Catholic league: Bill Maher, Anti-Catholic, Strikes Again

11/18/2008
Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights (www.catholicleague.org/)

Maher has a long and ugly history of bashing Catholicism, and he typically goes for the jugular.

NEW YORK, N.Y. (Catholic League) - On the November 14 episode of the HBO show, �Real Time with Bill Maher,� the comedian said the following:

�A Catholic priest in South Carolina has told his congregation: If you voted for Obama you can�t receive Communion. That�s right. The cracker won�t let you get the cracker. He said supporting Obama constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil. Then he proceeds to pass around the plate so everyone could chip in to payoff the child f------ lawsuits.�

Catholic League president Bill Donohue spoke to this issue today:

�Maher has a long and ugly history of bashing Catholicism, and he typically goes for the jugular. In his season finale, he managed to mock the Eucharist, paint priests as molesters, call a priest he knows nothing about a racist and seriously misrepresent what this South Carolina priest said about voting for Obama (note: Father Jay Scott Newman did not say what Maher attributed to him).

�HBO would never allow a comedian to continually disparage any one of a series of highly protected classes of persons (persons protected by the politically correct police, that is). But when it comes to Catholics, it�s a different story�they�re fair game. Ironically, on the exact day Maher struck again, a survey was released showing that 61 percent of Americans believe that �Religious values are under attack in this country.� It could also be said that no religious values are under more attack than those espoused by Roman Catholicism. And for that we can thank bigots like Bill Maher, and his executive friends at HBO.�

Contact Bill Nelson, HBO�s CEO: Bill.nelson@hbo.com

Contact Sue Naegle, HBO�s President: Sue.naegle@hbo.com

- - -

The Catholic League is the nation's largest Catholic civil rights organization. Founded in 1973 by the late Father Virgil C. Blum, S.J., the Catholic League defends the right of Catholics � lay and clergy alike � to participate in American public life without defamation or discrimination. It is led by its' President, William A. Donohue, Ph.D.

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1 - 10 of 14 Comments

Rick
2 months ago
You're making Bill Maher more important than he is. Reality check: Maher is a comedian. The Church has survived Pilate,Nero, Hitler, Stalin, and Mao. It will survive Bill Maher. The Church, imperfect as it is, will still be preaching the love of God for All, long after Mr. Maher has gone to his "reward". Believe me.
James Mataras
3 years ago
Mahers recent commentary about a dog's backside resembling Jesus Christ with hands out is completely unacceptible to anyone with a modicum of faith. How does this pass for humor? How does HBO allow this blatant bigot to continue. If the remark was anti-Islam or Jewish,would it be tolerated. I think not and nor should it be but why are Christians fair game for this bigotry. Are there any standards of decency left?
Esther
4 years ago
Dear HBO Executives Sue Naegle & Bill Nelson

I first tuned into Bill Maher when he was on network television several years ago. When he moved to HBO I continued to watch him when he talked about political matters for mere entertainment value and not serious political insight.

I am a young Catholic woman and I use to find Mr. Maher humorous once upon a time but its become painfully obvious over the years that he holds especially deep-seeded hatred for Catholics more than anything else. The kinds of things he says about Catholics no one could get away with saying openly about other people of faith living in American society. However, HBO has given him a stage to spread his Anti-Catholicism views which are hidden behind the facade of jokes (a form of antilocution). Fueled with years of contempt he went on to find an even larger stage and made a documentary mocking religion in general.

Back at home at HBO, Mr. Maher's latest disrespectful behavior against the Catholic Church to a wide audience is an obvious manifestation of a troubled soul. However, I can not completely fault a self-condemned man but rather the fault lies with those in power who provide him the platform to continually mock and persecute the faithful without consequence.

Because you hand support to this type of programming which spreads contempt to a group of faithful in our country I can no longer support you.

No proof of God's existence can be brought forth to open the eyes of an atheist just as no one can refute our experience of God that manifests beyond the senses.
Buck Rogers
4 years ago
Stop paying attention to Maher, that's what he craves, attention. Stop giving it to him. Treat him as the irrelevant pseudo intellectual that he is.
Jeff Ryan
4 years ago
Kind of reminds you of St. Paul before his divine intervention. Catholics will always be persecuted, we were told to expect this - so go head Bill do your worst.
Sun
4 years ago
Great idea, COS!! One that I will do right now.This man is evil in his behaviour!
Chirafe
4 years ago
He really needs a lot of prayers to open his eyes & see the Light.

Peace,
Bezwaar
4 years ago
Agreed, Cos, but we should also make good use of the forums and other online tools. By doing this we can share ideas and opinions to strengthen our personal cause in helping society.
jimmy dc
4 years ago
How often have we heard that those who knowingly fight with God will not come to a good end. Maher has knowingly sided with the devil.
'Dumebi Atta
4 years ago
One would not expect anything less from Bill Maher,whose stock in trade has become down-running Catholicism.He ought to bear in mind that it is libelous misrepresent another person,and that after our life here,we will be answerable for all our words and deeds.The Church,through her leaders, has remained a voice of encouragement and a guide for the populace,let the work she has been entrusted by Christ continue inspite of people like Maher and his promoters.There was once Herod and Nero,where are they today?

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