Queer exhibition at House of European History outrages MEPs -

A rainbow-dapped Virgin Mary poster has caused uproar from a number of Members of the European Parliament after it was displayed at the House of European History.

Thirty MEPs – from countries including Hungary, Poland, Italy, Spain, and Lithuania – have addressed a letter to the director of the House of European History demanding the Black Madonna of Częstochowa with a rainbow flag be removed.

The letter read: “Using an image revered by Catholics for LGBTI+ campaigns violates the principle of respect for religious objects.”

The signatories stated that as the museum was established due to an initiative of the European Parliament, the poster should not be exhibited.

The MEPs’ letter went on to argue that there is no educational or artistic reason for depicting the Virgin Mary with a rainbow flag.

“We demand basic respect for our religion and the removal of the wrong image from the House of European History,” reads the letter.

The Black Madonna of Częstochowa is an important piece of artwork that is held in high regard throughout Europe.

The image dates back to the time of the 12 apostles and was painted by St Luke the Evangelist. The story goes that while St Luke was painting Mary she told him the about the events of the life of Jesus Christ, which were later included in his gospel in the Bible.

One of the more contemporary stories surrounding the image is that in 1920, when Russia was invading Warsaw, soldiers saw an image of the painting in the clouds over the city and retreated.

The image that combines the painting with the rainbow flag was created by Polish civil rights activist Elżbieta Podleśna.

Original reporting by Pink News