Posted on 02/25/2005 1:08:38 AM PST by NYer
During the February 22 episode of the NBC-TV sitcom, “Committed,” two non-Catholics are mistakenly given Holy Communion at a Catholic funeral Mass. Nate, who is Jewish, and Bowie, a Protestant, don’t know what to do with the Eucharist, so they make several failed attempts to get rid of it. For example, they try slipping it into the pocket of a priest, dropping it on a tray of cheese and crackers, etc.
At one point, the priest, who is portrayed as not knowing the difference between the Host and a cracker, goes to grab the “cracker” from a tray of appetizers; he initially balks when he discovers that it is the last one. Then he changes his mind, saying, “Oh, what the hell.” By far the most offensive scene occurs when Nate and Bowie accidentally flush what they think is the Host down the toilet.
Catholic League president William Donohue commented on this today:
“It’s been quite a while since we’ve been deluged with as many complaints as this episode of ‘Committed’ fielded. To say that Catholics are angry about this show would be an understatement—the outrage is visceral and intense. The complaints have come from bishops, college chaplains, pastors and the laity, and they have come from all over the country. With good reason: NBC has made a direct frontal assault on Roman Catholicism, choosing to mock, trivialize and ridicule the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
“What happened was deliberate. According to a January 2 story in the Cincinnati Enquirer, the writers for the series, Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline, have been encouraged by NBC executives ‘to push the limits of comedy.’ For obvious reasons, the writers of ‘Roseanne,’ ‘Murphy Brown’ and ‘Ellen’ chose not to push the buttons of homosexuals (or some other protected group), so they decided to play it safe and stay in good standing with their bosses by bashing Catholics.
Boycott Notes:
Let's see . . . third day without NBC or its sponsors. Pulse normal, blood pressure nomal, all other vital signs normal. Will take a pleasant drive in the country after church, visit with friends and spend the evening working on a hobby project. Sunday dinner will be pleasant and the weather promises to be beautiful. There might be an interesting show on the History Chanel and I also have a good book next to my easy chair. In a week, aside from their bigotry and ignorance, the NBC network should be nothing but a faded, unpleasant memory.
Ohhhh... you mean e - mails.... darn! I had the bombers loaded and ready to go!
Holy Mackerel! I've never heard of this show, but I'll now be sure to miss it. Thanks for the ping.
You're right, as an honest mistake it's no big deal. It is a big deal when you use the situation in a commercial venture to mock Catholics and their church.
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| We call on all who love Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist to speak out today in defense of this Most Sacred part of the Catholic faith. |
NBC Show Insults the Holy Eucharist:
Apology Demanded
According to the Catholic League, on February 22, NBC aired an unspeakably blasphemous episode of the sitcom "Committed," in which two non-Catholics accidentally receive the Holy Eucharist at a funeral Mass. Uncertain of what to do, they attempt to slip it into a priests pocket and even placing the Host on a tray of cheese and crackers.
A priest, apparently unable to tell the difference between the Blessed Sacrament and a cracker, is unwilling to eat it, since it is the last one on the tray. Finally, he calls out, "What the hell!" and eats it.
In one particularly offensive scene, they accidentally flush what they think is the Sacred Host down the toilet.
Many Catholics feel that this episode makes a mockery of what Catholics hold sacred and have already raised their voices in protest. America Needs Fatima Director Robert Ritchie stated: "In my opinion, NBC has aired a direct attack on the Catholic Church by mocking and degrading the Sacred Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. You and I must demand an official and unqualified apology from NBC for this most offensive show."
And this is exactly what the TFP web site intends to do. It is calling on all who love Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist to speak out today in defense of this Most Sacred part of the Catholic faith.
However, just speaking out is not enough. Reparation must also be made to Our Lord, since He was the target of the show's mockery. Thus, the TFP web site is also asking faithful Catholics to pledge one hour of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament in reparation for this blasphemy.
Turn your holy anger into effective action right now. Demand an apology from NBC and pledge an hour of adoration in reparation for this blasphemy. Do it now.
Turning the other cheek does not include being indifferent to such a blatant attack on God in the Holy Eucharist.
Be a part of this campaign today!
Here is what you can do!
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