The East Albury venue received its liquor licence late last month, allowing it to trade on Good Friday and Christmas Day with liquor available with a meal.

Father Kevin Flanagan of North Albury’s Sacred Heart Church said he was opposed to the “degrading” venue.

“It is a bit gross it can operate on Christmas Day and Good Friday,” Fr Flanagan said.

“I don’t think it means enlightenment. I don’t think it means we have come of age.

“There are far more aesthetic ways of expressing ourselves through art, music and culture rather than people taking their clothes off.

“I can think of many venues more worthy such as homeless and drug rehabilitation centres — they would be far more enhancing for the city.”

Pastor and former Albury councillor Rob Angus, opposed the strip club when it was proposed in 2009, saying the business would degrade social values.

“The idea of a strip club, particularly on days with religious and spiritual importance to many people is a total disregard on their part,” he said.

Religious groups also said strip club employees would be vulnerable.

Father Peter MacLeod-Miller, of St Matthew’s Church in Albury, said it was an issue of what was more important; the leisure of older people or the opportunities of younger people.

“I’m thinking about the choices young people make that they will later be proud of,” he said.

“With all the work surrounding youth mental health, we are making a grave mistake in opening the way for people to make psychological choices that will damage them and they won’t be proud of later.

“Good Friday is about sacrifice and, in this sense, they are sacrificing the opportunities of young people.

“I have too many funerals for people who had self esteem troubles.

“I don’t think this will build the self esteem of anyone. 

“Most will be driven to this job out of desperation and I’d be looking at making the future less desperate for them.

“I’m challenging local people to not allow this sort of thing — in the best interest of young people in the area.”