MPs assail CBC for 'sacrilege'

MPs assail CBC for 'sacrilege'

By Deborah Gyapong
Canadian Catholic News

MPs Brad Trost (left) and Andrew Scheer object to a recent CBC pilot show.
OTTAWA -- TWO Conservative Members of Parliament will seek to have the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) answer to a House of Commons committee for a television program the Catholic Civil Rights League has described as blasphemous.

"At various points in the program, the Communion host is depicted as munchable snack food, possible poker chips and a repository for drops of LSD. Drug-laced hosts are left in the confessional for pick-up," said a May 15 League news release about The Altar Boy Gang, a CBC television pilot aired May 11.

MPs Brad Trost (Saskatoon-Humboldt) and Andrew Scheer (Regina-Qu'Appelle) have promised to send complaint letters to the CBC's president and will ask colleagues from all parties to help get CBC officials before the Heritage Committee.

"To depict the communion host, something so sacred, in this fashion is an extreme act of sacrilege," Scheer, a Catholic, wrote in a May 16 news release.

"The Holy Eucharist is sacred to millions of Catholics across Canada and around the world," said Trost, who pointed out that this is not the first time the CBC has aired material offensive to Catholics. Comedian Mary Walsh fed a consecrated host to a dog during the program Our Daily Bread. CBC News: Sunday used to run a feature, 'Sunday Confessions,' where host Evan Solomon would interview guests in a mock confessional.

"Within the past year, the CBC hired an independent Muslim Canadian consultant to ensure that religious sensitivities were respected in its program Little Mosque on the Prairie," said League executive director Joanne McGarry.

She asked if any Catholic had previewed The Altar Boy Gang, adding, "If not, why the double standard?"

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The CBC has no plans to run the series or rebroadcast The Altar Boy Gang, made by an independent producer with funding from the Canadian Television Fund (CTF).

"We certainly regret if anyone has taken offence at the program," said CBC spokesperson Jeff Keay in a telephone interview. The Altar Boy Gang is "an absurdist comedy satire," he added. "I don't think anyone should conclude from that that we intended any disrespect to the Catholic Church or any other religions."

Response to the program has been mixed, with much of it coming from news articles about the program rather than the program itself, said Keay. Some positive reaction came from "people self-identifying as Catholics who thought it was hilarious and hoped we would make a series out of it."

"It's not unprecedented for us to put on material that some people would find offensive," Keay said, noting it is one of the risks of putting out programming. "You shouldn't take this as a defense of the program," he said.

CTF communications director MaryBeth McKenzie said the application for CTF funding followed their guidelines. She noted the broadcasters abide by Canadian Association of Broadcasters' Code of Ethics, ensuring programs contain "no abusive or unduly discriminatory material or comment" based on religion, race, sex and so on.

"It's the broadcaster that determines what kind of program they want to support and air," she said in a telephone interview from Toronto. She said the CBC would have been fully aware of what was in the program, and approved the script prior to production.

Related stories:

Catholics angry at CBC over Altar Boys Gang
A CBC pilot program that portrays altar boys as druggies and the Catholic communion host as "munchable snack food, possible poker chips and a repository for drops of LSD" has sparked a complaint accusing the public broadcaster of blasphemy.
Ottawa Citizen, May 16

- Copyright Canadian Catholic News; no reprinting without permission

May 24/2007

Comments

I'm surprised & angered that CBC would permnit deragotory comments on such sacred Catholic matters as communion elements, the altar boys, etc.

K. Imayoshi
#1 Katsumi Imayoshi - 05/25/2007 - 12:19

I am a devote, communinion taking Christian. For me the 'host' is sacred.

A church who has systematically hidden sexual abuse of children can not hope to have a leg to stand on to protect what it considers 'holy'.

To be truly Christian is to approach people in love - obviously these people have been affected in a none too positive way by the church - this reaction will only serve to demonize those who already have a poor view of Christianity. How is that a loving reaction?

Would it not be more appropriate to express sorrow versus anger that we have failed so severely as Christians this is how secular society views us. This is a lesson - not in their tolerance but ours.
#2 T - 05/25/2007 - 13:10

It seems evident that since political correctness is the rule on all media fronts, it must be politically correct to bash anything with a "christian" connection. I don't think the CBC would do that to any other group. The double standard is not acceptable.
#3 Arni Schmeichel - 05/25/2007 - 15:30

#1 Katsumi Imayoshi

Amen! It is good to know that there are others about who, "Love God with all their heart and their neighbour as themselves.

Blessings in Christ,

Malachy
#4 Rev. Malachy Egan - 05/27/2007 - 16:12

Apologies... My comments are directed at #2 T and NOT #1 Katsumi Imayoshi whose bigotted views are part of the problem and not the solution
#5 Rev. Malachy Egan - 05/27/2007 - 16:16

So sad. CBC needs our prayers.
#6 GM Johnson - 05/27/2007 - 18:29

Also, "regretting IF someone has taken an offense" is NOT an apology--no ownership of wrongdoing.
#7 GMJ - 05/27/2007 - 18:32

I believe that the CBC often tried to push the envelope of what is acceptable public entertainment. I do not think their bad judgement is the fault of the Chrisitan Community. You are saying that if our belief is abused by others it is becasue of what we have done. Isn't that the excuse any abuser uses against their victim. "They were asking for it."
#8 jan - 05/28/2007 - 15:18

I am so disgusted with the CBC but I've come to the conclusion that what is sacred and Holy like the body, blood, soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Chirst in Holy Communion is so easily discarded, treated like ordinary as if it was a cookie or chips just goes to show you the filth this world is in to when we can't even respect the greatest gift God could ever give mankind His only Beloved Son and this is the way we treat Him, Him who is so Holy, that at the name of Jesus every knee bends on earth and under the earth. Jesus King of kings Lord of lords. Jesus is Our Lord God Himself coming to us in the Holy Communion. May God grant mercy to those who disrespect the greatest gift of Holy communion. This is sacrilege!
#9 Maria - 05/28/2007 - 15:56

God bless the CBC for having the courage to portraying the unholy practices of those that call themselves Catholic. They that pay public lip service to His Beloved Son, Jesus King of kings but betray Him in private. Holy Communion is a sacred right that has been fouled by those from the roman church far too long. The CBC has shown those men, who lie with boys and then claim to stand in judgment over His flock, for what they are. The romans who put their church before His Holy Word trade Christ's Good News for man's lies.
#10 ish - 05/28/2007 - 16:22

It is bigotry to imply, as #10 and others have, that Catholics support unholy and sinful practices, such as pedehilia, which a tiny minority have committed. Supporting hatred in this way is hardly Christian, as #10 claims (by implication) to be. The Church, as St. Paul wrote, is "the pillar of truth", and where wrongdoing has been done, it was not the Church but a few of Her members who were at fault.
The CBC's bigotry is reprehensible.
#11 Disturbed - 05/28/2007 - 17:58

Mr. Imayoshi,

Your own anti-Catholic bigotry speaks loudly. The Church is the Bride of Christ and as such did not and can not sin!!! Men sin and they are being punished now and in the future. Every Catholic regrets that some priests fell victim to the evil one and hurt others. I am glad to see that you are not influenced by the evil one.

"Father, that they may all be one."

You need to come home to Rome!
#12 David Domet - 05/29/2007 - 03:50

Maybe the CBC needs to go out of business....stop watching!! Congrats the MPs for having the kahunas to stand up for something. And why the hell are we so worried about what Muslims think/feel and yet have a truly offensive, disgusting TV show depicting one of the oldest religions in the world as nothing but a sham? When did Islam become so important?
#13 Julie Garrels - 05/29/2007 - 05:15

Comment #10 uses the name of "God" to "bless" CBC? Hmmm says a lot about the writer doesn't it? It is typical for this kind of person to place blame for the actions of weak Catholics as a collective punishment on the whole universal Church. I guess there has never been any abuse of so-called non-Catholic pastors who were not called by Christ to preach and teach but do it anyway. The Romans put the Church before the Gospels because the Gospel writings came later in time. Of course it is ignorance of historical facts that people such as #10 rattle on about. Such facts they know nothing about!
#14 Faithful Catholic - 05/29/2007 - 11:19

For me, the host is sacred as well. It's "communion" with my Lord. I'm glad that these MP's are taking the CBC to task for such poor judgment.
#15 anonymous - 05/29/2007 - 16:09

The consecrated host IS the body of Christ as real as the body that walked the earth about 2000 years ago. To treat It with disrespect is not acceptable if one believes or not. People from all faiths should respect "where others are 'at'" in their faith journeys. As to members of the church, NOT the Church herself, who have sinned grieveoulsy- just remember, the enemy of the Church attacks those closest to the truth to discredit the truth. That is how warfare is waged, by attacking those whose downfall will do the most damage. Think about it. Thank you to all who stand up for respecting Catholic beliefs. A still journeying Catholic
#16 Valerie Drewrys - 05/29/2007 - 18:22

i am in no form a supporter of the cbc and i see the double standard in ALL candian brodcasters. christians are free game but others cannot be touched. the cbc should go FULL-OUT against the organized crime of the catholic church and it's PROTECTED pedophiles.
the catholic church has chosen to NOT solve this issue and to continue to bury it. if they want to criticize they should start with themselves
kids vs a piece of edible paper
i'll chose the kids
#17 Rob Wayne - 05/30/2007 - 14:34

I believe , as one who grew up Catholic and closely involved with the Eucharist as an altar boy for many years , dating back to the closing era of 'Dominus vobiscum' , that sacred beliefs can not realistically be 'insulted' and one who truly believes only casts doubt on the sincerity of their beliefs when quick to cry 'blasphemy'. What they appear to be saying is not "my beliefs are insulted" , but "I am insulted". Some of the best and most irreverent jokes about religion I have ever heard came from various priests and had no impact on our acceptance of faith and doctrine.
#18 hugh (Bart) Vincelette - 05/31/2007 - 20:46

I am not Catholic, but how the CBC could step over that boundary is beyond any comprehension. They lean over backwards to please Islam that has so much to explain in the world, but trample on a faith that has done a lot of good, as if it is their right.

I have no words to express my disgust at CBC. It is time they are dealt with in the same disrespectful manner that they know so well to use.
#19 disciplinecbc - 06/01/2007 - 06:30

I wonder If the CBC would be free to insult islam
#20 Bryan - 06/01/2007 - 07:02

I think that the Catholic Church
itself doesn't think that Communion is "holy" as they seem to let everyone participate among their members such as abortionists. people who promote abortion, politicians who promote same sex marriage (premier Mc Guinty) etc., etc,. There seems to be no end to it. When is the Catholic Church going to take a stand?
#21 Evert - 06/02/2007 - 07:19

I viewed the pilot and the following episode; and honestly, although clearly not to all tastes...found them immensely entertaining. It's the way all kids wish church could be.
#22 Elaine - 06/02/2007 - 19:06

I don't see how this show is an attack on the Catholic church. It seemed to me it was about a select number of altar boys who were bad who get themselves into some entertaining situations. I wonder why The Sopranos didn't cause such an uproar as it seems to me that using the logic of those offended by the Altar Boy Gang, The Sopranos was a direct attack on all Italians living in North America.

What happened to the separation of church and state? Why are MPs blasting the CBC over this? Just curious. Can anyone explain?

I saw the pilot and was watching in the following weeks hopeing there would be more episodes. I found the 2 episodes I saw very entertaining. I guess Canadians should not see any such show about altar boys unless they are helping old ladies accross the street. But of course that would be no fun and no one would watch.

What the hell are people commenting about offending Muslims here? It seems this is more about Catholics offended by a TV show.
#23 Jon - 06/22/2007 - 21:33

i dont understand why people get mad are getting mad over this
#24 theguy - 07/11/2007 - 16:46

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