A vicar has defended his decision to publish a comic article claiming fast-food chain McDonald's was the work of the Devil.
Mr Wright insisted no offence was meant to McDonald's
The anonymous article in a parish magazine was written in a mock Old Testament style.
It also claimed Satan was behind the NHS, ice-cream, remote control television and crisps.
The Reverend John Wright, vicar of St Mary's in Tetbury,
Gloucestershire, insisted the article was not to be taken seriously and that the message was not anti-McDonald's.
Mr Wright said the article, which is dedicated to "all of us struggling to keep going with healthy diets and exercise", was intended to make people think about temptation in a comical way.
"The nearest thing to a message in this article is related to how hard it is to resist things," he said.
In a statement, McDonald's said it continued to serve quality food and ingredients from quality suppliers.
"We are committed to providing more choice and variety on the menu for our customers, including lighter options such as salads and fruit," the statement said.
"The article was passed on to me by a parishioner who thought it would be a good idea to put it in the magazine," Mr Wright explained.
The spoof, published in a bi-monthly newsletter, read: "And God populated the earth with broccoli and cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow vegetables of all kinds, so man would live a long and healthy life.
"But Satan created McDonald's. And McDonald's brought forth the double cheeseburger. And McDonald's said to Man, `You want fries with that?'"
Mr Wright said: "I think there has been a bit of a sense of humour bypass by some people.
"It's just a bit of fun and was just included to put a smile on people's faces," he said.