Pope poster angers Catholics
OUTRAGED Catholics have filed complaints about a handbag advertisement in MTR stations which depicts the Pope peeping at a scantily-clad woman.
Bishop Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, Coadjutor Bishop of Hong Kong, has written to the Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) and the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA) to register the Church's anger.
'What His Holiness and a semi-naked woman have to do with selling handbags is beyond comprehension,' the bishop wrote.
The Catholic Church deplored 'the slander of an internationally respected and loved religious leader'.
Churchgoer Danny Wong Yau-lee was moved to start a petition for the removal of the posters.
Mr Wong, whose petition says the advertisement is an 'outrage against the holy Catholic Church', said he believed the Pope's picture was being removed.
The advertisement was supplied by Triple Tact Trading, sole agent for Luis handbags in Hong Kong.
Triple Tact assistant export manager Vivian Chan said: 'The Pope we just use to promote our brand. We find his photograph quite cute.' TELA executive officer Eric Ho Lau-wing said the authority would only be concerned if it deemed the advertisement was indecent.
'I think the presentation found in the MTR is acceptable. There is no censorship on religion in Hong Kong,' he said.
But Hong Kong Catholic Diocese spokesman Mary Seung was concerned that the Pope was being mocked.
Diocesan Chancellor Father Lawrence Lee Len said the Church would feel equally concerned about such a portrayal of any religious leader.
MTRC corporate relations manager Miranda Leung Chan Chi-ming said: 'The poster in question was put up without any intention to cause offence.' 'All posters are screened by our advertising department. Unfortunately, this one got through. We have decided to remove the poster.' Posters in Causeway Bay and Kowloon Tong MTR stations have been removed.
The posters were also seen at Admiralty and Wan Chai stations.
