WHEN Stephen ‘Stay a Virgin, Marry a Virgin’ Green demanded the destruction of gay artist Terence Koh’s Jesus-with-wood figurine (see the original Freethinker report here) we could not find a photograph of the ‘offensive’ piece.

But now, at last, a picture of the foot-high piece has come to light - thanks to the diligence of the anti-censorship website Mediawatchwatch.

And Christian Voice supremo Green can now congratulate himself that this particular 12-incher will get considerably more exposure than the artist could ever have hoped for.

Meanwhile, Green has issued a press release in which he reveals that a top Jewish lawyer has supported his call for the destruction of the statue. Leading criminal law barrister Jonathan Goldberg QC made his plea in a letter to the Jewish Chronicle in which he said:

It is unpardonable to show such disrespect and cause such gratuitous offence to our Christian friends and supporters of Israel, above all in these troubled times.

Mr and Mrs Poju Zabludowicz [the owners of the statue] should now demonstrate the qualities of Jewish communal leadership to which they aspire, no doubt worthily, by consigning this artefact to the depths.

Blathered Green:

Those of us who honour the Jewish roots of our Christian faith and the place of Israel in God’s purpose will be dismayed to see such disrespect of our faith from such prominent members of the Jewish community. Back in 2005, the Chief Rabbi lectured on ‘How to build a culture of respect’. He spoke of the Christian and Jewish communities feeling ‘on the defensive’ and ‘bruised’ in the face of onslaughts from secularists and Islamists. In February 2006, he asked on the BBC: ‘Can we learn to respect what others hold holy?’

If these are to be more than just words, such a disrespectful piece of plaster, insulting the One whom Christians hold most holy of all, can find no place amongst the possessions of a prominent Jewish couple who know the Chief Rabbi personally.

The thought of Mr & Mrs Zabludowicz owning or profiting from a statue humiliating and blaspheming the Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua Meshiach, brings up thoughts that I really do not want to entertain. That is why I am very grateful to Jonathan Goldberg QC for his gracious support. Whatever that disgraceful statue is worth, good relations between Christian and Jews are worth far, far more.