BISHOPS' PRESIDENT BLASTS 'SOUTH PARK' EPISODE LAMPOONING MARY (Disgusting!)

Catholic News Service ^ | 12/19/2005 | Staff

[FerdieMurphy]

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The president of the U.S. bishops blasted a recent episode of the cable television comedy "South Park" that he said showed Mary in "a tasteless and ugly fashion."

In a Dec. 14 letter to Tom Freston, co-president and chief operating officer of Viacom International, parent company of Comedy Central, the cable channel that shows "South Park," Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., said the channel showed "extreme insensitivity" in choosing to show the episode.

The episode, which first was shown Dec. 7 and had repeat showings in the week following, was titled "Bloody Mary." During the episode, a "South Park" character claims to have been sprayed with blood from a bodily orifice of a Virgin Mary statue.

When Pope Benedict XVI investigates in the show, he declares that she was merely menstruating. The episode's premiere date came the day before the feast of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day of obligation for Catholics.

[Howlin]

Bump.

[John Jorsett]

South Park is infantile potty-humor designed to disgust and offend. I love it. My particular favorite is the one where the kids are on a eco-tour of the rain forest, end up being rescued by a bunch of developers who are bulldozing it, with their guide (voiced by Jennifer Aniston) screaming "I HATE the f***ing rain forest!"

[MikefromOhio]

How is this episode lampooning Mary?

hmmmm?

You mean to tell me that Mary NEVER MENSTRUATED before or AFTER she had Jesus? Are you KIDDING me?

[gov_bean_ counter]

Can't put my finger on it as to why, but I find a strategical placed "Dammit Cartman" funny.

[tallhappy]

Righteous indignation is the worst kind of vanity

It's ironic that you then would respond with your own form of righteous indignation.

[andyk]

I have seen the show, and it was far more a rip on AA than anything else.

Saved me from having to say it. I thought the way they attacked the twelve step program was hillarious and clever. I thought it was a pretty reasonable attempt to talk about alcoholism and personal responsibility. With that said, I'll admit that I cringed and shook my head a little at a couple of parts of the episode. But, I think I do that at every episode!

[GSWarrior]

I don't get it why some folks are upset that others like South Park.

Lots of conservatives like South Park. Why is that hard to digest?

[Howlin]

Eventually, Quinn departed SNL and even had a pilot on NBC, until the show's provocative content led to its cancellation. But these days, Colin is still busy on the comedy circuit.

This first night this was on, I told my husband "Come in here and watch this, it won't be on long."

[Quick1]

Actually, the show was making fun of idiots who flock to see images of Mary or the "weeping Mary" statue, not Christians or Catholics in general.

Regarding the statement that they never attack Muslims: you might want to check your facts before spouting off uninformed opinions. It's been done multiple times.

[Zavien Doombringer]

Hypocrite!

Where is the outrage when they make fun of Jesus, the Son of God?!!!

Mention Mary and there is outrage... Mention Jesus... *crickets*

[SquirrelKing]

We all just need to get along here, MmKay?

[Howlin]

PRIGS on Patrol Alert!

[Quick1]

Or it could be that Colin Quinn is quite possibly the most unfunny man on the planet. He can actually suck the humor out of a room, he's that bad.

[tortoise]

It's ironic that you then would respond with your own form of righteous indignation.

You are very confused about what "righteous indignation" is.

[Howlin]

Yes, I did; pious condescension by one of the Unappeasales on FR.

We seem to be LOADED with them lately.

[MikefromOhio]

[fisherman90814]

That's because the show tends to blast liberals more then conservatives. Haven't you heard of us South Park Republicans??

[MikefromOhio]

ya know?

[Howlin]

ROFLMAO! Really LOL!

[Texas Eagle]

Yes, but they are conservative imbeciles.

LOL. Great.