A bakery chain in the United Kingdom scrambled to smooth things over with customers over the weekend due to the recent release of a promotional calendar featuring Jesus as a sausage roll.
Social media disgust sparked an apology on Sunday as users reacted to a Greggs “sausage roll” nativity scene.
The image of three wise men paying tribute to a partially eaten roll — satire of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem — was part of the company’s Christmas 2017 Advent calendar.
“Please boycott @GreggsOfficial to protest against its sick anti-Christian Advent Calendar,” tweeted Simon Richards, CEO of the nonprofit group Freedom Association, the Daily Wire reported Monday. “What cowards these people are: we all know that they would never dare insult other religions! They should donate every penny of their profits to @salvationarmyuk.”
“It goes beyond just commercialism. It’s showing a total disregard and disrespect towards one of the greatest stories ever told, and I think people of all faiths will be offended by this,” added Rev. Mark Edwards of St Matthew’s Church in Dinnington and St. Cuthbert’s Church in Brunswick.
A spokesman for the company told the Northern Echo on Sunday that it meant no disrespect to Christians with the decision.
“We’re really sorry to have caused any offense, this was never our intention,” he told the newspaper.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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