VILE “SOUTH PARK” EPISODE PULLED (Catholic League Pres. responds)

Catholic League ^ | December 30, 2005 | Bill Donohue

[TKDietz]

This is a cartoon picture of a famous woman that has been dead for around 2000 years on a show that warns viewers up front that it is intentionally offensive to everyone. If you don't like the stuff they do on that show, don't watch it. If they offend enough people perhaps no one will watch it.

My post was in response to a person who said that if a show blasphemes other religions and they object, it should be pulled. I disagree. If we want to go that route then we need to just pull freerepublic.com off the net because people here are always blaspheming other religions. I don't think we need to go pulling shows simply because they are offensive to a religion or denomination. That sounds like unnecessary unAmerican censorship to me. You are free to disagree, but you won't change my mind about this.

[RobbyS]

They have the right to broadcast; they also have to expect criticism. I am not demanding censorship, which is to say, action by the government.

[narses]

You are right. Again. May your New Year be filled with all of the Blessings and Grace that you can want.

[Central Scrutiniser]

You and the group are demanding that this episode never be shown again, that is censorship.

[annalex]

I did not say anything about the level of blasphemy. The epsiode was balsphemous both because of the obscene reference to Virgin Mary, either direct or to her statue, and to the pope. If you don't like Catholic theology, don't become Catholic.

[Central Scrutiniser]

I'm standing for free speech, not some group of religious zealots trying to remove a show, because they don't agree with it.

Free speech is tough, you gotta stick up for stuff you don't like from time to time, but it sure as hell beats the alternative, ask the burka clad women in Afghanistan.

[annalex]

The issue is not what offends, but what is blasphemous. Blasphemy remains blasphemy whether it is watched or not.

[conservonator]

You and the group are demanding that this episode never be shown again, that is censorship.

No, the producers are making a decision, based on consumer feedback. They are not banned from re-airing the episode,they are choosing not too. If you want to watch the show, send the producers an email and offer to buy a dvd, nothing prohibiting them from selling it to you.

[Central Scrutiniser]

Images are dangerous

Good, I hope that you are calling on the Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves and Washington Redskins to remove their images from their helmets, the native americans think its disrespectful to their culture, and their culture is their religion. Personally, I could care less, I'm Irish, I put up with Notre Dame having a drunken little elf wanting to fight as their mascot, such is life.

[Central Scrutiniser]

Not consumer feedback, just a shrill Catholic group.

If the consumers of South Park cared, it would not be on the air at all. I suppose you didn't see the hilarious episode with the pedophile priests on South Park a few years back.

Nobody censors speech they agree with.

[Central Scrutiniser]

Deal with blasphemy in your church, where you have authority.

[Lilllabettt]

I'm glad that American Catholics have enough clout in this country to get the South Park people to pull this episode, no government censorship required.

A textbook display of consumer-motivated industrial behaviour. The South Park people put something out, their audience spat it back, the South Park people promised not to put it out again. Well done, free market.

No doubt there are a many interest groups who can only dream of having such power. American Catholics have it. That must bother some people.

[annalex]

I will deal with blasphemy wherever I see it in the way that is effective.

[conservonator]

If the producers of South Park didn't believe that the people who found the show to be over the top were consumers, they never would have pulled the show. Unless of course in a moment of clarity, they saw the error of their ways. Either way, it's a business decision, not censorship.

And FWIW, censorship is not a bad thing, what do you think the baring of disseminating information related to national security is?

[Central Scrutiniser]

Are you glad that the Taliban had enough clout in their country to get all kinds of things pulled from their citizens?

The audience didn't spit it back, South Park has amazing ratings, season after season. Only angry folks who never watch the show spat it back, the folk that watch the show will continue to watch.

Meanwhile Mr. Donahue will have his palm out, accepting money, and forever looking for the next photo op to fill his needs.

[RobbyS]

"Their culture is their religion" What the heck does this mean? IAC, So you're Irish. The Irish today are not famous for giving much respect to the Catholic faith.

[Central Scrutiniser]

The Irish don't respect the Catholic faith?

Ever been there?

(Maybe you are thinking about N. Ireland?)

As for native americans, yeah, their religion is their culture, and they aren't too happy about the Redskins, would you be in their court? Their cultural icon, their identity has been put into a mascot, and they don't like it, are you going to boycot sport teams that do this?

[TKDietz]

And it is your position that blasphemy should be banned?

[Central Scrutiniser]

The producers didn't pull the show, Comedy Central did.

Do some reading.

As for national security, apples and oranges, we are talking about a TV comedy show.

Good South Park on tonite, there is an election recount that goes haywire and Rosie O'Donnel comes in and everyone hates her for being a busybody liberal.

[Titanites]

You and the group are demanding that this episode never be shown again, that is censorship.

No, that's not censorship. That's free speech. We don't have the legal authority to keep the episode off the air.

The producers made the decision to not show the episode, and they have the legal authority to do so. That's censorship, specifically, self-censorship. If you want the episode to be shown, you have to complain to them, not to us since we didn't censor it, and maybe they'll make the decision to show it. It is fully their decision, legally and otherwise.