Founder of LivePrayer.com Condemns Obscene
Depictions of Jesus Christ in University of Oregon Student Newspaper
To: National Desk
Contact: Dave Bohon, WDC Media, 612-940-8406, [email protected]
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida, May 25 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following statement was released by Bill Keller, President/CEO of Liveprayer.com. Mr. Keller is available for comment to the media.
I am appalled that the University of Oregon and it President, Dave Frohnmayer, would condone obscene graphics in the student newspaper, the Insurgent, depicting a naked Jesus Christ on the cross with an erection, and a naked Christ kissing another naked man, both with erections.
The Insurgent is published with funds drawn from mandatory fees paid by every enrolled student at this public university, some of whom are Christians. I am sickened that the University of Oregon is turning out such low-minded students as Jessica Brown, who calls demeaning the Christian faith “fun.”
Said Ms. Brown, “ … it is really fun to offend people. It is fun to break the rules. If it pi***s people off, good -- that’s the point!”
When a university group calling itself “Students of Faith” filed a grievance against the Insurgent and requested an apology, the request was rejected by the Associated Students of the University of Oregon (ASUO) who determined that “there are no grounds for demanding an apology from Insurgent.” The ASUO defended the publication, saying that the newspaper contributes “to the cultural and physical development of the university community.”
I seriously doubt that the Insurgent would dream of featuring a depiction of a naked Prophet Mohammed kissing another man. But attacking Christ is “no big deal” to the Insurgent, the ASUO, and to the University or Oregon.
On behalf of Liveprayer.com’s 2.1 million daily e-mail subscribers and our 250,000 nightly television viewers, I beg to differ. People of faith have a powerful voice in this nation, and when offended we can unite to the tune of multiplied millions. Waking up a sleeping lion is never fun or advisable.
Bill Keller
President/CEO
www.LivePrayer.com
About Bill Keller and Liveprayer.com
Bill Keller is the founder of Liveprayer.com and host of the late-night
talk show “Live Prayer with Bill Keller.” Watched by over 250,000 viewers
nightly in Florida, “Liveprayer” is slated to go national in July on PAX
TV. Keller’s liveprayer.com website has responded to over 60 million prayer
request since its launch in 1999, making it the world’s most successful
online ministry in history. Keller also writes a daily spiritual commentary
that is sent to over 2.1 million email subscribers daily. www.liveprayer.com