SANT JOAN, Mallorca - seeking to raise funds for their group of young Catholics on the island of Mallorca, Spanish tourist members come up with an idea risk: almost posed nude for a calendar to recreate scenes from the Passion of Christ.
The Group has sold nearly 10 euro ($13) calendars for 2011 and is considering another printing run due to high demand. But Mallorca Bishop Jesus Murgui is blasting the effort they showed lack of respect for the largest Catholic feast.
"Calendar trivializes Easter," Office of the Bishop said in a statement e-mailed to Associated Press Friday.
He added: "" We regret that the religious sentiments of Catholics on this island were not taken into account and that Christian symbols should not have been shown due respect. ""
Members of the Group Davallament Catholic young adults who give Sunday school classes say that pure calendar popularity shows that they have the support of the public. They pay 1,500 euros ($1,945) to 300 printed calendars and have almost exhausted for a profit of EUR 1 500 for the purchase of equipment for their work to educate young Catholics and keep them in the fold.
The calendar contains pictures black and white young men and women of Sant Joan, population 2,000, recreate the images of Roman, times when Christianity was born.
Images taken in rustic settings include almost nude Gladiator fighting with spears and Roman centurions with their visible buttocks escort three bearing Christian imprisonment of the lean loin cloths while wearing a rustic wooden cross.
Another scene looking for the calendar shows 12 nude male models of the city aligned in a row, smiling and holding that roman classical Plumed helmets for their private parts.
Mestre Pere, a repairer of footwear for 19 years and a member of the youth group, said that all models were between 18 and 28 years. They included a Carpenter, farm workers and a driver.
It was a little shocked by the negative reaction of top Catholic Mallorca, but said he and other members 'are happy that our calendar is thrown money for our association, which celebrates its 20th anniversary.
Youth group leader Mas de Pep, said he understood the criticism of the calendar but that filled a need by raising funds and photographs were artistic.
MAS "we accept reviews and opinions, but all the blows are respectable," said the Ultima Hora newspaper.
Mayor of Sant Joan Joan Magro also defends the calendar telling television Antena3 as the photographer and the model has done a good job.
"There are a few good photographs, they are very well done and artistic" he was quoted as saying. A woman who answered the phone at the Office of Magro Friday said that it would be unavailable to other comments.
The controversy over the calendar came just a week after police in mainland coastal zone Spain de Lleida near of Mallorca released a schedule themselves little dressed in outfits of cat burglar.
This is a Christmas gift to their male colleagues. None of the women in uniform, which is illegal in Spain. But the success of their calendar prompted officers think to sell copies to raise money for charity, El Periodico journal Spain, said.
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Harold Heckle and Alan Clendenning contributed Madrid.
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