The New Zealand Advertising Standards Authority made a no-brainer of a decision earlier this week when they determined that a church billboard reading, "Jesus Heals Cancer," violates advertising standards.
Thank you, Captain Obvious!
According to The New Zealand Herald:
The [ASA] complaints board acknowledged the church had no intention of causing offence with the billboard and instead wanted to provide a message of hope.
However, it upheld the complaints, ruling the advertisement had "neither been prepared nor displayed with the due sense of social responsibility required" and therefore breached the code of ethics.
Due sense of social responsibility, indeed! Nine complaints were filed in response to this billboard, including Jody Condin, whose 3-year-old son is battling leukemia.
Again, according to The New Zealand Herald:
"(It's) totally disrespectful and hurtful to those that have lost loved ones to cancer or are caring for loved ones with cancer and waiting for them to die.
"How dare they make a claim like this. It is false advertising."
Of course it's false advertising! Accepting Jesus as your personal lord and savior doesn't have squat to do with curing your cancer. Prayer isn't an effective medicine. While the billboard, according to the church, was meant to convey a sense of hope, Pastor Lyle Penisula actually believes that Jesus can cure cancer. Why oh why does he believe this?
Anecdotal evidence!
In a statement, the church said, "Our belief is substantiated by the fact six people within our congregation have testified to Jesus healing them from cancer."
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