"I don’t 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.)
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?"
I think you just made my "premise" for me. You just reinforced that the episode was intended to mock the miracle chasers and those slipping into icon worship rather than the Madonna herself or God. That alone (absent the Pope’s treatment) doesn’t make it “blasphemy” exactly what I said, not whatever else you imagined to be my “premise”.
Were Catholics who flock fluid dripping icons insulted? Join the crowd of the South Park insulted.