Posted on 12/30/2005 11:40:04 AM PST by NYer
Several news stories today are reporting on the decision by Comedy Central to pull a scheduled rerun of the Bloody Mary episode that was shown on South Park on December 7-10. The decision reflects what I asked for in our news release of December 8. Therefore, I commend Comedy Central for finally making the right decision. That it aired in the first place, however, does not speak well for the bigots responsible for creating it.
In our December 8 news release, I also said, Remember, they chose to insult Our Blessed Mother on the eve of the Immaculate Conception, and the holy day itself. The episode in question featured a statue of the Virgin Mary spraying blood from her vagina. It was one of the most vile TV shows ever to appear, and that is why I asked Joseph Califano, a practicing Catholic and member of Viacoms board of directors (Viacom is the parent company of Comedy Central) to issue a public condemnation of the Bloody Mary episode; I also asked that he do whatever he could to pull any scheduled reruns of the episode.
On December 9, the day Califano received our request, he released a statement condemning the episode. He also said that any further decisions would have to be made by Tom Freston, president and chief executive of the New Viacom. For the past few weeks, we have been in touch with Frestons office awaiting his decision. Yesterday, we received a phone call from Tony Fox, executive vice president for corporate communications at Comedy Central, informing us that there were no plans to rerun Bloody Mary.
Already, we are being deluged with hate mail that is as obscene as it is viciously anti-Catholic. All because we exercised our First Amendment right to request that Comedy Central not offend Catholics again! But were used to such things and will not be deterred.
Nonsense. I think that you jumped into the middle of a conversation without a clue as to what I said, just blind defensiveness.
"I dont think Catholics agree that fluid dripping icons are miraculous is or that people flocking to them is central to your religion."
1 - The USE of the Madonna itself was a bad thing -- the icon for the Mother of God, a religous symbol of HUGE importance to the Catholic community (over one BILLION strong) -- and clearly intended to be linked to the Church (hence the use of the Pope).
2 - ANYONE who understands Catholicism would have known how offensive the use of the Madonna to mock anyone would be, especially involving anal and vaginal bleeding.
3 - Choosing to broadcast that on a Feast Day dedicated to the Blessed Virgin was an even more pointed insult.
Final score, bigots and haters broadcast one episode, then got told STOP.
God is not Mocked.
(PS The Church has validated more than one miracle involving statues of the Madonna. Your premise is as flawed as the rest of your argument.)
Gee, so did I!!
... we all watch it, my niece and nephew who are in Catholic school watch it and think its funny.
Do they?! Did they watch that particular episode after returning from Mass? As a Catholic, you, of course, know that December 8 is a Holy Day of obligation. As an uncle, and a catholic role model, did you make time to explain to them the significance of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception?
We all have the ability to decide for ourselves what to watch, and don't need a bunch of nannies pulling shows so we don't get our feelings hurt.
Hey, lighten up. If this is how you believe the Mother of God should be portrayed on tv, fine! I'm sure our Lord will be interested in your opinion on Judgment Day.
"The line that is crossed is blasphemy, not just any offensive humor. And yes, if a show blasphemes other religions, and they object, it should be pulled as well."
Why don't people just not watch it if it offends them? Should we pull everything off the TV that offends anyone?
They are old enough to realize that the parents of the kids who rant and rave and act like they are the holiest are nuts.
I'm sure the Lord is pretty excited that you are speaking for Him and doing all the Judging for Him.
Like I said, I'm all for free speech, for everyone, not just people I agree with.
You said:
Excuse me? Exodus 32:8
They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them, making for themselves a molten calf and worshiping it, sacrificing to it and crying out, 'This is your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!'
Exodus 25:
18
3 Make two cherubim of beaten gold for the two ends of the propitiatory,
19
fastening them so that one cherub springs direct from each end.
20
The cherubim shall have their wings spread out above, covering the propitiatory with them; they shall be turned toward each other, but with their faces looking toward the propitiatory.
21
This propitiatory you shall then place on top of the ark. In the ark itself you are to put the commandments which I will give you.
Your words, not mine. Peace be with you!
SouthPark production and direction and writing needs a serious self-review of their material. At present and for the last season and a half, they are fairly well described as good for nothing.
It is possible to perform and create someting of social worth without reducing themselves to the level of incompetence they have created of their programming.
Quite frankly, they are an embarrassment to anything resembling social commentary. They have an ability to produce significant humorous commentary, but they've copped out to material dearth of any worth. They are an embarassment to even a junior high school calibre of writing skills.
Face it, I busted you.
You sure are eager to jumpstart the judging portion aren't you? God probably hates that.
"Hooray for censorship!"
What "censorship"? The government has nothing to do here, it was consumers (Catholic consumers) that caused the owners of this vile show to cancel plans to rebroadcast. That is called a "market force", a thing conservatives (ok, REAL conservatives) respect. Sort of like the way REAL conservativces respect the reilgous beliefs of others.
You noticed that too? The high and mighty ones that love to be the judge and jury and cackle at the thought that no one as chaste as them will be in heaven.
Isn't that Special?
2 - ANYONE who understands Catholicism would have known how offensive the use of the Madonna
Isn't there a commandment or two somewhere about "no other Gods" and "no graven images?"
Sounds like some of our righteous brethern are pining for the inquisition... which of course NO ONE EXPECTS.
They are calling for something NOT to be shown, sounds like they want to censor it to me.
I hope I don't get put in "The Comfy Chair"
Free market choices are not the same as government censorship. They are SELF censorship. Or said better, self-restraint.
THAT is a GOOD thing, imho.
I wonder why these media types don't run any shows showing the truth about Muslims, especially the honor killing parts. Oh, I remember, didn't someone do a book about them...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.