Communion Wafers are not Comic Fodder

By Michael J. Gaynor
Op/Ed

Blasphemy is "the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God."

Sacrilege is "gross irreverence toward a hallowed person, place, or thing."

The NBC sitcom "Committed" apparently is committed to blasphemy, sacrilege and sin instead of homage to God, respect for religion and common decency.

On February 22, NBC, broadcast an egregiously insulting episode of the sitcom "Committed."

Who approved this episode for airing?

Have the characters responsible for airing Rathergate moved over to NBC?

In the name of humor, two of the show's characters flushed a Communion wafer down a toilet!

For "good" measure, the show portrayed a priest as a vulgar ignoramus.

For Catholics, that Communion wafer literally is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

For other Christians, it represents the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

Priests are human, not divine, to be sure, but they do represent Jesus, they do know the difference between a Communion wafer and a cracker, and they don't swear when they receive Communion.

Unless NBC soon broadcasts something like "Holocaust Humor," Christians will have reason to feel singled out for despicable dissing.

If NBC DOES broadcast something like that, the people responsible should be certified as insane, or Satanic, or both.

Oliver Ellsworth, a Founding Father from Connecticut, wrote:

"[W]hile I assert the rights of religious liberty, I would not deny that the civil power has a right, in some cases, to interfere in matters of religion. It has a right to prohibit and punish gross immoralities and impieties; because the open practice of these is of evil example and detriment. For this reason, I heartily approve of our laws against drunkenness, profane swearing, blasphemy, and professed atheism."

Predictably, the "Committed" episode created a firestorm of protest among Catholics.

Hopefully, that will generate the kind of publicity that will punish NBC instead of help its ratings.

Rathergate hurt, instead of helped, Dan Rather's ratings.

Fittingly.

The Catholic League, a faithful watchdog, reported that during the episode two non-Catholics were mistakenly given Holy Communion at a Catholic funeral Mass and could not figure out a suitable way to deal with the situation.

Priests don't force Communion on non-Catholics during any kind of Mass.

The Catholic League described the unconscionable episode this way:

"Nate, who is Jewish, and Bowie, a Protestant, don't know what to do with the Eucharist, so they make several failed attempts to get rid of it. For example, they try slipping it into the pocket of a priest, dropping it on a tray of cheese and crackers, etc.

"At one point, the priest, who is portrayed as not knowing the difference between the Host and a cracker, goes to grab the 'cracker' from a tray of appetizers; he initially balks when he discovers that it is the last one. Then he changes his mind, saying, 'Oh, what the hell.'

"By far the most offensive scene occurs when Nate and Bowie accidentally flush what they think is the Host down the toilet."

Catholic League President William Donahue demanded that NBC apologize.

"To say that Catholics are angry about this show would be an understatement - the outrage is visceral and intense," Mr. Donahue declared.

"NBC has made a direct frontal assault on Roman Catholicism, choosing to mock, trivialize and ridicule the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

Donahue added: "More than an apology is needed. This episode should be retired for good, and that is what we will demand."

More than that is needed.

Good people of all religious beliefs should choose other programs to watch.

Television shows live and die according to their ratings.

And good people should commit to forcing NBC to substitute a decent program for "Committed."

The solution to Federated Department Stores replacing the words "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Hanukkah" with "Happy Holidays" in order to further secularize America is to shop at religious-friendly stores.

And the solution to NBC broadcasting blasphemy and sacrilege packaged as humor in the hope of winning laughs is to watch other networks that don't insult their viewers.

Michael J. Gaynor
95 Darrow Lane
Greenlawn, New York 11740-2803
(631) 757-9452 (telephone)
(631) 754-3437 (fax)
GaynorMike@aol.com

Contact

Michael J. Gaynor
NY, US
Michael J. Gaynor - attorney, 631 757-9452

Email

GaynorMike@aol.com

Keywords

Communion, blasphemy, sacrilege,

More Catholic PRWire

Showing 1 - 50 of 4,716

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »

A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain

Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.

The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul

A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.

Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell

My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz

Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell

Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online

Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online

Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online

State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online

Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online

2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online

Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online

Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online

Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online

Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online

Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online

Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online

Full Circle
Robert Gieb

Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite

Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony

Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell

World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online

Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA

Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online

A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe

Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly

Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard

The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely

Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow

A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow

Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea

Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard

Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol

Edging God Out
Paul Sposite

Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow

George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online

Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell

Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey

Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite

Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol

Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol

Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online

Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online

Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online

Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online

Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online

Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online

Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »