The SideshowNew billboard depicts Virgin Mary holding a pregnancy test
A controversial new billboard shows the Virgin Mary holding a pregnancy test with a "positive" reading.
The billboard, called "Mary is in the pink," was purchased by the St. Matthews-in-the-City Church in Auckland, New Zealand. The church says the billboard featuring the revered religious figure aimed to "avoid the sentimental [and] trite" and "spark thought and conversation." It bears no text.
This billboard is only the latest in a string of provocative, holiday-themed billboards for the church, according to local TV station 3 News. In 2009, they ran another Christmas billboard featuring Mary and Joseph in bed with the tagline, "Poor Joseph, God was a hard act to follow."
Vicar Glynn Cardy said that this year St. Matthews wanted to focus on what it was like for a real mother with a real child. "It's about a real pregnancy, a real mother and a real child. It's about real anxiety, courage and hope."
On the church's website, St. Matthews says the lack of text on the billboard is intended to provoke thought: "We hope to do so with an image and no words. We invite you to wonder what your caption might be."
The billboard will stay up until Christmas Day.
Other popular Yahoo! News stories:
• Armed gang steal millions from Dubai royal family
• New stratolaunch plane will take people into Earth's orbit
