Billboard destruction the act of petulant children

It has been about a month since the controversial, “Mary Is in the Pink,” billboard was ripped down by a group of angry protesters. This vandalism, led by a man named Arthur Skinner, was the result of religiously-fueled outrage at what some see as the sacrilegious portrayal of a revered figure:

"Even people who aren't Catholics know instinctively you don't attack the Blessed Virgin who gave us the savour of the world," said Skinner. (Quote courtesy TV NZ)

Skinner argued Mary wouldn't have needed a pregnancy test – that she knew she was pregnant and was absolutely ecstatic about it.

While Skinner and his mob were wrong for damaging the billboard, their error here goes deeper: They assume Mary would have had an entirely inhuman reaction to the prospect of unwed motherhood in a situation where she could have been killed for it – especially given that she was betrothed at the time.

It doesn't matter that she consented; it's likely Mary would still be at least a little bit shocked to find that, yes indeed, she was a pregnant virgin.

The Bible records Joseph's initial reaction to the pregnancy: “Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.” – Matthew 1:19

This was the situation Mary faced, however briefly: A broken betrothal and being driven back to her parents in shame, assuming they would have her.

(Here, in modernity, she might seek the help of a crisis pregnancy center – you know, where women tend to be shamed and treated like crap and subjected to hours of belligerent sermonizing before they can earn enough credits to get second-hand stuff at the 'baby shop.')

And within that nexus, where Mary may have sat alone by her lamp as Joseph lay dreaming elsewhere, she likely wondered at her fate: The prophets had suffered in serving God, and so might she.

The billboard raised all those questions and more, challenging modern folks to consider their own attitude towards pregnant girls, regardless of circumstance.

But Skinner, being afraid of questions or subtlety – they anger him – decided he had a right to destroy the billboard merely because he didn’t like it.