[wideawake]

Comedians make fun the Church, the Church says it's not amused.

No big deal.

The actual big deal is the subtext here: comedians whom want to do religious humor have to recycle every stale old gag about the Church because they know they can do so without fear.

They dare not mock Islam - they are scared of the consequences.

Cowards make poor satirists.

[RobbyS]

Italians think they own the papacy, that they are just lending it to this Bavarian. I say to them: Grow your own. Start having babies and ordaining priests.

[verum ago]

that's funny, I don't seem to know of any Catholics reacting with 'Catholic rage' and beheading people, rioting, storming embassies, burning consulates, beating nonbelievers, bombing marketplaces, hanging effigies...

[Patriotic1]

"One of the characteristics of satire is that it doesn't make the victim laugh," said Fausto Colombo, who teaches media theory at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan.

I don't find it particularly funny. I don't find them offensive, but they seem to fall flat.

[dfwgator]

Obviously these guys never watched "Dave Allen at Large."

[Maeve]

More Bread & Circuses from the fastly fading Italian people.

I do wonder what Islamic Italy will be like -- contemplation of such a thought is an equivalent to a nightmare.

[mockingbyrd]

"A radio comedian has the pope shooting pigeons above St. Peter's Square -- because they "bother people who have to work""
"At one point, exasperated by the comparisons, he asks his aides, "Did John Paul II know how to do this?" and proceeds to tap dance across the floor and juggle three oranges.
In another show he launches a dove as a sign of peace. When it falls with a thud on the ground, he shrugs and remarks, "It must have had bird flu." "

Got to admit, I laughed at these. Of course I am sleep deprive at the moment. But that's the beauty of the Church, She can accept gentle humor at her expense, after all, humor is an essential accident of rationality, God's image upon us.

Unfortunately, most take this way too far, insulting the Catholic Church routinely, but often any Christian denomination will do. And yet, we respond with justifiable actions, we express our indignation, refuse to support vile humor and make reparations to the Lord. We respond as people of God. And everyone knows the difference.