A painting featuring President Barack Obama in a Christ-like pose is getting poor reviews from some religious authorities, Fox News Radio reports.

The painting by New York-based artist by Michael D’Antuono is titled "The Truth" and features Obama with a crown of thorns on his head, in a position that is reminiscent of the crucifixion.

Currently on display at Boston's Bunker Hill Community College Art Gallery as part of D'Antuono's politically charged “Artists on the Stump – the Road to the White House 2012" collection, the piece was actually supposed to debut several years ago at New York City’s Union Square.

The painting was "meant to be displayed as an art installation in New York's Union Square Park on President Obama's 100th day in office," according to D’Antuono's website. "The painting was to be in a mock voting booth for people to view privately and then interviewed to express their own views."

D’Antuono said he received 4,000 emails "mostly from the irate Christian Right who misinterpreted the art as blasphemy" and canceled the event, a decision he now regrets.

“I always regretted cancelling my exhibit in New York because I feel my First Amendment rights should override someone’s hurt feelings,” D’Antuono told Fox News. “We should celebrate the fact that we live in a country where we are given the freedom to express ourselves.”

“The crucifixion of the president was meant metaphorically,” he continued. “My intent was not to compare him to Jesus.”

D’Antuono blamed the controversy on conservative media “trying to promote the idea that liberals believe the president to literally be our savior.”

Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, took issue with D'Antuono's vision. In a statement posted to the Catholic League website on Tuesday, Donohue called D'Antuono a "left-wing artist known for exploiting racial tensions" and claimed his Obama painting was evidence he had "succumbed to a new low."

He continued:

What makes this display so interesting is the flat denial of truth by so many artists and academicians, as well as their irrepressible hostility to Christianity. Yet when it comes to their savior, President Obama, they not only pivot, they proselytize.

It is one thing for the Italian nativity scene builder Ferrigno to include Obama as a figurine in this year’s crèche (it has regularly featured public persons such as Princess Diana), quite another for an angry artist to rip off Christian iconography for the purpose of making a cheap political statement.

This is not the first time Obama has been controversially compared to Jesus. Most recently, actor Jamie Foxx drew flak when a pre-recorded BET special began with his exhorting the Soul Train Awards crowd to "give an honor to God and our lord and savior Barack Obama."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Donohue was even less amused by Foxx's comments.

“Foxx’s epiphany is startling,” Donahue said in a statement. “It just goes to show that even though Obama did not succeed in stopping the oceans from rising (as he promised to do in 2008), he did succeed in convincing Jamie Foxx, and no doubt legions of others, that God exists. Whether God can survive an ACLU lawsuit accusing him of violating church and state grounds remains to be seen.”

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the truth michael dantuono

Click through the slideshow to see most and least Christian cities in the United States:

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  • Salt Lake City, UT

    72,432 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/Temple_Square_October_05_%288%29_c.JPG" target="_hplink">here</a>.

  • Birmingham, AL

    Metro area Birmingham-Hoover, AL<br> 70,203 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/16th_Street_Baptist_Church.JPG" target="_hplink">here</a>.

  • Oklahoma City, OK

    58,781 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:OKC_Cathedral.jpg">here</a>.

  • Memphis, TN-MS-AR

    Metro area: Memphis, TN-MS-AR<br> 57,323 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RomanCatholicCathedralMemphisTN.JPG">here</a>.

  • Pittsburgh, PA

    56,074 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bellefield_Presbyterian_Church_Pittsburgh.JPG">here</a>.

  • Providence, RI-MA

    Metro area: Providence-New Bedford-Fall River, RI-MA<br> 55,653 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Providence_Cathedral%2C_RI_edited.JPG" target="_hplink">here</a>.

  • Boston, MA-NH

    Metro area: Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH<br> 54,347 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.<br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boston_Centenary_Methodist_Church.JPG">here</a>.

  • Chicago, IL-IN-WI

    Metro area: Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN-WI<br> 52,516 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St._Theresa%27s_Church,_Chicago.jpg">here</a>.

  • San Antonio, TX

    Metro area: San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX<br> 52,359 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:San_Antonio_Texas_Temple.JPG">here</a>.

  • New Orleans, LA

    Metro area: New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA<br> 51,975 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_Orleans_Church_Steeple_Clock.jpg">here</a>.

  • Buffalo, NY

    Meto area: Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY<br> 51,844 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Asbury_Delaware_Church,_Buffalo_1.jpg">here</a>.

  • Dallas, TX

    Metro area: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX<br> 51,781 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/The_Catholic_Cathedral_of_Santuario_de_Guadalupe_in_the_Downtown_Dallas_Arts_District%2C_10-26-10.jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

  • Houston, TX

    Metro area: Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX<br> 51,398 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Annunciation_Church_Houston_Texas.JPG">here</a>.

  • Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD

    Metro area: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD<br> 51,361 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christ_Church_Philadelphia.jpg">here</a>.

  • Charlotte, NC-SC

    Metro area: Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC<br> 50,932 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:First_United_Methodist_Church_Charlotte_1.jpg">here</a>.

  • Minneapolis, MN-WI

    Metro area: Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI<br> 50,550 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Straitgate_Church_%28Minneapolis%29.JPG">here</a>.

  • Milwaukee, WI

    Metro area: Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Alis, WI<br> 50,448 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/St_Stanislaus_Catholic_Church.jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

  • Nashville, TN

    Metro area: Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, TN<br> 49,773 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christ_Church_Cathedral,_Nashville.jpg">here</a>.

  • Louisville, KY-IN

    Metro area: Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN<br> 49,301 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Cathedral_Assumption_Louisville.jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

  • Cleveland, OH

    Metro area: Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH<br> 48,985 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/StTheodosius.jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

  • Kansas City, MO-KS

    48,536 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Community_Christian_Church_KCMO.jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

  • Los Angeles, CA

    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA<br> 48,489 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo here.

  • Jacksonville, Florida

    48,355 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/ChurchJax1.jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

  • Atlanta, GA

    Metro area: Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA<br> 47,612 religious adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Shrine_of_the_Immaculate_Conception.jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

  • New York, NY-NJ-PA

    Metro area: New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA<br> 47,608 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saint_Patrick_front1.jpg">here</a>.

  • St. Louis, MO-IL

    47,312 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Francis_De_Sales_facade_23.jpg">here</a>.

  • Richmond, VA

    46,596 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Cathedral_of_the_sacred_heart_.JPG" target="_hplink">here</a>.

  • Hartford, CT

    Metro area: Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT<br> 45,067 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Cathedral_of_Saint_Joseph_in_Hartford_3%2C_2009-09-02.jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

  • Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN

    Metro area: Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN<br> 43,762 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ImmaculateConceptionChurch.jpg">here</a>.

  • Raleigh, NC

    Metro area: Raleigh-Cary, NC<br> 42,153 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Christepiscopalravenscroftchurch.jpg">here</a>.

  • Rochester, NY

    41,880 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rochester_St_Marys_Roman_Catholic_Church.jpg">here</a>.

  • Detroit, MI

    Metro area: Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI<br> 41,491 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Ste_Anne_de_Detroit.jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

  • Indianapolis, IN

    Metro area: Indianapolis-Carmel, IN<br> 41,310 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bethel_A.M.E._Church,_Indianapolis,_front.jpg">here</a>.

  • Austin, TX

    Metro area: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX<br> 41,238 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gethsemane_lutheran_church_austin_2009.jpg">here</a>.

  • San Diego, CA

    Metro area: San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA<br> 41,096 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/San-diego-mission-chuch.JPG" target="_hplink">here</a>.

  • Riverside, CA

    Metro area: Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA<br> 41,055 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/FirstCongregationalChurch20090821f.jpg">here</a>.

  • Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV

    Metro area: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV<br> 39,952 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Church_of_the_Holy_City_in_Washington_DC.JPG">here</a>.

  • Baltimore, MD

    Metro area: Baltimore-Towson, MD<br> 39,508 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Baltimore_-_church_towers.jpg">here</a>.

  • San Jose, CA

    Metro area: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA<br> 38,782 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/San_Jose_Basilica.jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

  • Orlando, FL

    Metro area: Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL<br> 38,350 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:First_United_Methodist_church_of_Orlando_Steeple.jpg">here</a>.

  • Virginia Beach, VA-NC

    Metro area: Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC<br> 37,414 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Star_of_the_Sea_Catholic_Church_%28Virginia_Beach,_Virginia%29,_exterior,crucifix_and_church.jpg">here</a>.

  • Phoenix, AZ

    Metro area: Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ<br> 35,875 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:First_Baptist_Church_%282%29.JPG">here</a>.

  • Columbus, OH

    35,390 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Columbus_Ohio_Holy_Cross_Church.jpg">here</a>.

  • Miami, FL

    Metro area: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL<br> 35,057 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Miami_FL_Downtown_HD_Gesu_Church_sq_pano01.jpg">here</a>.

  • Denver, CO

    Metro area: Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO<br> 34,902 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Denver,_Church_of_the_Immaculate_Conception.jpg">here</a>.

  • Las Vegas, NV

    Metro area: Las Vegas-Paradise, NV<br> 34,503 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Guardian_Angel_Catholic_Cathedral%2C_Las_Vegas%2C_Nevada.jpg">here</a>.

  • San Francisco, CA

    Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA<br> 34,224 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:San_Francisco_church.jpg">here</a>.

  • Sacramento, CA

    Metro area: Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Rosenville, CA<br> 34,115 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Westminster_Presbyterian_Church_sacramento_Ca.jpg">here</a>.

  • Seattle, WA

    Metro area: Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA<br> 33,175 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Seattle_Mennonite_Church_01.jpg">here</a>.

  • Tampa, FL

    Metro area: Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL<br> 32,299 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tampa_Sacred_Heart_Church04.jpg">here</a>.

  • Portland, OR-WA

    Metro area: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA<br> 30,274 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Old_Laurelhurst_Church,_Portland.jpg">here</a>.

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