blood of Christ. These teachings alone of the Liturgical Constitution of Vatican 2 are clear indications that the liturgical celebrations should be respected,” Bendico said.

The Capiz prelate is reacting to the video of one Pura Luka Vega wearing the clothes of Jesus Christ at a party while singing the punk rock version of “Ama Namin”. It went viral on social media after getting millions of views.

Although some defended Vega saying it is a form of art, some people also criticized the act and called it a desecration and blasphemy to Christians, especially since the majority of Filipinos are Catholic.

Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman expressed disappointment over the video, saying this does not help their call to respect the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito also strongly condemned the act which he described as blasphemy.

“This disrespects my faith. This went overboard,” he said in a tweet.