Jerry Springer Opera Under Fire from Archbishop of Wales

|TOP|Jerry Springer – The Opera has faced a fresh round of condemnation, this time from the Archbishop of Wales who has criticised the Wales Millennium Centre (WMC) in Cardiff for hosting the controversial show next month.

The opera has been challenged by Christians in various cities on its national tour who are deeply offended by the content of the show which features Jesus, Mary and God as guests on Jerry Springer’s TV talk show.

The WMC has defended its decision to go ahead with the 6-day run from June 12th to 17th, saying that it was right to stage art that challenged audiences, reports the BBC.

The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, warned the WMC, however, that the staging of the show could be met with protests.

|QUOTE|Dr Morgan openly criticised the show saying it had “crossed the line”, and also the WMC for going ahead with the show, admitting he was “deeply disappointed” by the decision.

He said: "I'm deeply disappointed. On the one hand, I can see that we need freedom for the arts to express what they want to express.

"On the other hand, I think they've crossed a line here, because what they say about Jesus in this opera is likely to cause scandal and they'd never get away with saying the same things about the prophet Muhammad."

Dr Morgan told the BBC he had written to the chair of the trustees of the WMC making his disapproval clear.
|AD|He added: "I think what's important is to make our feelings known beforehand and we've done that.

"What they say about Jesus here is blasphemous and gratuitously offensive and I think when an opera does that, then it's time to call a halt.

"Why should Christianity endure this kind of offensive blasphemous treatment?"

The WMC has refused to cancel the show although it admitted it had received a number of letters of complaint already.

It has also taken the additional step of meeting with church leaders and has said it would allow Christian literature to be distributed in the centre’s foyer during the run of the show.

York, Glasgow and Newcastle are just some of the cities where the Jerry Springer opera has already met with protests from local Christians and church leaders.