Immodest Jesus statue riles Christians

GATESHEAD, England, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- A statue of Jesus with an erect penis on display in England is drawing fire from outraged Christian critics.

The work by sculptor Terence Koh is on display at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead.

The Sun reported Friday that Christian groups have been horrified at the image, one of 74 works in Koh's exhibit titled "Gone, Yet Still."

"It's the Lord Jesus Christ being humiliated, ridiculed and vilified," declared Stephen Green, national director of Christian Voice.

Green told the Sun he not only demanded the gallery take the statue down but also destroy it for good measure.

Its not clear what the statue was meant to be, but a gallery spokesman said the Chinese-born artist was apparently "trying to explain all the things which have meant something to him."