A leading food retailer has pulled a satirical student magazine off its shelves after a storm of protest from Christians who objected to what they said was the publication of a blasphemous article and cartoon, writes Angela Quintal in The Star.
This year's SaxAppeal, produced by University of Cape Town students for charity, was sponsored by Pick n Pay.
But the company, which prides itself on being a family store, pulled the magazine off the shelves after receiving several complaints on Thursday.
Irate Christians, including the Vineyard Church's John Eliastam, also lodged a complaint with the SA Human Rights Commission and have threatened protests.
In an email to a network of Christian churches and organisations, Errol Naidoo, of the Family Policy Institute, charged that Saxappeal had "grossly overstepped the boundaries of decency & respect for individual religious beliefs".
"Jesus is referred to as a 'tool, Christians as stupid c**nts and God as a 'pervert'," he writes.
He quoted extracts from an article titled "Top Ten Atheist Retorts to Fundamentalist Christians " which Naidoo said were particularly offensive.
These included "Jesus died to save us from our sins". – "I bet he feels like a tool now" and "Praise the Lord, it's a miracle!" – "No you stupid C.*.*.T. (Christian who Understands No Theorems) statistically they happen every 365 days".
Naidoo said on Thursday night the articles were "wrong and immoral".
"If this was directed at the Islamic faith, there would be a massive outcry, maybe even with violence. Thankfully we won't respond that way, but that does not make us whipping boys."
Naidoo said a group of Christian organisations, were seeking a meeting with UCT, where they would insist on an apology and the magazine's withdrawal.
He had earlier spoken to Pick n Pay's Jonathan Ackerman who had subsequently pulled the magazine off the store's shelves.
Pick n Pay spokesperson Tamra Veley said that " given that this is a magazine produced by students for a student initiative" the company had never played a role in editorial decisions of any kind.
