Don’t cross the hot cross bun crowd this close to Christianity’s D-Day!

The Easter holidays are almost upon us, and as Christians around the world work themselves into a fizz over this most holiest of feast days, Woolworths South Africa has earned the Almighty’s ire, not to mention that of dozens of their (former) Christian customers on Facebook, by besmirching their delicious, fruity hot cross bun packages with Halaal certifications.

Much like the drama that unfolded last year when the online religious offenderati discovered that Woolworths might stop stocking Christian magazine Joy! on their shelves (because *ahem* no-one was buying it *ahem*) this week’s consumer crusaders are piling the pressure on the store via Facebook and email. Someone noticed a Halaal sticker adorning the packaging of their seasonal hot cross buns, got really hot under the collar, prayed on it, and started an email and Facebook campaign to, er… complain about it.

Here is some of the righteous vitriol this trespass has earned Woolies’ Facebook wall from various users:

I hate woolworths… How can you do that to the Christians, I hope that God will have mercy on you. And dnt be surprised if your shops run bankrupt.. I will pray to my living God and you will see what he is capable of,

Another wrote,

ja, its sad to hear the woolies we supported all these years turned their backs on Christians. Really disappointed. Lucky we received that email, man its spreading like a wild fire. Proud to say a few people I know are boycotting W, including me.

Another tried desperately to appeal across the cultural divide, saying,

With due respect to all muslims: Would u eat something connected to an islamic holy day if it did not bear the halaal emblem but an emblem of Christ only? Sadly greed is the bottom line. Nothing else!

Well that’s the congregation’s opinion. What about the other side of the pulpit? SA Catholic Bishops’ Conference spokesperson Chris Townsend said people were overreacting and needed to be more understanding, saying,

Hot cross buns are only a symbol, and not a central tenet of Christianity. There are a lot more weighty issues to deal with in SA than a few ‘hot cross Christians!’

Woolworths paused production of these heretic hot cross bun packages for a moment and apologised profusely for the upset, saying it would release separate buns in future – non-Halaal certified hot cross buns and Halaal certified spiced buns.

Well, I am outraged. They did not explain how they intend to satisfy those of us who crave Woolies spicy hot cross buns without the halaal certification, or the fruity ones whose flavour and is only enhanced by that sticker! To the Woolies Facebook page!

[Source: News24]