Posted on 02/18/2006 2:48:35 PM PST by Panerai
SBS TV has "deferred" an episode of the cartoon series South Park that caused outrage in church circles in the US and New Zealand.
Dubbed "Bloody Mary", the episode features a statue of the Virgin Mary that bleeds "out her ass".
It was screened in the US before Christmas, and its scheduling in New Zealand has caused heated controversy in New Zealand.
The Australian reports that the statue sprays blood over everyone who walks behind it, including Stan's father Randy, who declares it a miracle as it stops him drinking. Pope Benedict XVI turns up to investigate and is also sprayed.
In the US, the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights was outraged and called for the episode to be scrapped. It was not run in the season end wrap-up.
Melbourne's Archbishop Denis Hart recently wrote to SBS and asked that they not screen the episode, scheduled for 6 March. According to The Diary in the Media section of today's Australian, he received an unpleasant reply from the network's programming director Matt Campbell, "telling him to mind his own business".
But, The Australian's columnist D.D. McNicoll says, "someone clearly overruled Campbell".
"When Diary called yesterday to check what was happening, Campbell replied: 'Given the current worldwide controversy over cartoons of religious figures, we've decided to defer this program and give some more thought to its scheduling. It's an entertainment program so timing of broadcast is not a critical issue as it might be if it were news and current affairs.'"
(Excerpt) Read more at cathnews.com ...
No I did not. Are you going to try to make the claim that I needed to seem blood spurting from the backside of a charicature of the Virgin Mary to comment?
I do believe the Virgin Mary can ignore satire like this. Probably just shaking her head sadly.
I wondered where you could possibly be coming from, but then I saw your tagline...
Okay, just kidding. That's a great tagline.
It is possible that I am over-reacting. Heaven knows I don't hold St. Peter's keys. I do question whether this will be overlooked or not, and I don't belive it will be. The subject matter is very rank, and it's related to the parent of Jesus.
No, but I also won't go on a murderous rampage because of it.
I see the South Park episode not as bashing Mary per se, but rather those who see her in stupid circumstances (grilled cheese sandwich, anyone?). And of course it has to be offensive--it's South Park.
And I wouldn't advocate you doing so.
South Park presented something that is their right to present. You and I explained what our thoughts were on it, which were our right to present.
I appreciate your response. Later...
Hey, watch it buddy. I just paid 10k for one of those on Ebay.
And, we did it in a calm, cool, collected manner...I would pray that God opens the minds of the islamofascists so that they can either present their points in the same way as we do, or grow up and stop being offended about the wrong things.
Plot precise: A character drinks too much one night and gets a DUI citation. Although the character was not actually an alcoholic, he allows himself to be convinced that he is by an overzealous twelve-step junkie. The character (only then) starts drinking regularly and heavily, and averring that he is not responsible for his drunkenness because he has a "disease". He visits the Virgin Mary statue to cure himself of his "disease" (pushing in front of genuinely sick and crippled people in the line because his "disease" is more serious).
I did see the episode in question and it just wasn't funny IMHO.(too gross out even for me LOL) I am not Catholic, so, I would have a hard time being offended. I do note the difference in reaction from a civilized religion such as Catholicism and the reaction to very tame cartoons from the followers of Moe Hammad.
Thanks for the comments. I appreciate your view.
While I don't think the South Park episode was part of an overall 'attack' (and I use that term rather loosely) against religion, I do think that portrayals of this type of thing do contribute to a decaying of respect for religious icons.
I do see that as a trend in today's media. Some of you don't and that's okay. I just question why some of these things need to take place, and if we aren't losing our way when we accept some of this.
More than anything, I wanted to at least raise the point, rather than damn folks or insult them.
Thanks for the discussion folks.
Yes I remember those Catholics rioting and burning down buildings....oh wait only Muslims do that.
South Park was not mocking either the Virgin Mary or the Catholic Church. They were mocking Alchoholics Anonymous. They were also mocking people who believe in magical healing powers.
So when are they coming out with the "Mad Mo' Pedophile Terrorist" episode?
Thanks for the explanation. It sounds like a majority of the show did present a message that should be heard. Still, I wince at hearing about the unfortunate depiction.
Look, we're all going to see things in the light of our background and current perceptions. It's unreasonable to think we'll all agree on this.
You take care.
Exactly! Someone who GETS it! :)
Thanks for the comments. I appreciate it.
You should have seen the Osama bin Laden episode, which was a great homage to the Warner Brothers cartoons.
"Osama bin Laden episode"
Oh, yeahhhh. and I purchased the unrated copy of "Team America"!
Derka,derka!
Oh, sure. I agree on that. I'm a pro-diversity conservative!
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