A RANGE of cheeky cosmetics and bags with Jesus-inspired slogans like "Get tight with Christ" and "Redeem yourself in His eyes" has been yanked from shelves of a retailer here.

Fashion outlet Topshop, which has eight stores here, pulled the items late last month following complaints from Catholics who called the items "disrespectful", The Straits Times reported.

A spokesman for Wing Tai Retail, which manages Topshop in Singapore, said it was sorry if it had offended the Christian community.

"We don't want to offend our customers," said the spokesman, who asked not to be named.

At the centre of the controversy were body creams, lip balms, bags and other items marketed under the "Looking Good for Jesus" line.

The lip balms had the message "Get tight with Christ!" and "Think pure thoughts until next hot date" on its packaging.

A hand and body cream came with the words "Get His attention" and "Redeem your reputation and More!"

The phrases rankled Christians here, including accountant Grace Ong, 24.

She said: "Why would anyone use religious figures to promote vanity products? It's very disrespectful and distasteful."

There are eight Topshop outlets in Singapore, but only three - stores in Wisma Atria, Marina Square and VivoCity - sold the religious-themed products, the spokesman said.

The spokesman was unable to provide more details on the offending items yesterday as the Wing Tai office was closed for the Chinese New Year holidays.

However, Wing Tai said the products are from Blue Q, an American brand.

M&Co, a local firm which has imported Blue Q's products for the past two years, said the items "poke fun at everyone but (do) not single out any particular group".

Still, Catholics like Nick Chui are not laughing.

The 27-year-old marketing executive wrote toWing Tai last month after spotting the items at Topshop.

Mr Chui said: "These products trivialise Jesus Christ and Christianity. Besides, there are also sexual innuendoes
in the messages and the way Jesus is portrayed in these products."

Mr Chui said he is thankful that Topshop has pulled the items from its shelves.