Church Whips Easter Bunny - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ABlairican Pie · 04-10-2004, 01:33 AM

No passion for Easter Bunny at church show
Children in audience watch as actor in rabbit costume whipped

The Associated Press
Updated: 9:37 a.m. ET April 08, 2004
GLASSPORT, Pa. - First, the Passion of the Christ. Now, the torment of the Easter Bunny?

It may not have been as gruesome as Mel Gibson’s movie, but many parents and children got upset when a church trying to teach about Jesus’ crucifixion performed an Easter show with actors whipping the Easter bunny and breaking eggs.

People who attended Saturday’s show 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.”

TheHappyBurgerMeister · 04-10-2004, 02:00 AM

I agree with the part that Easter is not just about the Easter Bunny and is about Christ too, but I don't agree that the Easter Bunny is bad. It's OK to believe in both. I have always been a christian and believe that Jesus was the real reason, but I still like the Easter Bunny too! That sounds a lot like how people rearrange the letters in Santa and say Satan! They're not bad at all!

sara · 04-10-2004, 02:43 AM

I'm a very religious person, but that is just ridiculous.

Janice · 04-10-2004, 03:02 AM

They sound like a bunch of weirdos to me.

robyrob · 04-10-2004, 07:34 AM

so they performed their own little version of "The PAssion" did they?

Good thing they brought the kids - they should do a puppet show next

Tuesday Weld · 04-10-2004, 12:35 PM

I heard about that.

Rhiannon · 04-10-2004, 12:49 PM

Small kids in the church don't fully understand something like "The Passion" so they associate Easter with the Easter bunny. I don't think it's bad at all.

Ewan's My Man · 04-10-2004, 12:50 PM

that's awful, poor kids...hell, i'd be scarred if i saw that

diezman · 04-10-2004, 03:04 PM

When I was a kid I knew the real meaning of Easter and I also associated it with the Easter Bunny. Just like the real meaning of Christmas and believing in Santa.

A local church had "The Easter Bunny is Dead- He is risen" on it's billboard last year. Many people here were offended by this and complained so they took it down.

Everybody is certainly entitled to their belief and opinion. But when it directly effects someone else (who does not share the same belief) then it is wrong. By placing this billboard in public viewing offended those who did not share the belief.

I'm just wondering if these people knew what the play was about before they went in. Clearly, the ones interviewed did not.

RWCTV · 04-10-2004, 03:32 PM

That sounds kind of funny.

RWCTV · 04-10-2004, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Captain ABlairica
No passion for Easter Bunny at church show
Children in audience watch as actor in rabbit costume whipped
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.

Janice · 04-10-2004, 03:58 PM

I'm surprised PETA hasn't weighed in on this. Even though an actor portrayed the Easter Bunny, I would think they would take issue with the imagery and the message it sent to the kids on the treatment of animals.

They must be planning on putting together a heck of a Christmas play, where they beat the crap out of Santa Claus and Rudolph.

Hollow · 04-10-2004, 04:15 PM

haha. i had no idea easter had anything to do with christianty until just a few years ago when we got some easter egg decorating kit thing and it came with cross stickers. i always thought it was about bunnies. and the fact that i've seen the easter bunny with my own eyes doesnt help convince me that it's not.

TJL · 04-10-2004, 09:12 PM

And they wonder why people are leaving the Church...

MandieR1980 · 04-10-2004, 09:19 PM

IMO religion is nothing more than a cult. With crap like this it's no wonder I have issues with religion. I'm better off without it.

04-10-2004, 01:33 AM	#1
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	Church Whips Easter Bunny No passion for Easter Bunny at church show Children in audience watch as actor in rabbit costume whipped The Associated Press Updated: 9:37 a.m. ET April 08, 2004 GLASSPORT, Pa. - First, the Passion of the Christ. Now, the torment of the Easter Bunny? It may not have been as gruesome as Mel Gibson’s movie, but many parents and children got upset when a church trying to teach about Jesus’ crucifixion performed an Easter show with actors whipping the Easter bunny and breaking eggs. People who attended Saturday’s show 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.”
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04-10-2004, 02:00 AM	#2
TheHappyBurgerMeister Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 23, 2002 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 2,209	I agree with the part that Easter is not just about the Easter Bunny and is about Christ too, but I don't agree that the Easter Bunny is bad. It's OK to believe in both. I have always been a christian and believe that Jesus was the real reason, but I still like the Easter Bunny too! That sounds a lot like how people rearrange the letters in Santa and say Satan! They're not bad at all!
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04-10-2004, 02:43 AM	#3
sara Member Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2002 Location: grandville michigan Posts: 2,296	I'm a very religious person, but that is just ridiculous.
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04-10-2004, 07:34 AM	#5
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,211	so they performed their own little version of "The PAssion" did they? Good thing they brought the kids - they should do a puppet show next
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04-10-2004, 12:35 PM	#6
Tuesday Weld I missed you all. hugs Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 02, 2003 Location: Having a great time. Posts: 22,285	I heard about that.
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04-10-2004, 03:02 AM	#4
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	They sound like a bunch of weirdos to me.

04-10-2004, 12:49 PM	#7
Rhiannon oh, snap! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Jul 19, 2002 Location: middle of nowhere Posts: 11,097	Small kids in the church don't fully understand something like "The Passion" so they associate Easter with the Easter bunny. I don't think it's bad at all.
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04-10-2004, 12:50 PM	#8
Ewan's My Man I'll Cover You Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 29, 2001 Location: Beneath the opera house... Posts: 5,682	that's awful, poor kids...hell, i'd be scarred if i saw that
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04-10-2004, 03:04 PM	#9
diezman why the long face? Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 03, 2004 Location: Upper Peninsula of Michigan (da UP eh?) Posts: 248	When I was a kid I knew the real meaning of Easter and I also associated it with the Easter Bunny. Just like the real meaning of Christmas and believing in Santa. A local church had "The Easter Bunny is Dead- He is risen" on it's billboard last year. Many people here were offended by this and complained so they took it down. Everybody is certainly entitled to their belief and opinion. But when it directly effects someone else (who does not share the same belief) then it is wrong. By placing this billboard in public viewing offended those who did not share the belief. I'm just wondering if these people knew what the play was about before they went in. Clearly, the ones interviewed did not.

04-10-2004, 03:32 PM	#10
RWCTV Making Sense Senior Member Join Date: Sep 21, 2001 Location: Lockport, IL USA Posts: 1,138	Re: Church Whips Easter Bunny That sounds kind of funny.
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04-10-2004, 03:58 PM	#12
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I'm surprised PETA hasn't weighed in on this. Even though an actor portrayed the Easter Bunny, I would think they would take issue with the imagery and the message it sent to the kids on the treatment of animals. They must be planning on putting together a heck of a Christmas play, where they beat the crap out of Santa Claus and Rudolph.

04-10-2004, 04:15 PM	#13
Hollow Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 16, 2001 Posts: 30,406	haha. i had no idea easter had anything to do with christianty until just a few years ago when we got some easter egg decorating kit thing and it came with cross stickers. i always thought it was about bunnies. and the fact that i've seen the easter bunny with my own eyes doesnt help convince me that it's not.

04-10-2004, 09:12 PM	#14
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	And they wonder why people are leaving the Church...
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04-10-2004, 09:19 PM	#15
MandieR1980 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 03, 2001 Location: East Taunton, Massachusetts Posts: 2,635	IMO religion is nothing more than a cult. With crap like this it's no wonder I have issues with religion. I'm better off without it.
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