Hyundai pulls television ad after Catholic uproar

CNA ^ | New York City, N.Y., Jun 14, 2010

[GonzoII]

www.catholicnewsagency.com

Hyundai pulls television ad after Catholic uproar

New York City, N.Y., Jun 14, 2010 / 06:48 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Responding to “enough of an outcry” from Catholic individuals and blogs, Korean car maker Hyundai announced on Monday that it has pulled a World Cup-themed television ad that ran during the USA-England soccer match on Saturday featuring a "church" in Argentina mocking Catholic sacraments. 

The ad depicts the ceremony of a “church” called "Iglesia Maradoniana" founded in Rosario, Argentina. The “church” was established in the spirit of both honoring Diego Armando Maradona -Argentina's top soccer player and current coach of its national team-  as well as mocking the Catholic Church.
 
The ad presents elements of a Catholic ritual, but with Catholic symbolism heavily mixed with soccer imagery, while actor Jeff Bridges, the spot's narrator says: "All over the world, soccer is almost a religion... but for the members of one church in Argentina, it actually is."

Hyundai tried first to justify the ad claiming that it was based on the actual church in Argentina; but later, Hyundai spokesman apologized and announced the ad was being taken down.

“We got enough of an outcry that we think we missed the mark,” a Hyundai spokesman told the DailyFinance. “So we're going to do the right thing and pull it down.”

In a statement, the Korean company said: “The unexpected response created by the ad, which combined both soccer and religious motifs to speak to the passion of international soccer fans, prompted us to take a more critical and informed look at the spot. Though unintentional, we now see it was insensitive. We appreciate this feedback and sincerely apologize to those we've offended.”

True to its word, Hyundai made all efforts possible to eliminate the ad from YouTube. Several links that originally led to the ad, now display a YouTube message stating, "this video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Innocean Americas."

Innocean Worlwide Americas is the California-based advertisement company that apparently created the ad.

Innocean's mission statement is: "Truly understand your client’s needs. Only then can you give them what they want."

Copyright © CNA
(http://www.catholicnewsagency.com)

[GonzoII]

GonzoII: Proud member of the Catholic Taliban!

[sionnsar]

Stupid mistake (how big is the Roman Catholic church in Korea? — most Korean expat churches here appear to be Protestant) but at least they apologized and are working on fully retracting this.

[Redbob]

Don’t blame Hyundai: idiotic though they are, it was their ad agency that created the ad and no doubt assured the top Korean brass that Americans would find it humorous.

[Jackson57]

They did do the right thing. Have to respect Hyundai for that.

[no dems]

Heck; we can’t have any fun anymore.

[ConservativeMind]

Well, when you venerate anything but Christ, I’m not sure how this is any different.

Catholics have just about everything from the “Holy Toenails of St. John” to the “Boogers of Mary” in different churches, as if these have anything to do with God.

Leave the ads running, Hyundai.

[GonzoII]

"They did do the right thing. Have to respect Hyundai for that."

Ditto

[GonzoII]

"Well, when you venerate anything but Christ"

I think you may be referring to your own mind.

[D-fendr]

Your post has all the class of Hyundai’s ad firm.

[chris_bdba]

Gee your hate must run deep to say stupid things like that?

[ecomcon]

Don’t blame Hyundai: idiotic though they are, it was their ad agency that created the ad and no doubt assured the top Korean brass that Americans would find it humorous.

Yep. Marketing is rife with homosexuals. Ad execs sold it to the Koreans.

Make money and bash Catholicism. What could be better?

[mckenzie7]

Catholics have just about everything from the “Holy Toenails of St. John” to the “Boogers of Mary” in different churches, as if these have anything to do with God.

Sure doesn't sound like all generations will call Her (Mary, Jesus' mother) blessed does it? Of course, most Christians do!

[Campion]

Catholics have just about everything from the “Holy Toenails of St. John” ...

Not to mention all the flakes we've picked up off the Internet.

[BenKenobi]

Yeah, at least we have real wine and not ‘grape juice’. I wonder if Jesus served grape juice at the last supper.

[battousai]

Catholics have just about everything from the “Holy Toenails of St. John” to the “Boogers of Mary” in different churches, as if these have anything to do with God.

Wow you are giving me a good idea as to what the Pharisees of Jesus’ time were like, in your claim to being holier than the rest of us and 'truly' venerating God, you insult not only his prophet John who baptized Jesus, but you also insult the Mother of God.

Well I think I'm convinced, you sure are one holy guy, even the angels are unclean next to you, I am honored to be in the presence of someone so holy...

[ConservativeMind]

I’m not the one putting objects and supposedly authentic bodily remains on display and saying that has something to do with God or godliness in any form.

[battousai]

I’m not the one putting objects and supposedly authentic bodily remains on display and saying that has something to do with God or godliness in any form

Miracle of Luciano... explain that away if you please, I don't need to speak of any other relic or miracle as Luciano alone goes to the heart of the truth.

I just hope God gives you the grace to come back to his Church.