Australian archbishop slams betting agency’s giant Jesus hot air balloon

DPA/SydneyThe archbishop of Melbourne criticised a gambling agency for flying a giant balloon of Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer over the city yesterday.Anglican Archbishop Philip Freier said it was exploiting Christian symbols in a blatant attempt to boost business.“The campaign is hypocritical because the Jesus who overturned the money-changers’ tables in the Jerusalem temple would not encourage betting,” Freier told Fairfax media.“It is incoherent, in claiming the Socceroos are so inadequate that they need a miracle but patrons should nevertheless bet on them, while suggesting that the company is the author of miracles.”The giant balloon is 46m high with a 41m wingspan depicting the Brazilian city’s famous statue with a yellow Socceroos jersey with the betting agency logo and the words Keep the Faith.Sportsbet spokesman Shaun Anderson told The Herald-Sun newspaper that the firm was just trying to bring a Brazil icon to Australia.“Let’s be honest - the Socceroos need divine intervention to progress past their three group games so the message we’re aiming to get across is that for all Aussies to keep the faith in the Socceroos,” he said.