Couple Arrested for Having Sex in New York City Cathedral

Fox News/NY Post ^ | Friday, August 16, 2002 | By Philip Messing, Marianne Garvey and Hasani Gittens

[SouthernFreebird]

I found the act to be horrendous and sacriligeous, but I found the broadcast funny. How is that wrong?

"No man can serve two masters"........

[sweetliberty]

"They are Northern Virginians. BIG difference..."

Much bigger difference than most people from other parts of the country realize. Having been born and raised in southern Virginia, I have always been aware of the differences. Sadly though, the cancer of liberalism, while moving slower to corrupt those in the south than many other parts of the country, is nonetheless exacting a toll.

[Between the Lines]

This started out as a story about a prank which I answered with a joke. Everybody went off the deep end because they did not find humor in it. That resulted in my being flamed. Now, ordinarily, flaming I can take. But these were accusations that I attacked the church which I did not do.

Had you said the same of my church, I would have taken it as an attack on my church.

So, I responded to these accusations. I still don't understand why everyone was so inflamed. I did not condone what was done. I compared it to what was done by priests. That was the truth.

By defending what you said you only make yourself appear more disrespectful of the church.

Other than explaining the same facts over and over again, I don't know what else there is to say.

Try apologizing for an insensitive post at an inappropriate time.

[hchutch]

Give them an FCC-mandated 90-day vacation, a fine in the mid-six digits, then.

[LaBelleDameSansMerci]

Well-known afficianado of the Opie and Anthonyshow and devout Catholic--Tropoljac--in a daily paroxysm of religious fervor, dons his mantilla and heads off for Mass...

[Aquinasfan]

No, the Church shouldn't remain silent. But demanding that the Government censor a movie (a MOVIE, for heaven's sake) is a little silly.

I'm not a First Amendment "purist." I think I go more for the common sense, "community standards," common law-style approach to public decency. So I don't have a philosophical objection to the Church calling for the movie to be censored.

I'm also surprised that you'd downplay the importance of movies. I'm sure you'd agree that popular entertainment precedes if not determines a culture's moral norms.

[Askel5]

Or maybe it's no more than this: is it funny because a clown on the radio told you so, and you're waiting to see how you must adjust your perceptions based on a superior clown's infallibility (a word you should know, having been raised Catholic and all)?

Nice, Romulus.

As for me, I'm just waiting for the latest poll of the 'Merican People so I know whether to think this was out of line or not.

[stanz]

Let's see...you covered all the bases. Why was it amusing? It was just an irony...that's all. Since you are so knowledgeable about all angles, I don't have to explain why I thought it was ironic. You already know that.(and I have already stated it on countless occasions.) Since you have designated me a connoisseur of humor, you must definitely be of similar bent. It takes one to know one, isn't that the old adage? Therefore, you must think it was amusing, too, or you wouldn't state that you were the only one who cared about the etiology of my sense of humor.
At any rate, we can both listen to Jay tonight and see what he has to say about it. Then we can compare notes on his humor (unless you think that is too plebeian, Romulus.)

[sinkspur]

Mexicans debate virtues of film about wayward priests

[Askel5]

As a Roman Catholic I found the act to be horrendous and sacriligeous, but I found the broadcast funny. How is that wrong?

As a Roman Catholic I found the sky to be blue, otherwise, I believe the sky is green.

The two are incompatible. Evidently you've managed to compartmentalize your Catholic faith somehow and separated it from your Real Life.

This is an error on your part. Just as there are no holes in the Catholic cosmos, the Catholic's faith permeates every aspect of his life and cannot be set aside for Sundays and the occasional petition.

[cubreporter]

To you maybe. Funny it was not. There was no respect for the house of God nor the worshippers inside. These people don't have any respect for each other much less for God. Let them take it to the alley since they were behaving like alley cats.

[Aquinasfan]

Let's assume for the sake of argument that this movie is a touching story about a priest succumbing to temptation. It's a movie I might go see. But I wouldn't want my young children to see it. And it may not be appropriate in certain cultures. Simply the act of screening the film alone could send a certain message peculiar to a particular culture. Whether or not the government prohibits the movie seems to me to be a matter of prudential judgement for the authorities to decide.

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

Sadly,there were 3 people the TERRORISTS MISSED!

[LaBelleDameSansMerci]

sinkspur--meditating deeply on how best to handle the recent desecration of St.Patrick's Cathedral--asks:

What would Dubya do?

[PresbyRev]

Too true and well said. This act (publicity stunt) was beyond the boundaries of civil society and decency. The FCC, if it is worth anything and probably isn't, ought to revoke the license of WNEW. Neutering and spaying for the involved parties might not be a bad idea either.

[Travis McGee]

How about tarring and feathering and riding them out of town on a rail?

[justshe]

Many, myself included, view certain places with reverence and respect. Churches, the White House, most war memorials, etc. By saying you thought the entire act w/commentary being performed in one of those respected places was funny, you degrade that which I, and obviously others, take seriously.

You remind me, a bit, of all those who, during the impeachment, kept up the mantra that it was only about sex and Clinton's personal life was none of our business. You see, to me, it was a personal afront to me that someone would so cheapen an area that I respect, as to use it for his/her own tawdry exploitation--and then have the audacity to lie about it (the real crime).

This radio show is no different. The thrill seekers and the radio station took unfair advantage of OUR sensibilities as to what is RIGHT.......and what is WRONG. And they did it for THEIR own personal gain....at OUR expense. THAT is why some are so upset with you. Because you are defending that which is just plain wrong.

[LaBelleDameSansMerci]

Oh---slapping forehead---I forgot to ask: Did the enterprising couple use a condom?

The answer to this question could mean the difference between jail or an award ceremony at the mayor's mansion (complete with book deal and movie rights as well as an appearance on Oprah and an invitation to address the General Assembly of the United Nations on the socio/economic prospects of condomless continents and the role of the Catholic Church in fostering condomlessness!)

[stanz]

Just to remind you...I never said the act was funny...I thought my original little one-liner was funny. Please go back and read it. I think it was post # 15.