Actors Whip Easter Bunny at Church Show ("Mommy why are they hitting the Easter bunny?")

fredericksburg.com ^ | 4/7/04 | AP

[Diddle E. Squat]

GLASSPORT, Pa.

A church trying to teach about the crucifixion of Jesus performed an Easter show with actors whipping the Easter bunny and breaking eggs, upsetting several parents and young children.

People who attended Saturday's performance at Glassport's memorial stadium quoted performers as saying, "There is no Easter bunny," and described the show as being a demonstration of how Jesus was crucified.

Melissa Salzmann, who brought her 4-year-old son J.T., said the program was inappropriate for young children. "He was crying and asking me why the bunny was being whipped," Salzmann said.

Patty Bickerton, the youth minister at Glassport Assembly of God, said the performance wasn't meant to be offensive. Bickerton portrayed the Easter rabbit and said she tried to act with a tone of irreverence.

"The program was for all ages, not just the kids. We wanted to convey that Easter is not just about the Easter bunny, it is about Jesus Christ," Bickerton said.

Performers broke eggs meant for an Easter egg hunt and also portrayed a drunken man and a self-mutilating woman, said Jennifer Norelli-Burke, another parent who saw the show in Glassport, a community about 10 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

"It was very disturbing," Norelli-Burke said. "I could not believe what I saw. It wasn't anything I was expecting."

[firebrand]

Good reply. This is why I never told my child there was a Santa. Many times I have been gratified by her instant and total belief when I told her something. She knew I would never lie to her. That's worth more than a million Santas with their fun and games.

[firebrand]

You two are sick puppies. (Bwa.)

[TexasRepublic]

I have pondered your idea for years, but I'll bet most 8-year-olds understand the difference between a once-a-year fantasy and a serious weekly religious observance - I know I did.

[RightWingAtheist]

http://www.moviewavs.com/TV_Shows/South_Park/Episode_207_City_On_The_Edge_Of_Forever/207_isaidquiet.wav

[TaxRelief]

But did you, and do you, trust your parents impeccably?

[freekitty]

What sickos. Now they are trying to combine art and religion in their perverted way.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

What a proud moment for the Mon Valley!!! It's everywhere...even O'Reilly mentioned it tonight (PaDad faithfully watches).

Ciexyz, did you see the local coverage, I think it was on KDKA, but the lady defending the play was priceless. It was as if Dana Carvey was channeling thru her...

[Ciexyz]

Joe Scarborough is even talking about it on tonite's show (Thurs. eve 10 PM EST, MSNBC). Yup, the Mon Valley is going national!

The Trib had an article in today's paper. Said it was the second year that the bunny appeared in the pageant (and apparently, got whipped.) Apparently last year no one complained.

[MeanFreePath]

For some reason, I was wondering about this just yesterday. I should have known it referred to the Gnostics.

Thanks.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Just to be clear, I understand your position re: Santa and truthfullness, and while I don't necessarily interpret the issue the same way, I certainly respect your rationale and decisions. Thanks for being willing to present them, even on a mischievous thread where some might get a bit too rowdy.

[NYC GOP Chick]

You two are sick puppies. (Bwa.)

We are here to amuse! ;)

fb: Would you believe that none of the pictures I took tonight came out?! I mean, they are just not on my camera's memory card! And I wasted that opportunity... ;)

[Ciexyz]

Joe Scarborough's calling it "The Passion of The Bunny." The Easter Bunny is flogged without mercy....too funny.

[NYC GOP Chick]

I think Joe's been lurking here at FR!

Back in 1998 -- before I landed here in FReeperLand -- I used to post to Usenet, and a day or so after I'd made some posts, a certain radio talk show host used to say the same things, almost word for word.

[StarfireIV]

So this is...
Christianity?!
Perhaps the people who are laughing hardest now
are the pagans

Burning their sage
and performing spring rituals
Yes, they will confirm the symbolic origins
of Holiday staples like the Pine Tree and Yule Tide
the allegory of fertility found in eggs and rabbits

But to take such measures
as these...
It is almost as if to say
we would rather the children cry
than laugh
They should see life as hard
as we do
Spreading the love
replaced by spreading the misery

And what passes for a church
becomes a vehicle of anger and torment
fueled by the kind of fanaticism
Impressive only to Taliban and Wahabbist Muslims
A minister morphs into a living hammer
and the only play left to perform
is the scarred creation of Roger Waters

"The Wall goes to Church" 04/09/04 StarfireIV

[swheats]

Another "what the hell were they thinking" moment fer sure.

[frgoff]

If your kids believe in God only because you told them, then their faith is on a pretty weak foundation. My kids believe in God because they went and found Him for themeselves. I basically told them: God is real. Here's how I found out. Now go find out for yourselves.

[GSWarrior]

What would Betty Bowers do?

[P.O.E.]

""Kill the wabbit, kill the waaaaa-bit"

[firebrand]

I probably broke the camera when I took that shot of you. Too bad the Ed Rollins shots are gone--he is part of history.

[techcor]

Actually, it sounds like The Passion crossed with South Park!

That's what I thought the first time I heard about this on Scarborough. With Janet Reno as the bunny rabbit.