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Letters

Insulting TV program (letter)

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 Contents - Nov 2002AD2000 November 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

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

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