Catholic magazine runs ad with Mary wrapped in condom

Ah, the old “unknowing eyes” defense. The editors of America magazine, a weekly U.S. Catholic magazine, are red in the face after running an advertisement selling the statue shown here, of the Virgin Mary wrapped in a condom. A London artist apparently placed the ad as a political statement; the editors claim not to have noticed the condom. (Nor, apparently, did they closely read the copy, which described the item as “a stunning ... statue of the Virgin Mary standing atop a serpent wearing a delicate veil of latex.”) In a statement of apology, the editors wrote, “We were embarrassed to have readers call our attention to the offensive advertisement that escaped our unknowing eyes and appeared in the December 5 issue.” The magazine’s associate editor put it more bluntly: “We’re Jesuits. I don’t think you could have found anyone in the editors’ room who has seen a condom.”

—Posted by Tim Nudd

December 27, 2005 | Permalink