'Virgin Mary' fury continues

Anger over the controversial "Bloody Mary" South Park episode continues unabated with more than 2500 people calling for a TV3 boycott in a full-page newspaper advertisement.

The advertisement, which features most of the signatures, declares the signees will boycott TV3 news for one year "as a result of CanWest's intransigence in the face of the love, respect and honour we have for the Virgin Mary". The ad appeared today and will run for two more weeks in the Herald on Sunday.

TV3 owner CanWest screened the episode, which depicted a statue of the Virgin Mary menstruating on Pope Benedict, on February 22 on C4. CanWest has since apologised and chief operating officer Rick Friesen said he regretted showing the programme.

Peter Grace, a journalist with the New Zealand Catholic newspaper, said the purpose of the advertisement and the boycott was to signal to CanWest and other broadcasters that such shows were unacceptable to Christians.

"I just want CanWest to think a bit more carefully before this sort of thing happens again. Although I believe in freedom of expression I don't see [it] as some kind of absolute ... "

The advertisements will cost him $11,500 but Mr Grace has to date received donations of $7000.

Mr Friesen said the advertisements did not represent the views of most Catholics. "I am surprised at the continuing vehemence of a very few Catholics because we have apologised. I just don't know what more they would expect."