Bill Maher: Pope 'Used to be a Nazi;' Compares Church to Cult, Bear Stearns

NewsBusters.org ^ | 4/14/2008 | Matthew Balan

[Pyro7480]

Bill Maher, true to form on his "Real Time" program on HBO on Friday, went on a tirade against Pope Benedict XVI and the Catholic Church, only days before the Pope’s visit to the U.S.. He stated that the Pope "used to be a Nazi" and compared him to a cult leader. He then went on to call the Church a "child-abusing religious cult" and "the Bear Stearns of organized pedophilia." "And that’s the Church’s attitude: 'We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it,' which is fine, far be it from me to criticize religion."

Following a profanity-tinged one-liner concerning the raid on the Texas compound of Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Maher quipped, "In fact, whenever a cult leader sets himself up as God’s infallible wingman here on Earth, lock away the kids. Which is why I’d like to tip off law enforcement to an even larger child-abusing religious cult. Its leader also has a compound, and this guy not only operates outside the bounds of the law, but he used to be a Nazi and he wears funny hats. That’s right, the Pope is coming to America this week and ladies, he’s single!" At the "funny hat" line, Maher displayed a picture of Pope Benedict wearing a wide-brimmed hat called a saturno.

[murphE]

I'm surprised no one has made a film called “When Catholics go bad”. Just off the top of my head... Bill Maher, Madonna, Sinead O'Connor etc. could all be profiled.

[FreedomForce]

Less than 2 months after Steve Irwin's death Maher is yukking it up. Maher is a scumbag.

[FreedomForce]

Less than 2 months after Steve Irwin's death Maher is yukking it up. Maher is a scumbag.

[ozzymandus]

I don’t pay any attention to maher, but has everybody noticed that the left’s “heroes” are stupid, foul-mouthed smart-assed losers who think a snotty remark beats a factual debate? Maher, olbermann, cafferty, colmes, etc., can’t debate facts, so they make stupid insults and the lefties think they’re clever.

[mc5cents]

harmful statement in a fixed medium, especially writing but also a picture, sign, or electronic broadcast), each of which gives a common law right of action.

You are right, it is libel. Never thought of it that way. While it is speech, it is also done on a "fixed medium", i.e. it is out there or others to see or hear, not just the person standing next to you. I had always thought of libel as being the 'written' word only and slander as being the spoken word.

[nickcarraway]

I think he is part Jewish and part Catholic, so to speak.

[4yearlurker]

Maher running down the church and the Pope doesn’t surprise me at all. What does surprise me is the fact that this little git Maher and his ramblings have any relevance what so ever.

[Jaded]

In addition to being the Pontiff, he is a Head of State. Do you think all other heads of state should flip their own tab? Or just Catholics?

[Jaded]

Too cute.

[Marysecretary]

Yes, he does, whether we are Catholic or Protestant or whatever we believe. Prayer is the only thing that can change this man.

[Marysecretary]

You mean Lenny was, gasp, gay?????

[Marysecretary]

Don’t insult Nazi’s like that(lol).

[TradicalRC]

“In 2005, after complaining about another bigoted outburst, I was told by Richard Plepler of HBO that ‘it’s a free country, and people are free to say silly things—even on HBO.’ Last year, after another assault, I was told by Jeff Cusson (replying for Time Warner’s CEO Richard Parsons), that Maher’s anti-Catholic remarks were a matter of ‘creative freedom.’

Gee, where were they when Mel Gibson was employing his 'freedom of speech'?

[DGHoodini]

Lenny was an omnisexual. His parties often degenerated into drug fueled orgy free for alls.

[Campion]

Not in my opinion. The Vatican should be required to reimburse US agencies for every dime! No non-Catholic citizen should be forced through taxation to pay for any facet of the pope’s work or life, including trips he maks to the States.

In the interest of fairness, you'd better be prepared to extend exactly the same undiplomatic hostilities to the Queen of England (and her family), the Emperor of Japan, and the Dalai Lama ... all of whom head religions to which I do not adhere or support.

[Rutles4Ever]

meh... When reprobates like Maher stop vomiting bile like this, then I’ll start worrying.

Catholics should rejoice at the scourging we’re going to get this week. A great opportunity to unite the Church militant with the Church triumphant. “Blest are they who are persecuted for My sake...”

[Redbob]

This may finally rid us of Bill “The Mouth” Maher...

[Eepsy]

As a Catholic, I think the last “safe” bigotry is capital “T” Truth Christianity- any Christian church which rejects secularism.

As far as Bill Maher goes, keep in mind this is a man God loves more than most people love their own mother- just as He love us all. Paul held the coats at Stephen’s stoning, for heaven’s sake, and look how he turned out. We should pray for Mr Maher, as we should pray that all those who have rejected Christ will one day accept His loving mercy.

[Rutles4Ever]

Who pays for it when the President visits the Vatican? I’m sure it’s the Italians, for the most part. The Vatican has its own security force.

Whether or not you believe the government should be paying for extra security for the pope is immaterial, because, the fact is, people want to see him, and he is a magnet for terrorism. The alternative is to deny him entry, but, that would make us no better than China.

On the other hand, as I believe the Pope is truly Christ’s vicar, what he brings by gracing our terra firma more than pays for the extra security outlay. Non-Catholics might disagree on that point.

[Rutles4Ever]

Not in my opinion. The Vatican should be required to reimburse US agencies for every dime! No non-Catholic citizen should be forced through taxation to pay for any facet of the pope’s work or life, including trips he maks to the States

Here's another thing. If you don't think that a (God forbid) papal assassination on our soil wouldn't have massive international repercussion that would greatly affect every America, regardless of creed, you've got another thing coming. You can make a principled argument that no religious person should receive any U.S. taxpayer support, but it fails the common sense test when it comes to worldwide figures like the pope.