To use an icon of the Virgin Mary to ridicule so-called "miracle groupies" is disrespectful.
Many hold sacred and blessed the Virgin Mary. Many hold the icons of the Virgin Mary in similar regard.
Personally, I would never use the icon of the Virgin Mary as a prop to ridicule anybody or anybodies faith. It debases what people hold sacred, the Virgin Mary the Mother of God. To do to her icon what is described above is disrespectful.
As far as those who would believe that they see tears or blood from a sacred icon, It all comes down to their faith and their need or willingness to faithfully believe in a miracle.
But how are they different than most. Most people do have a religious faith. Many people on this thread have their own faith and their own beliefs that they hold sacred, even if they don't look for bleeding and crying icons.
But faith by it's definition is something that can not be proved. So I'm having a hard time seeing why you think that one person's nonviolent religious faith is worthy of ridicule, while the religious faith of others is not.
Why don't you describe what is so bloody different about the faith in "miracles" of a bleeding Mother Mary icon and the religious faith of others.
South Park pries out irrational or bizarre practices from every group for ridicule. I think that the masses flocking to fluid dripping icons personify a primitive mystic side of an exceptionally productive and sophisticated theology. From what little I know, it borders on and icon worship and in some promotes it, appealing to the most base side of our spiritual instincts.
I suspect the Church supports it because it appeals to illiterate or troubled groups around the world. One down side is that it complicates their message in order to avoid apparent contradictions: strive for higher education, discipline, honor, social enlightenment, but if a statue drips fluids join a pilgrimage to pray at its feet for miracles. They may reach a wider audience by supporting that, but they likely plant seeds of confusion in many others. Another down side is that it sets a part of them up for this kind of ridicule.
I suspect 10 Catholics would have 10 differing opinions on how the above is wrong, but I think there’s a kernel of truth to it that’s what Parker and Stone consider worthy of targeting. I don’t even know what to call it. It’s not quite icon worship, but borders on it.
Is it harmless as you suggest? I think icon worship is to Catholicism as multi-level marketing is to Capitalism. As hedonism is to adventure seeking, as Enya is to music, as alien abduction is to the search for ET life, as freak shows are to circuses, ect… And all that’s exactly what South Park ridicules by taking to absurd levels each week. It’s probably not all fair or accurate, but neither are the claims of slander, malice or blasphemy by groups affected. South Park is frequently socially disruptive, but sometimes a little disruption is needed to pull people out of their ruts and make them think more freely.