Unholy act (Penn & Teller)

PAGE SIX - New York Post ^ | 1/26/03 | RICHARD JOHNSON with PAULA FROELICH and CHRIS WILSON

[kattracks]

OUTRAGED Catholics wanted comic-magicians Penn & Teller removed from ABC

[Jeff Chandler]

Jesus, a midget angel and a sex act

 

I'm speechless.

[nickcarraway]

Only Catholics are offended by that?

[nickcarraway]

we have no idea how common this is. It is not very common

Do his patients get a noncontradictory diagnosis?

[WomanofStandard]

Only Catholics are offended by that?

I believe Christians of all denominations are offended but it has been my observation that often the media sees only Catholics as Christians OR think that Catholics represent all Christians. I don't know why, if they think Catholics are the only legitimate Christians or what but when referring to Christian matters in the news, the majority of the time the report makes it appear that Catholics are the only ones affected when offense is made towards Christ. I just don't get it.

[kattracks]

I think the author used that term because the complaint came from the Catholic League. Apparently, they don't feel it's just Catholics who are offended:

When the Catholic League’s William A. Donohue got wind of it, he fired a letter to ABC saying that such "an incredibly anti-Christian statement" should not be "rewarded."

[Banjoguy]

Frankly, if this is true I would be surprised. My impression of Penn and Teller is that they are moralists and not a little cerebral. I can't see them doing a cheap bit for the shock value and I have never known them to purposely be offensive. There must be more to this.

[PaulJ]

You can read more about the act in a post from a few days ago HERE

[Banjoguy]

I'm surprised. I read the posting in the thread you suggested. the act as described seems tasteless and insensitive. However, I question the over reaction of some on the thread.

This act is maybe a mistake, but it is a single performance. They will get some slack from me as overall, I judge them to be quality performers with the underpinnings I described in my last post.

I can be offended or not, that is MY choice. The material they present is THEIR choice.

[PaulJ]

I agree with you. I think shock and surprise are fine ( and Penn & Teller are masters at that)but you have to be careful when you get into the area of religion. No matter what your beliefs may be, making fun of or mocking someone else's religious beliefs is usually not the best way to go.It's easy to do, will always get laughs and falls into the category of "cheap shot". It takes little talent to do. I think Penn & Teller are much better than that and made a poor choice in this case.

[ncpastor]

It's called ignorance.

[SamAdams76]

The irony here is that if Penn & Teller did a comedy bit like this on Islam, their careers would be over. For some reason, mocking Christianity is "fair game" in the PC world and anything goes.

And I thought Monty Python's Life of Brian was pushing the envelope!

[Cvengr]

"estimated" that 25 percent of infected gay men were bug-chasers, all heck broke loose.

Everybody senses these statitstics are off. Obviously over half the gay population seeks HIV by their continued behavior.

[ovrtaxt]

Moralists? Ive never gotten that impression. They always seemed to be right on the line of offending millions of people, which from a marketing standpoint, is brilliant. I think they care about money and little else, and I've picked up hints that they resent society's limits of what we will tolerate.

[Dane]

This outrageous and insulting act is quite "normal" for them since they live and work in the Hollywood mindset, where any insult against Christianity is seen as an insult against America. They are no different than their "celebrity" comrades(Clooney, Sean Penn, etc. etc.).

[chatham]

If you don't think Christianity is under attack think again!
Morons like penn and teller don't have the class of a Jackal. Refuse all products advertised on ABC and tell them so.

[GirlShortstop]

I've picked up hints that they resent society's limits of what we will tolerate.

Not only *society's* limits.  I might add:   what they've done would undoubtedly be considered grossly offensive to society back through the ages!   Using the sacrifice and torture of the Greatest Man that ever lived as a source for a laugh and a deviant act is abhorrent. I truly hope the repercussions will be commensurate.