BISHOPS' PRESIDENT BLASTS 'SOUTH PARK' EPISODE LAMPOONING MARY (Disgusting!)

Catholic News Service ^ | 12/19/2005 | Staff

[FerdieMurphy]

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The president of the U.S. bishops blasted a recent episode of the cable television comedy "South Park" that he said showed Mary in "a tasteless and ugly fashion."

In a Dec. 14 letter to Tom Freston, co-president and chief operating officer of Viacom International, parent company of Comedy Central, the cable channel that shows "South Park," Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., said the channel showed "extreme insensitivity" in choosing to show the episode.

The episode, which first was shown Dec. 7 and had repeat showings in the week following, was titled "Bloody Mary." During the episode, a "South Park" character claims to have been sprayed with blood from a bodily orifice of a Virgin Mary statue.

When Pope Benedict XVI investigates in the show, he declares that she was merely menstruating. The episode's premiere date came the day before the feast of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day of obligation for Catholics.

[Howlin]

This thread is a great illustration of the growing split in the party between political conservatives and those that are merely socially conservative.

The only thing this thread is illustrative of is that some of you who claim to be conservatives don't have a sense of humor.

[yellowdoghunter]

I really don't care if the show bashes and trashes all people's and religions. It is still a show that debases our culture. If I were to meet my maker tonight, I would not want to have to defend watching that show.

[churchillbuff]

Pretty damn telling of why you're here."""

What, you're being uptight! How dare you criticize someone! You've been spending this entire thread telling people they have no right to criticize others (specifically, the South Park blasphemers). So practice your own preaching and stop criticizing the views of people you disagree with. Otherwise, you're a hypocrite (and "uptight," to use your own term).

[MeanWestTexan]

There are several passages that mention the siblings of Jesus (Mt. 12:46ff; 13:55-56).

And the term used in the original language (adelphos) literally means, “out of the same womb”). It does not mean "cousin," and there is no example of it being so used in the New Testament.

Moreover, Jesus is said to have had “sisters” (Mt. 13:56 - "adelphe"). This word was similarly literally used to mean "sister" in the New Testament.

2. Matthew affirms that Mary was found to be with child “before [she and Joseph] came together” (Mt. 1:18). The term “came together” (from sunerchomai) is a polite way of saying sexual intimacy. "Before" implies an "after."

3. In Luke 2:7, Jesus is called Mary’s “firstborn” ("prototokon") child. While the term "prototokon" does not demand unequivocally that Mary had other children, this term most naturally suggests that she did, as "soleborn" is also an existing (and would be more exact) word, in that instance, and Luke was a careful writer.

4. The alleged perpetual celibate state of Joseph and Mary’s relationship is contrary to the divine ideal. Marriage, as designed by God, was intended to bring a man and woman together as “one flesh” (Gen. 2:24; cf. Mt. 19:5-6). Subsequent to the initial physical bonding is the responsibility to “render” to one another what is “due” – these terms expressing a sacred obligation (1 Cor. 7:3). If there is to be abstinence, it is to be by mutual concession, and that only temporarily (v. 5).

5. Perpetual virginity was simply not necessary to fulfil the requirement of the Old Testament prediction, which merely required a virgin birth.

6. The belief reeks of carry-over related Vestal Virgins of pagan Rome.

[conserv13]

Does the attack on Christianity in my own country

Attack on Christianity in America? What are you talking about?

[redrock]

What a day.

I've JUST discovered (been told) that because I like South Park....I'm NOT a Christian...and I'm NOT a conservative.

Glad we got that cleared up.

redrock

p.s. Hope you had a Merry Christmas!!!

[rwfromkansas]

That is the point of the episode.

It is frutile to chase after that crying statue of Mary, to seek after the creation instead of the CREATOR.

I am not surprised the Catholics miss this completely and instead see it as an attack on Mary.

Thank goodness I read Calvin and the English Puritans when I was little (was considering going Catholic back then for the ceremony).

[Quick1]

Then change the channel. When the rest of us meet our Maker, we can chat with our God about our favorite episodes!

[Howlin]

Ohhhhhhh. It was probably that part about you being a Menstruating-American.

Isn't it odd that here you are, talking about how nasty South Park is, and then you go and get all lame and nasty.

Of course, you're one of those "do as I say, don't do as I do conservatives," right?

[churchillbuff]

To know a person's religion we need not listen to his profession of faith, but must find his brand of intolerance. - Eric Hoffer """

Wonderful. You believe in utter "tolerance". How sixties of you.

[Howlin]

It's wonderful that you're exposing your contempt for Catholicism and for Our Blessed Lord's Mother.

Sod off, you judgmental SOB.

[HairOfTheDog]

I'll ask again: Do these courageous writers ever make fun of any Jewish theme (like the Holocaust)? My impression is that it doesn't take courage in Hollywood to "lampoon" Christ, His Mother or His followers. But there's no similar lampooning of Judaism. IT's a double standard, fueled by hatred of Christianity.

Cartman routinely mocks Kyle for being a Jew... But here's the thing.... Cartman's character is a ~jerk~, and he looks like a jerk when he does it.

So when he becomes Hitler or mocks the Jews, it's not funny because the Jews look bad, it's funny because Cartman looks like a jerk.

You could certainly say the caricatures of Kyle's stereotypical Jewish cousin, and his stereotypical Jewish mother are politically incorrect and therefore "offensive".

To understand this, peruse this script... Episode 804 - The Passion of The Jew

So what does that tell you?

I don't particularly think their point is ever to mock religions as a whole, or to tear down our traditions that have cultural value. They mock the silly elements within Americana, but I think often times, the truth is, those elements deserve a good mocking. It's not Catholicism that was mocked here.

[rwfromkansas]

Studies show the youngest generation to actually be the most pro-life.

Somehow I don't believe your dire predictions for the future of this country.

[yellowdoghunter]

That is fine. It is just my opinion. You are welcome to yours. I am sure God looks forward to discussing the show with you.

[rwfromkansas]

And if we do go down the tubes, God is in control, and it is just his plan working out.

[Adam-ondi-Ahman]

Those who claim that the Blessed Mother gave birth to other children are ignorant linguistic literalists.

Hold on now. No need to get snippy. I don't know that it is critical to one's salvation whether Mary remained a virgin or not, does it?

[conserv13]

Okay. You're obviously very Christian and I'm not, so we'll never agree. Bless you all the same! : )

[rwfromkansas]

lol! wow.

[TheCrusader]

"Hypocrite! Where is the outrage when they make fun of Jesus, the Son of God?!!! Mention Mary and there is outrage... Mention Jesus... *crickets*"

This Catholic is outraged when they make fun of Jesus, the Son of God; and is equally outraged when they make fun of His Mother, which is probably an even worse insult to the Lord than when they spit on Him. All of these attacks on the Virgin Mary equal an attack on Our Lord, and the cowardly lack of outrage over them by people who call themselves "Christians" just contributes to the overall attack.

Now I'm becoming very clear as to what the Prophet Simeom meant when he told Mary:

"and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against, and a sword will pierce through your own soul also, that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed." (Luke 2:34)

The thoughts out of the hearts of men are indeed being revealed through the sword being pierced into Mary's soul.

[motzman]

When the rest of us meet our Maker, we can chat with our God about our favorite episodes!

I hear He's been so busy lately, He had to invent TIVO so He wouldn't miss any episodes...



I capitalized all the "He's", so I won't go to Hell (hmmm...should Hell be capitalized??)