'ONE would like to think that comedy could incite religious hatred. That would be great.'

These are the words of Stewart Lee, producer and Cco-author of Jerry Springer: The Opera quoted in the Independent on Sunday, December 5, 2004.

Jerry Springer: The Opera spitefully and gratuitously denigrates the Christian faith. Jesus Christ is presented in the show as 'the hypocrite son of the fascist tyrant on high...' who describes himself to be "a bit gay". He is depicted as one who hits women and uses foul language. This musical contains over 8,000 expletives, depicts Jesus, Mary and God as self-centred sexual deviants, who give and receive extreme verbal abuse and a horrific series of blasphemies all in the name of comedy.

The shows artistic director admits that this show is a deliberate attack on good taste and that it pushes back the boundaries of taste and decency.

Christianity is being discriminated against, it is absolutely inconceivable that a show would portray the prophet Mohammad or Guru Nanak in the way that this show portrays Jesus Christ.

Why is it that Christianity is singled out for this kind of intolerant abuse? It's time for Christians to take a stand.

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven..." (Matthew 10:32)

I'm not asking Christians to insist on the beheading of the producers of this show, Christianity is a faith of love.

My encouragement is - write to the Birmingham Hippodrome and your local MPs. Most of all pray. Pray that those who watch this disgusting show will not be affected physically or spiritually, and pray that God, in his mercy, might forgive those allowing this blatant attack on Christianity to continue.

Rev Neil Bennett

Pastor of Catshill Baptist Church

Bromsgrove