‘Homeless Jesus’ Belfast City Hall proposal up for consideration

Chloe Walker: Here’s a better idea: spend the money on actually helping the homeless.

Patrick Murray: Amen. And that’s before we even start on the issue of separation of Church and state.

Eamon Crossey: I think it’s a great idea. While some complain about the cost of the sculpture, it may act as a constant reminder to dig deep and serve our fellow brothers and sisters. Out of sight, out of mind?

Jacky Balmer: Walk the streets; you won’t need a reminder. Homelessness is all around.

Eamon Crossey: Jacky, totally agree. But many choose to ignore. I thought that a simple sculpture would simply chip away at people’s consciousness and provoke aid.

Scott Cooper: Surely, if people’s consciousness isn’t being chipped away at by the actual, real homeless people in the streets that Jacky mentioned, a statue isn’t going to have much effect either, Eamon?

Eamon Crossey: Equally good point, Scott. However, it may provoke some ‘Christians’ to dig a little deeper. I work with the homeless at times and they say that they have no voice. Maybe this would help to highlight this. Equally, I fear that equating homelessness with Christianity may not be helpful.

Dessie Beattie: It’s not the consciousness of the ‘people’ that needs chipped away, but the consciousness of the politicians. They need to sort out and act on the people’s priorities and stop lining their own pockets.

Moe Forsythe: Why on earth would a statue of a mythical figure help with homelessness? God/Jesus ain’t real. Anyone who needs to ‘turn to God’, or any other religious deity, to feel a sense of morality needs to take a look at themselves.