A Whangarei man who slashed a controversial billboard of the Virgin Mary says he would destroy it again even if it meant going to jail.
Arthur Skinner attacked the billboard outside the Anglican church of St Matthew-in-the-City, in central Auckland, with scissors last Saturday. It showed a shocked-looking Virgin Mary clutching a positive pregnancy test.
Yesterday St Matthew-in-the-City Anglican church, which was responsible for the image, told Mr Skinner they would not be replacing the billboard and police had confirmed they would not be laying charges in relation to the incident.
The $300 Christmas billboard was erected last week to raise discussion about Mary's circumstances coming into Christmas. Mr Skinner, a member of an organisation calling itself the Catholic Action Group, described the Renaissance-style picture as "satanic" and said he would not hesitate to take the same action.
"The Virgin Mary is sacred, you do not blaspheme her image. Yes, absolutely, I would destroy it again.