Cork bishop criticises ‘offensive’ Mary image

THE Bishop of Cork and Ross has launched a scathing attack on an exhibition, due to open in UCC today, for portraying the Virgin Mary in an“offensive” way.

The digital image by Mexican artist Alma Lopez shows Our Lady of Guadalupe wearing a floral bikini, with her hands on her hips in what some consider a provocative pose. She is standing on a black crescent moon held by a bare breasted female butterfly angel.

Most Reverend Dr John Buckley said: “Respect for Mary, the mother of God, is bred in the bones of Irish people and entwined in their lives.