A 19th-century condom printed with a bawdy scene depicting a nun and three clergymen is on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam as part of the exhibition “Safe Sex?” The Catholic foundation Civitas Christiana staged a two-day protest outside the museum and launched a petition with over 1,000 signatures demanding the object's removal, calling it a grotesque insult to God, the Catholic Church, and the Dutch nation. Right-wing publications like De Dagelijkse Standaard have supported the protest, drawing comparisons to restrictions on depictions of Mohammed.
The protest highlights ongoing tensions between religious sensibilities and artistic freedom, particularly around historical objects that mock Christianity. The museum downplayed the protest, noting only 11 demonstrators participated, while exhibition co-curator Joyce Zelen argued that mocking religion is as old as religion itself and that the condom was meant to be humorous. The incident also reflects broader cultural debates about blasphemy, censorship, and double standards in what is considered acceptable to display in museums.