SW News: Conservative lawmakers have strongly condemned a blasphemous artwork at the European Parliament showing Jesus surrounded by homosexual men as he preaches the Sermon on the Mount. The profane image was part of an expo of photographs at the parliament building in Brussels by artist Elisabeth Ohlson of Sweden which went on from May 2 to 5.

Condemning the sacrilegious image were some Italian, Spanish and Polish lawmakers. The Times of London quoted Maria Veronica Rossi, a lawmaker from Italy, as saying “exploiting a religion is an intolerable lack of respect for millions of faithful throughout Europe.”

The lawmaker told Italy24 media outlet that the image was a “gratuitous provocation”. The artwork was slammed by Spanish lawmaker Jorge Buxade who said it was “disgusting and miserable”. He tweeted that the European Parliament has become a “space of impunity for the LGTBIQ+ lobby with the complicity of the left and liberal.” He added that he had infinite contempt for the author, the promoters and those who have allowed the artwork.
In a Facebook post, the Deputy Prime Ministry of Italy expressed indignation over the blasphemous portrayal of Christ. Matteo Salvini said, "Art? No, it's only vulgar and disrespectful. In a word, DISGUSTING."

On the other hand, the artist defended the indecent portrayal as a way of supporting the rights of homosexuals. "There [are] a lot of pictures of Jesus with heterosexual [people]," Ohlson tweeted. "Millions, billions of paintings, famous artists. But these are just 12 pictures of Jesus loving the LGBT rights, so 12 pictures should not be so scary for them."

Yet another sacrilegious portrayal of Christ was made by the Swedish artist at the exhibition. This work shows a Black nude man on the cross being cradled by a White man. The artwork had the support of a Member of European Parliament from Sweden Malin Bjork.