Letters

Insulting TV program (letter)

K.L. Hanrahan

Contents - Nov 2002 - Buy a copy now Editorial: The essential role of saints in the Church - Michael Gilchrist Independent inquiry exonerates Archbishop George Pell - Peter Westmore News: The Church Around the World - AD2000 Father Fessio: real US crisis is 'spiritual abuse' - Karl Maurer Australian Bishops' 'complaints protocol' used to uphold orthodoxy - Richard Egan Opus Dei founder Josemaria Escriva canonised at Papal Mass in Rome - AD2000 Report Sydney Archdiocese courses on 'Catechism' - Fr John Flader Catholic schools: restoring a sense of sin - Br John Moylan CFC Australian apologist Raymond de Souza's successful overseas lecture tour - AD2000 Report Events: The Fellowship of St Arnou to hold function in Melbourne Letters: Media war declared (letter) - Fr M. Shadbolt PP Letters: Embryo experimentation (letter) - Brian A. Coman Letters: Radical feminism (letter) - Gordon Southern Letters: Brisbane Synod (letter) - J.F. Nolan Letters: Anglican Church (letter) - Fr James Grant SSC Letters: Office of Bishop (letter) - Fr Brendan T. Walters MSC Letters: Headline (letter) - Michael Starr Letters: Birth control (letter) - Kevin Tighe Letters: Insulting TV program (letter) - K.L. Hanrahan Letters: Tough teachings (letter) - Mrs Maureen Federico Letters: Offertory prayers (letter) - John Mulholland Letters: Exorcists (letter) - Monica J. Hart Letters: EWTN (letter) - Jacqueline Donohue Letters: Anonymity (letter) - Narelle Mullins Books: The New Faithful: Why Young Adults are Embracing Christian Orthodoxy - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) Books: Scripture Diary 2003 Books: Bernard Of Clairvaux: Essential Writings - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: A Generation Betrayed: Deconstructing Catholic Education, by Eamonn Keane - John Young (reviewer) Books: Ideal Christmas Gifts from AD Books Reflection: St Maria Goretti's 'perfect Christian death' - Mary Kenny

On Saturday night, 21 September, I involuntarily found myself watching the feature Pizza on TV channel SBS, which included a sketch by a so-called comedian who used the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in a totally derogatory and blasphemous manner.

I wish to take the strongest exception to the use of elements of the recorded life of one, who is to millions around the world the divine Lord and Saviour, to be worshipped as founder of what is the world's greatest and most enduring of religions.

Before the above-mentioned sketch had finished I found myself thinking how different things might be if Christians were to impose an Islamic-style jihad or fatwa against such blasphemers who insult and ridicule our religious beliefs.

The Anglicans have their own special case with the Vicar of Dibley and seem content to let matters that offend them there pass, but overall why do other denominations allow this specific kind of provocation to pass without public comment?

In this regard I assert that the Catholic Church should lead the way with actions and statements that expose those individuals and organisations who deliberately target our religion as matter for gormless "comedy", or who use elements of the Christian faith deliberately to distort and ridicule Christian doctrine.

Are we Christians committing a greater sin than these ignorant individuals by a decision not to defend ourselves? Is there recourse to the law, for example, in matters such as these? In general, how should we set about defending the Person of Christ?

K.L. HANRAHAN (MR)
Tylden, Vic

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 15 No 10 (November 2002), p. 14