Another World Cup Jesus Flap

This time it’s an Italian company.

The Brazilian Catholic Church has threatened to sue after Italian broadcaster Rai digitally draped Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer statue in a soccer jersey to promote its coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. A church lawyer for the Archdiocese of Rio compared the “blasphemous” move to making a commercial in which “mulatto girls engaged in lewd behavior with the gladiators of the Coliseum.” “The Archdiocese is deeply offended,” Rodrigo Grazioli told O Globo, confirming that the church is considering slapping Rai with a $5.4 million lawsuit. If they win, the church promises to give the money to a charitable organization.

The commercial is at the link.