If Jesus Christ was alive today he would be a Vigilante With Attitude.

He would roam the world instigating revolution, wearing a military beret tipped to one side. He would have film star looks and have his face printed on the T-shirts of teenagers.

He would be like Che Guevara - the 60s Marxist, guerilla leader, executed when he tried to start uprisings throughout South America.

The two have been brought together in a controversial Easter campaign, which depicts Jesus wearing a Crown of Thorns, but looking remarkably like the Latin American, with the caption: "Meek. Mild. As If. Discover the real Jesus. Church. April 4."

Since his death, Che has become an international symbol to fellow leftwingers, and to marketers, who have put his image on products including watches, CDs and skis. The idea of the campaign by the Churches Advertising Network, launched yesterday, is to explain that The Son of God was truly a revolutionary; a passionate, angry man, who suffered, died and rose again.

Like Che, in his time Jesus was a political hot potato for the Romans. He had divine powers, but set them aside for his people and was sentenced to death.

Predictably,the new ad has infuriated some church leaders and public dignitaries. The former Lord Mayor, Janet Todd, of Foxton Close, Oxford, is trying to get the posters banned by the Advertising Standards Authority.

She said: "It is the worst thing the Church has ever done. People are very angry about it, it is irreverent."

She has been supported by former Oxford City Council leader Stan Taylor.

They said in a joint letter to the ASA: "We believe that the poster is offensive and was intended to be offensive."

"We are particularly concerned at the effect on children and the elderly. It will make it specially difficult for parents who wish to introduce young children to Christianity in a gentle and responsible way.

"It will certainly upset the elderly, who in their latter days look increasingly to a reassuring depiction of Christ."

Story date: Friday 19 March

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