Unholy Row Sets Heavy Metal Against Catholic Groups

A Spanish religious group is threatening legal action after a popular T-shirt being sold online to promote a British band was found using an image of the Virgin Mary.

Spanish religious group ‘Cofradia de Jesus Nazareno’ (Jesus Nazareno Confraternity) announced they are taking measures to have the image of ‘Our Lady of Solitude’ removed from shirts promoting the British rock group ‘Bring Me the Horizon’ in a statement.

It appears that the band is not including the T-shirt in its official merchandising, and the organisation that claims to hold the copyright of the image have said they only want it used for appropriate purposes, and not promoting the British group.

The Catholic group is based in the Spanish city of Zamora, located in the autonomous community of Castile and Leon, and have had the image reproduction rights of the virgin since 2017 and say they are going to take legal action if the T-shirts are not withdrawn.

The images show the garment with the popular holy image and the band’s name written underneath it.

The Cofradia de Jesus Nazareno issued a statement saying they have “confirmed the sale of this shirt is done in numerous international platforms even though it is not part of the official merchandising of the band.

They have already contacted lawyers specialised in dealing with copyright matters and according to the local newspaper ‘ABC’, the religious group will initially ask the clothing manufacturers to voluntarily stop with the legal action the last resort.

They said they have no problem with people using the image properly, but add that to be sure they need to also ask for permission.

Zamora is one of the most popular places in Spain during Holy Week for its religious processions or parades in which Our Lady of Solitude plays an important role in. It is unclear how her picture ended up on the shirt.

There has as yet been no content by the British rock band.

Share The Madrid Metropolitan: The only Madrid English language newspaper