Hell Pizza in unholy row

The new Hell Pizza store in Brookwater has offended some churchgoers.

Rob Williams

Poll

What do you think of Hell Pizza?

This poll ended on 27 May 2010.

It's offensive and should be banned

7%

It sends confusing messages to children

3%

It's just a marketing scheme

25%

It's humorous

50%

I don't care

13%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

A CHURCH has condemned the opening of a Hell Pizza outlet – claiming the chain is making dough out of the devil.

Pastor John Van Bennekom of Springfield Christian Family Church said he feared advertising for the pizza outlet’s new Brookwater store would send children a confusing message about hell.

“The restaurant’s playing in dangerous territory and several members of our church have expressed concern that they have come to our area,” Pastor Van Bennekom said.

“They are making fun of a demonic world which should not be treated lightly.”

Hell Pizza’s advertising in Springfield features slogans such as “Kids are evil, feed them” while their pizzas feature names like Hot as Hell, Underworld, Purgatory and Damned.

“The flyers they send you have the word hell all over it and a devil as well and you can not choose to ignore that form of advertising,” Pastor Van Bennekom said.

“You open your mailbox and there is the word hell right in front of you.

“It’s a confusing message for children especially.”

One of Springfield church’s eight core principals is a belief in the devil.

“We believe in the personality of the devil who by his influence and power brought about the downfall of man and now seeks to destroy the faith of every believer In the Lord Jesus Christ,” the church’s website said.

Hell Pizza will open another store in Booval next month as the chain expands throughout Australia at a rapid rate.

The restaurant’s Australian chairman Mike Hird said he was not concerned that the Springfield church found the eatery offensive.

“Some people find the advertising interesting and see the humour, other people find it offensive – it doesn’t bother me if they don’t like it,” Mr Hird said.

“We do play on the religious aspect and people have been attracted to us because of it and others have been turned away.<inline type="image" id="38006"/>

“They can avoid the advertising and the store if they want, it’s not that difficult to do.”

Hell Pizza was established in New Zealand and has previously courted controversy through its ad campaigns.

In 2006, the New Zealand Catholic Church called for a boycott of the company after it promoted its pizzas by mailing out free condoms.

Calling the promoted pie “Lust Pizza” the company mailed out 170,000 condoms attached to flyers.

While one of the company’s billboard advertisments in New Zealand featured Hitler saluting with a pizza in his hand.