"Everybody Bake Jesus Day": A silly-sounding protest with a serious purpose

A Spanish singer is facing a fine of 192,000 Euros for offending the feelings of Catholics . . . 32 years ago, in a never-broadcast film made for private use. What to do? Bake Jesus!

In 1978, Spanish singer Javier Krahe set up his Super-8 camera and recorded a spoof of cooking shows, “Cooking Christ”. Taking a crucifix from the refrigerator, Krahe demonstrated how to properly season and bake the Jesus portion (the cross is set aside, perhaps for use as a garnish). The video is now available on YouTube:

Transcript:

Let’s take a gaunt Christ for every two persons. Remove the spikes and take the body from the cross, which will be left aside. The stigmas can be stuffed with bacon. Remove the scabs with warm water, and dry carefully.

Spread abundant butter over the Christ and place Him on an ovenproof dish, over a bed of onions. Sprinkle on some salt and pepper. Other spices and fine herbs can be added to suit your taste.

Place the mixture in a moderate oven for three days, after which He will get out on His own.

For nearly three decades, the film went unnoticed. In 2005, the Spanish television show Lo+Plus interviewed Krahe, showing a few still frames of the film in the background near the end of the interview. After a few angry calls, the producers of the show issued an apology.

Now, five years later, the Centro Jurídico Tomás Moro (translated in English to Thomas More Law Center, this Madrid-based organization is headed by Javier Perez-Roldán. It is not the Conservative Christian American organization of the same name founded by Domino’s Pizza tycoon Thomas Monaghan), is pressing charges, Madclaiming that the video “attacks their religious feelings”, a crime under Article 525 of Spanish legal code.

This is the same organization that sued in 2007 over an art book of anti-religious photographs and also in 2006 over comedian Leo Bassi’s show, “Revelation”, which Bassi himself described as intended to offend anyone holding religious beliefs.

Krahe faces a 192,000-Euro fine, and the director of the show, Montserrat Fernández Villa, faces a 144,000-Euro fine.

In solidarity with Krahe, Facebookers have started a tongue-in-cheek protest, “Everybody Bake Christ Day”.

The group’s founder summarizes his intent thus:

The message is that one act of censorship of ideas will inspire many more acts of free expression of ideas in its place. The message we send to the mullahs and priests of all religious communities is this: If you wish to avoid the ridicule of the world’s nonbelievers, censoring us or attempting to criminalize free speech is the last thing you want to do.

“Everybody Bake Jesus Day” is scheduled for Saturday, July 3, 2010. Supporters are urged to “support free speech by baking Jesus in your favorite cake, cookie, pie, pastry, whatever. Have a barbecue and bake Jesus shaped pork ribs. If you’re vegan, bake a tofu Jesus.” They may then post their creations on Facebook.

The Facebook page for the event also links to the hitherto-unknown Krahe film, which has now had over 73,500 views on YouTube.

Related articles:

1. Modest success for first “Everybody Bake Jesus Day”
2. Abortion: What Would Jesus Do?
3. Cross Purpose: Religious Right Lawyers Secularize Christian Symbol To Get Utah Case Before Supreme Court
4. Jesus vs. Rick Perry?
5. Frankly, This is Silly: Two Congressmen Gripe about Being Forced to Pay for Their Own Holiday Cards

Jenny Donati is webmistress and co-editor of Secular News Daily. Jenny is an outspoken secularist who believes firmly in the separation of church and state. She demands evidence to support arguments, and holds herself to the same standard. She doesn't write about herself in the third person . . . but there's a first time for everything.

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