Staying Abreast of Virgin Mary in Chile

By John W. Lillpop


Most civilized societies invest very little energy and even less intellectual curiosity into serious contemplation about the relative endowments of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

However, in some backward, remote nations, staying abreast of Virgin Mary and all her many charms is an important part of the local culture, in much the same manner in which baseball is worshipped in America.

When it comes to the former, the nation of Chile serves up an excellent example as documented, in part, by the referenced (1) report from Reuters:

"A prominent fashion designer has sparked outrage in Chile by dressing up models like the Virgin Mary -- in some cases with ample, near-naked breasts.

"The Roman Catholic Church condemned Ricardo Oyarzun's plans for a show featuring the models, and a conservative group tried unsuccessfully to block it in court.

"Oyarzun said he had received telephone threats and had excrement smeared on his doorstep.

"There is no pornography here, there's no sex, there are no virgins menstruating or feeling each other up," Oyarzun said ahead of the catwalk show set to be held at a Santiago nightclub later on Thursday. "This is artistic expression."

"He said his designs -- which include halos, look as though they come from a nativity scene and include religious icons -- were inspired by the Virgin Mary but not intended to represent her.
"We look on with special pain and deplore those acts which seek to tarnish manifestations of sincere love toward the Virgin Mary, which end up striking at the dignity of womankind by presenting her as an object of consumption," Chile's Episcopal Conference, which includes Catholic bishops, said in a statement.

"The show is more evidence that Chile, heavily influenced by the church for decades, is shaking off its reputation as one of the most socially conservative countries in Latin America."

While it is disappointing that "There is no pornography here, there's no sex, there are no virgins menstruating or feeling each other up," it is encouraging to know that, at the very least, Chile is staying abreast of the latest fad in breasts!

Reference 1:

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE50E7FB20090115


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