Founder of LivePrayer.com Condemns Obscene Depictions of Jesus Christ in University of Oregon Student Newspaper

ST. PETERSBURG, FL. (May 25 2006) --- The following statement was released by Bill Keller, President/CEO of Liveprayer.com:

I am appalled that the University of Oregon and it President, Dave Frohnmayer, would condone obscene graphics in the student newspaper, the Insurgent, depicting a naked Jesus Christ on the cross with an erection, and a naked Christ kissing another naked man, both with erections.

The Insurgent is published with funds drawn from mandatory fees paid by every enrolled student at this public university, some of whom are Christians. I am sickened that the University of Oregon is turning out such low-minded students as Jessica Brown, who calls demeaning the Christian faith “fun.”

Said Ms. Brown, “ … it is really fun to offend people. It is fun to break the rules. If it pi***s people off, good -- that’s the point!”

When a university group calling itself “Students of Faith” filed a grievance against the Insurgent and requested an apology, the request was rejected by the Associated Students of the University of Oregon (ASUO) who determined that “there are no grounds for demanding an apology from Insurgent.”

The ASUO defended the publication, saying that the newspaper contributes “to the cultural and physical development of the university community.”

I seriously doubt that the Insurgent would dream of featuring a depiction of a naked Prophet Mohammed kissing another man. But attacking Christ is “no big deal” to the Insurgent, the ASUO, and to the University or Oregon.
On behalf of Liveprayer.com’s 2.1 million daily e-mail subscribers and our 250,000 nightly television viewers, I beg to differ. People of faith have a powerful voice in this nation, and when offended we can unite to the tune of multiplied millions. Waking up a sleeping lion is never fun or advisable.

About Bill Keller and Liveprayer.com

Bill Keller is the founder of Liveprayer.com and host of the late-night talk show “Live Prayer with Bill Keller.” Watched by over 250,000 viewers nightly in Florida, “Liveprayer” is slated to go national in July on PAX TV. Keller’s liveprayer.com website has responded to over 60 million prayer request since its launch in 1999, making it the world’s most successful online ministry in history. Keller also writes a daily spiritual commentary that is sent to over 2.1 million email subscribers daily.

Visit www.liveprayer.com.

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