|
Catholic League: Penn and Teller Must Go 8/18/2009 Catholic Online (www.catholic.org) CBS/Showtime needs to send Penn & Teller a message and let them know that they have crossed the line for the last time.
NEW YORK, NY (Catholic League) - Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on an ad he wrote for today’s edition of Variety:
"Today’s ad in Variety (see the text below) is a direct response to the latest hate speech by Penn & Teller against Catholics.
"Both Penn Jillette, and Showtime (owned by CBS), are flagging the attack on the Vatican that is featured in its season finale, August 27.
"Given the history of Penn & Teller’s vicious record of Catholic bashing, we have no reason to doubt that this episode will be particularly vile.
"In the ad, we cited previous examples of their malicious assaults, especially on Mother Teresa.
"CBS management has spoken to the Catholic-bashing duo before, but to no effect. Though we are not calling for CBS/Showtime to cancel the upcoming episode, we are saying that the time has come to pull the plug on their show; their contract should not be renewed.
"Those who agree should contact Matthew Blank, the Chairman and CEO of Showtime.
Contact: Matthew.Blank@Showtime.net
THIS IS THE FINAL STRAW:SHOWTIME SHOULD NOT RENEW PENN & TELLER
On August 27, Showtime, owned by CBS, will feature a vicious assault on Catholics. In the season finale of Penn & Teller’s show, they “take on the secretive inner world of The Vatican, the holy city of Catholicism and home of the Pope.” How do we know it will defame Catholics? Because on the show’s website, it says so: There is a Showtime Advisory for “Graphic Language, Adult Content.”
If Showtime posted that warning about a show on Islam, Muslims would brace for the worst (and so might CBS). But Muslims need not worry: it’s not all religions that Showtime likes to trash — just Catholicism. Indeed, Showtime is currently working on a show, “Revelation,” that promises to be at least somewhat respectful of Protestantism.
What will the upcoming show be like? On his Twitter page, Penn Jillette brags how he rips a Catholic encyclical on sexuality: “I’m dressed as Darth with a condom c--k light saber.” He even boasts that the show is “hardcore,” admitting that “we attack the Vatican.” From trashing The Last Supper to mocking Catholic prayers, anti-Catholic bigots who feed on this kind of stuff will have a stomach full.
This is not the first time Showtime has featured a vile Penn & Teller show. In 2005, Mother Teresa was called “Mother F---ing Teresa,” and her order of nuns were branded “f---ing c--ts.” The year after, Jillette said on his CBS radio show that Mother Teresa “got her [sexual] kicks watching people suffer and die.”
Just recently, Jillette took after me again in his usual foul way. That doesn’t matter, but what matters greatly is his pathological obsession with bashing Catholics and their religion. There is no legitimate place for this kind of frontal assault on any demographic group.
CBS/Showtime needs to send Penn & Teller a message and let them know that they have crossed the line for the last time. This should be their final season. We know that they’ve been told before to drop the Catholic bashing, and yet they persist. By doing so, Penn & Teller have effectively stuck their middle finger right in the eye of CBS.
Contact Showtime Chairman and CEO Matthew Blank: Matthew.Blank@Showtime.net
- - -
Deacon Keith Fournier asks that you join with us and help in this vital mission by sending this article to your family, friends, and neighbors and adding our link (www.catholic.org) to your own website, blog or social network. Let us broadcast, we are PROUD TO BE CATHOLIC!
Comments
I would then challenge the Catholic church, or 'league' as it would be, to create an episode to challenge and debunk any or all of P&T's claims. I find that, in most conversations of religious discrepancy, it is the faithful that remain somehow appalled and endlessly offended, while still typically unable to provide any logical or diplomatic rebuttal that DOESN'T merely rely on quoting scripture. Instead of crying as loudly as possible, step up for a change, and state your case for the world to hear. Use the media; use shock factor if you'd like . . But step up. Make an actual point that isn't completely exclusive and antiquated for once.
mark | 11/9/2009
sorry, but free speech, and freedom of ideology is more important than your reactionary attempt to silence those who have the courage to speak their mind. no where in the constitution does it say that one has the right not be offended.
David | 10/9/2009
Penn and Teller are self-described atheists, so nothing they say against ANY religion should come as a surprise. By the same token, people who couch their activities in religion (such as Mother Theresa)are also open to their attacks if they see some inherent contradiction between the tenets of the faith and the actuality of the activity involved. They have savaged the green movement along these same lines.
Artists and entertainers of all stripes have had to put up with the objections of any number of religious groups who make hasty judgments without getting the facts. I'm getting that same tone from the above article.
Mike | 9/20/2009
Post your Comment
Comments that include profanity, personal attacks, antisocial behavior such as "spamming" and "trolling," or other inappropriate comments or material will not be posted on Catholic Online. Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our terms of service. While Catholic Online invites robust discussion, we maintain the right to not print material that is patently false in its claims concerning the teaching of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, overtly anti-Catholic or which, in the opinion of the moderator, are intended to mislead readers as to what the Catholic Church teaches. Comments DO NOT necessarily reflect the opinion or views of Catholic Online.
NEWSLETTERS »
|
RSS | Make Catholic Online Your Homepage
