Respecting the Authoritaah: South Park vs The Catholic Church

TheFridayProject ^ | 01/13/2006

[Panerai]

There is something manifestly, monolithically humourless about Roman Catholicism, even among other awesomely po-faced organised religions. Something stern and fearsome and unbending. You don't trifle with Roman Catholics. They've been around longer than you have, chum, and they've got the Pope on their side. South Park on the other hand, has been around for nearly eight years, so roughly 1992 years less than Roman Catholicism. It is an adult animated series which from its first episode gleefully set about upsetting people in the name of satire. And in the name of just being incredibly offensive. But the intelligent, philanthropic, sober point remains like a slender epee of truth thrust through each vile outburst - *we believe in freedom of speech*. And in really nasty poo jokes. But mostly freedom of speech. As any show involving extreme violence, scatology, profanity and jokes at the expense of the disabled will, it's incurred many and vociferous complaints. However, it's always taken them in its stride, and gone on showing scenes of children feeding each other chilli made of their parents.

You can imagine what sort of unpleasant substance meets which rudimentary air-conditioning appliance when two such disparate elements collide. This happened in December, when the South Park season finale 'Bloody Mary' aired on Comedy Central in the US. There's no way to put this delicately - the episode features a statue of the Virgin Mary bleeding from the ass. This miracle brings people flocking to South Park to be healed, until it transpires that in fact she's just having a period. Then the Pope declares that 'a chick bleeding out her vagina is no miracle', and everyone goes home disgruntled.

[perfect stranger]

BTTT

[higgmeister]

I urge you to see the eighth season opener, "Good Times With Weapons."
There was one moment there, when I couldn't even breath I was
laughing so hard.

[andysandmikesmom]

I will keep that one in mind...thanks...I know the feeling you are describing...sometimes I laugh so hard at some things, I cannot breath either, and figure I am just going to pass out, but with a smile on my face...

[mnehring]

I suppose we should post links to the dozens of other 700+ post threads to this same subjects so we don't have to keep answering the same questions over and over again...

[Pontiac]

Did you read the article? I have no problem with South Park.

The author makes it obvious that he thinks the United States is backward and schizophrenic because we have an openly Christian President and that a Network would pull an episode after being under pressure from a religious group.

[Salvation]

I have never watched it. Guess I'm just deprived. </sarcasm

[FreedomPoster]

Top 5 all-time epi right there.

[billbears]

Thank you for that link. Been looking to see the Mormon episode again for awhile

[Oztrich Boy]

For the last time .... it's all in timing. Catholics rose in an uproar when this episode coincided with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Timing. Should make sure you are not offending people on one of their holy days

[sully777]

No no. That's different cuz their not catholic. Or so goes the line of thought occurring in this debate. It's okay to parody everyone except the RCCs.

"Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our weapons are fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope, and a nightcap with the neighbors." -- Monty Python Album Version

[dsc]

Oh, yes, Monty Python is certainly an authoritative source.

With their 3rd-grader's understanding of theology.

[sully777]

With their 3rd-grader's understanding of theology.

---

Yeah, you're right. It's not like they graduated from Cambridge or Oxford.

How about this theological treatise?

"The Ten Fundamental Rules from the Council of Trent
1. All books (aka media) condemned prior to 1515 not in this Index were condemned in any case.

2. Books of heresiarchs were completely forbidden.

3. Translations of ecclesiastical writers were permitted if they contained nothing contrary to sound [catholic] doctrine.

***4. Permission from Inquisitor or bishop was REQUIRED in order to read translations of the Bible [except Tyndale and Erasmus' translations which were totally banned].

5. Books edited by heretics could be read after correction.

***6. Books concerning controversies between contemporary heretics and catholics in the vulgar tongue were subject to the same rules as Bible translations.

***7. Obscene books and lascivious books were banned (although ancient texts could be read for their style, but not by the young).

8. Books which were good but with heretical portions could be allowed after correction by catholic divines.

9. Books of geomancy, hydromancy, necromancy, etc., or treating of sorcery in any way, were utterly rejected.

10. The Index established the procedure for vetting the books.

...on the whole this Index was more tolerant than later ones, and more so than the Spanish Index...the last edition of the Index was published in 1948, with a supplement in 1959... [and] finally suspended in 1966" (161-165 Burman The Inquisition)

[stands2reason]

Please tell me, who have Stone and Parker missed?

[gondramB]

"I guess everyone has a right to be offended except Christians.

And especially not Catholics."


Every one of these South Park threads attracts comments like this but you never actually see anyone telling others they can't or shouldn't be offended - just that you should censor what other adults watch and that you should actually observe something if you want to make an accurate judgment.

[rdb3]

I found that "Bloody Mary" episode to be boring.

This is a ch__ch. What's missing?

[tiki]

Yeah, you know Catholics, make fun of their religion and they'll send out the homicide bombers. >s<

[sully777]

Yeah, you know Catholics, make fun of their religion and they'll send out the homicide bombers. >s<

---

Only if you live in Ireland and the UK.

[escapefromboston]

I actually really liked the episode when the whole group goes skiing. (but ya the "crips" episode was really funny)

[Allegra]

Has Tom Cruise come out of the closet yet?