Posted on 12/28/2005 1:12:12 PM PST by 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.
Bump!
He's making an offer you can't refuse.
So Joseph was an adulterer? Not too many alternatives you know..
Don't really care about Lot.
Hmmm, not sure how I should feel being Catholic and still finding the humor. Did you also know Churchill drank, can you imagine? Just a little clue, God knows what is in our hearts, we cannot fool him. There is both good and evil in the world, its God's job to judge what is in the heart of man. Those who would dare to take Gods place have only evil in their hearts.
Passage Matthew 1:25: 25..." and he knew her not, till she had born her first begotten son, and he called his name Jesus.
In this Old English context, this means Joseph waited till after Jesus' birth to have marital relations with Mary.
According to Mosaic Law, is Mary didn't perform her matronly duty to her husband, that was grounds for divorce..
And if you are a bible scholar, then you would know that if Jesus was the Only son of Mary, then the scriptures would have said her only son.
TO clarify on the verb Knew or To Know... It means to have relations... or have had.
The concept of the virgin isn't because virginity is holy, but the fact Mary didn't have relations to get pregnant is the mystery.
I am not taking the Blessing from Mary, God did choose her to bear Jesus, but God also wanted Joseph and Mary to have normal lives afterwards. And the Books tell us they did.
v. knew, (n, ny) known, (nn) know·ing, knows
v. tr. To perceive directly; grasp in the mind with clarity or certainty.
To regard as true beyond doubt: I know she won't fail.
To have a practical understanding of, as through experience; be skilled in: knows how to cook.
To have fixed in the mind: knows her Latin verbs.
To have experience of: a black stubble that had known no razor (William Faulkner).
To perceive as familiar; recognize: I know that face.
To be acquainted with: He doesn't know his neighbors.
To be able to distinguish; recognize as distinct: knows right from wrong.
To discern the character or nature of: knew him for a liar.
Archaic. To have sexual intercourse with.
v. intr.
To possess knowledge, understanding, or information.
To be cognizant or aware.
The only meaning that fits that word is SEX, as does the meaning when the word is used through out scriptures
"Does South Park ever make fun of the Holocaust or any other important Jewish subject? I suspect not -- as a rule, Hollywood blasphemes Christianity but not Judaism -- but maybe this isn't the case with South Park, maybe that show is an equal-opportunity blasphemer. Anyone know?"
Your point is a good one (that only Judaism is off-limits when it comes to parody). I've not seen a South Park that was in any way offensive to Judaism.
He innocently dressed up as Hitler on halloween, not knowing what it meant and that people would have problems with it. The principal then had him watch a video on how "Hitler was a very bad man," after which Cartman admired Hitler.
Oh yeah, and the teacher decided to cover up his costume with a ghost outfit that came out looking like a KKK hood (the principal being as naive about that as Cartman was about Hitler), which of course freaked-out Chef.
It's not broadcast. It's piped-in on late-night cable. Not only can you simply not watch it, but most cable boxes these days come with parental controls based on channel and rating. Block it out.
1. The idea that Mary remained perpetually a virgin even after her marriage to Joseph is absurd and unfounded, and to do so would have "poured contempt on the holy covenant of marriage; which could not have been done without mockery of God."
2. Matthew 1:25 and 13:55 do not necessarily teach that Jesus had brothers and therefore Mary bore other children, and to argue dogmatically that they do is foolish. He says the scripture is silent on this issue.
To say that Calvin believed and taught the perpetual virginity of Mary is FALSE.
I believe that Jesus probably did have brothers because there are some verses that make more sense if they do refer to actual brothers, not just relatives of some kind. Examples would be Matthew 13:55 (paralleled in Mark 6:3). While it could be saying "we know his father and mother plus his extended family," the more natural reading is "we know his father and mother and brothers and sisters."
Matthew 12:46-50 also makes more sense with actual brothers and sisters. The teaching is Jesus recognizes not natural brothers but spiritual brothers as His true brothers.
John 7:3-5 also is best understood as referring to brothers (and offspring of Mary) and also may answer the question "why did Jesus from the cross tell John to take care of Mary." It may have been because "even His brothers did not believe in Him."
(They likely became believers after the resurrection, and were in the upper room in Acts 1:14 and following.)
What's your bottom line? Mine is that the show is often funny, usually anti-leftist, and almost always tasteless (but usually "worth it"), and that folks should watch if and only if they choose to. Yours, it seems, is that the show ought not even to EXIST. For a Churchill Buff, you come off more like a fan of Kim Jong Il.
With probably close to 100 posts informing you that South Park does indeed make fun of Jews and the holocaust you continue to repeat the lie that they don't. Are you incapable or reading and comprehension?
Yes.
You're a little late to the party, pal; and you are wrong.
Catholics worship God and the Holy Trinity; however, the Mother of God, the Blessed Virgin Mary is held in greatest esteem as God had selected Mary to be the Mother of our Savior before she was born. It was Mary who was born of a completely immaculate conception. That term applies to her. Jesus was born of a Virgin.
Now, as some have referred to the apparent idolization of statues by Catholics that suggestion is patently untrue.
A statue in a Catholic Church is no more than a painting or icon hanging on the wall. It is looked at with reverence and for inspiration. It is not being worshipped.
You're missing the point; they don't want YOU to be able to watch it either!
That is so true. I remember Stern doing that. Stern said almost the same things about Bush and Powell. I guess we are in good company. I can only assume that many who watch SouthPark also listen to Howard Stern.
Everyone is entitled to watch whatever they wish. I could just never imagine people in my life whom I looked up to, grandparents, etc...finding SouthPark funny. I could see where teenage boys might, but not adults. But like I said, to each his/her own.
However, someone said earlier that time is precious and would not want to waste it watching SouthPark, nor debating SouthPark and I can agree with that. But everyone looks at it differently.
Happy New Year!
Sounds like lonesome sheepherders.
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