Bookie Criticized for Jesus Ad
30 Sep 2005
DUBLIN, Ireland – As reported by Reuters: "Irish bookmaker Paddy Power was fending off the wrath of Christians in overwhelmingly Roman Catholic Ireland on Friday over an advert depicting Jesus and the Apostles gambling at the Last Supper.
"The billboard posters, on display in the Irish capital, adapt Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting of the event to show Jesus with a stack of poker chips, Judas with 30 pieces of silver and other apostles clutching hands of cards.
"'There's a place for fun and games,' says the caption.
"…Paddy Power acknowledged it had taken a 'load of flak' over the advert.
"…'It's a tongue-in-cheek situation -- people aren't supposed to take it as seriously as some people seem to be,' Power said…"