Sunday, November 18, 2012

Greece Charges Play Producers and Cast With Blasphemy

In Greece on Friday, the public prosecutor's office charged the organizers, cast and producers of the play Corpus Christi with "insulting religion" and "malicious blasphemy."  The play, by American playwright Terrence McNally depicts Jesus and his apostles as gay and living in Texas.  According to Reuters and Greek Reporter, the unusual criminal charges were filed after a lawsuit by Bishop Seraphim of Piraeus.  Weeks of protest outside the Hytirio Theater in downtown Athens by priests and right-wing groups such as the ultra-nationalist Golden Dawn party had caused the play to be cancelled.