Controversial painting on display at Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art

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A controversial painting has gone on display at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA).

The painting, titled "Rosie's Tea Party," shows a young girl dressed for her First Communion while cutting into a ham labeled "Mystici Corporis Christi," which is Latin for "mystical body of Christ." A bottle of wine portraying a picture of Jesus also sits on the table.

Painted by artist Mark Ryden, the work is part of a new exhibit that is a collaboration with California-based magazine Hi-Fructose.

The Virginian-Pilot reports that Ben Loyola and Brian Kirwin, two members of the Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission, were offended by the painting and that they may look to cut taxpayer funding for the museum in the future because they feel the work is anti-Christian and anti-Catholic.

The Catholic League has sent a letter to the museum, comparing the painting to a hypothetical artwork that shows a similar situation but with Islamic imagery.

"When Muslims complain, tell them that 'Art is intended to be controversial,' and 'Someone ought to poke fun at those Muslims anyway," the letter reads. "Please be sure to let me know the outcome."

he National Coalition Against Censorship has also weighed in, in defense of the painting.  In a letter addressed to Kirwin and Loyola, the NCAC raises First Amendment concerns over punishing the museum for its exhibition.

"Anybody is entitled to criticize art in an exhibition, but First Amendment principles bar government officials from discriminating against controversial viewpoints," the letter reads. 

For now, the art exhibit is on display as planned.  Ryden's painting can be seen -- behind what appears to be bullet-proof glass and with extra security nearby -- at MOCA until year's end.

Click here to read the full letters.