(CNSNews.com) – A Christian group is calling for an apology from Hollywood celebrities who starred in a musical that it says mocks Christians, defames Christ, and distorts the teaching of the Bible.
“Prop 8: The Musical” is a short
video posted on funnyordie.com as a response to the overwhelming support of Proposition 8, a California initiative approved by voters that bans same-sex marriage.
The video stars actor Jack Black - who plays Jesus – Neil Patrick Harris, John C. Reilly, Andy Richter, Maya Rudolph, Margaret Cho, and Rashida Jones, among others.
"Jack Black should remember from his days at Hebrew School that homosexual acts aren't funny and are roundly condemned in the Bible," Dr. Gary Cass, of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission, said in a statement.
John C. Reilly plays a “hate”-spreading religious zealot, who asks Jesus, “Doesn’t the Bible say these people are an abomination?”
“Yeah, but you know, it says the exact same thing about this shrimp cocktail.
Leviticus says shellfish is an abomination,” Black says as Jesus. “The Bible says a lot of interesting things like you can stone your wife or sell your daughter into slavery.
“Well we ignore those verses,” Reilly’s character says.
“Well, then friend, it seems to me you pick and choose. Well, please choose love instead of hate. Besides your nation was built on separation of church and state,” Black says in response.
“Appearing as a sarcastic, rotund Christ, Black distorts the Bible and condones shameful, homosexual acts. Associating Christ with perverse activity is an affront to all people of faith, especially Christians. Apparently Black and company find it hilarious to falsely accuse Christians while they intentionally distort the Bible. Black ought to apologize," Cass said.
The video was written by Marc Shaiman, composer for “Hairspray” and “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut.”
Shaiman, who’s play “Hairspray” was featured at the California Musical Theater in Sacramento vowed never again to let anything he wrote to play at the theater after it was reported that Scott Eckern, the theater’s artistic director had donated $1,000 to the “Yes on 8” campaign.
Eckern eventually resigned after others protested his donation to the campaign.