RTE "joke" about God and Mary

John Hutton

It was very disappointing to see this "skit" on RTE last night.

https://twitter.com/paulie_lufc/status/1344792634129346560
https://twitter.com/ArchbishopEamon/status/1345055042932510721
https://twitter.com/ArchbishopEamon/status/1345055133026160646

1. Joking about migrants being raped is not funny and is in bad taste.

2. This is grossly offensive to all Christians, particularly on the eve of the Solemn Feast of Mary. Other religions would not (and should not) be treated this way by the national broadcaster.

3. The underlying basis for the joke is false, Mary of course consented to be the mother of Jesus.

4. The joke isn't even funny.

Somehow I think everyone would be up in arms because of point 1, but because of 2 it is overlooked.

It wasn't even a throwaway joke by a participant in a show or something, but RTE commissioned, produced and decided to air this. Even involving former newsreader Aengus Mac Griana.

I normally don't watch RTE (or much TV at all really) just my luck one of the few times I do I see this. I wonder what RTE's response will be to the Archbishop's complaint. I would encourage Christians here to complain also.

Heebie

This Christian thinks that's pretty darn funny.

Truck about the story... according to the story God did impregnate her against her will. He did not ASK her for consent, he INFORMED her that she would be having a child.

I have no problem with the various absurdities in the bible being pointed out and made fun of... none at all.

If this were a joke about Jews... oh wait, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were all Jews... So maybe if this was a joke about Moses dropping the third tablet of the fifteen commandments (as seen in the Mel Brooks.. [a Jew...] film titled "History of the World, Part I") you wouldn't be so upset.
How about if it was a joke about The Prophet Mohammed (sp?) Where he appeared as a big block with "Censored" printed over it because Muslims consider images of Mohammed blasphemy... would you be annoyed at that joke?

If you wouldn't be annoyed at BOTH of those jokes, you have no right to be annoyed about a joke based directly on what is written in the bible ACTUALLY depicting a woman being impregnated without her consent... that's what the bible says happened.

Manach

Heebie wrote: »

This Christian thinks that's pretty darn funny.

Then you are very funny sort of Christian. If this was applied at another social group, then the woke scold mob would be up in arms.

gormdubhgorm

Luke 1:26-38

An Angel Appears to Mary

26 During Elizabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,

27 to a virgin. She was engaged to marry a man named Joseph from the family of David. Her name was Mary.

28 The angel came to her and said, “Greetings! The Lord has blessed you and is with you.”

29 But Mary was very startled by what the angel said and wondered what this greeting might mean.

30 The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary; God has shown you his grace.
31 Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of King David, his ancestor. 33 He will rule over the people of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.”

34 Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel said to Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you. For this reason the baby will be holy and will be called the Son of God. 36 Now Elizabeth, your relative, is also pregnant with a son though she is very old. Everyone thought she could not have a baby, but she has been pregnant for six months.

37 God can do anything!”

38 Mary said, “I am the servant of the Lord. Let this happen to me as you say!” Then the angel went away.

Muppet Man

Offensive jokes are big business for many like Jimmy carr, Sarah silverman and Ricky Gervais. I applaud rte for having the courage to roll with this one which I'm sure they knew was going to ruffle feathers.

Immaculate conception jokes are done to death and most of them are humorous. I didn't find this particular rte sketch to be funny, but nor did I find it offensive.

Rape jokes... personally I don't find them funny, but I wouldn't want to censor them either... so long as it was at the right time of day of course.

Blasphemy jokes are just that - jokes. And there was plenty of blasphemy in farher Ted which was funny and presumably didn't ruffle too many feathers.

Just a thought... if Eamon Martin said he thought it was hilarious... would you still have been offended?

Muppet Man

eviltwin

There shouldn’t be any sacred cows in comedy.

SEPT 23 1989

Doesn't bother me but

Not appropriate for the older people viewing it

homer911

While God does not need humans to stand up for him, I think RTE should have had better taste. Christians always seem to be easy targets, I doubt RTE would be so brave as to have a go at Hindus or Muslims

extrapolate

Heebie wrote: »

This Christian thinks that's pretty darn funny.

Truck about the story... according to the story God did impregnate her against her will. He did not ASK her for consent, he INFORMED her that she would be having a child.

I have no problem with the various absurdities in the bible being pointed out and made fun of... none at all.

If this were a joke about Jews... oh wait, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were all Jews... So maybe if this was a joke about Moses dropping the third tablet of the fifteen commandments (as seen in the Mel Brooks.. [a Jew...] film titled "History of the World, Part I") you wouldn't be so upset.
How about if it was a joke about The Prophet Mohammed (sp?) Where he appeared as a big block with "Censored" printed over it because Muslims consider images of Mohammed blasphemy... would you be annoyed at that joke?

If you wouldn't be annoyed at BOTH of those jokes, you have no right to be annoyed about a joke based directly on what is written in the bible ACTUALLY depicting a woman being impregnated without her consent... that's what the bible says happened.

Absurd: wildly unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate.

I agree with above poster, a Christian would not find God's Word to be any of those things.

To the second point, Gal. 6:7

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

endacl

#marytoo

Hellokitty1212

I’m Catholic and I couldn’t help with think if it were any other faith it would not have been broadcast but we are expected to just put up with it.

endacl

Hellokitty1212 wrote: »

I’m Catholic and I couldn’t help with think if it were any other faith it would not have been broadcast but we are expected to just put up with it.

No you’re not. You’re on here now, not putting up with it.

corks finest

John Hutton wrote: »

It was very disappointing to see this "skit" on RTE last night.

https://twitter.com/paulie_lufc/status/1344792634129346560
https://twitter.com/ArchbishopEamon/status/1345055042932510721
https://twitter.com/ArchbishopEamon/status/1345055133026160646

1. Joking about migrants being raped is not funny and is in bad taste.

2. This is grossly offensive to all Christians, particularly on the eve of the Solemn Feast of Mary. Other religions would not (and should not) be treated this way by the national broadcaster.

3. The underlying basis for the joke is false, Mary of course consented to be the mother of Jesus.

4. The joke isn't even funny.

Somehow I think everyone would be up in arms because of point 1, but because of 2 it is overlooked.

It wasn't even a throwaway joke by a participant in a show or something, but RTE commissioned, produced and decided to air this. Even involving former newsreader Aengus Mac Griana.

I normally don't watch RTE (or much TV at all really) just my luck one of the few times I do I see this. I wonder what RTE's response will be to the Archbishop's complaint. I would encourage Christians here to complain also.

Disgusting, of course the cowards wouldn't mention the prophet M

strangel00p

homer911 wrote: »

While God does not need humans to stand up for him, I think RTE should have had better taste. Christians always seem to be easy targets, I doubt RTE would be so brave as to have a go at Hindus or Muslims

RTE have zero taste and are completely irrelevant at this stage. They would never dream of having a joke at Islam because they desperately try to be politically correct, far easier to have a pop at Christians.

John Hutton

Of course, the particularly aggravating factor is that we have to pay for RTE.

Hotblack Desiato

We already have two Abrahamic faiths incapable of taking a joke, do we really need the third to go down the same route?

BTW MuppetMan, there was no blasphemy whatsoever in Father Ted.

growleaves

Archbishop Martin said the clip should be denounced by "all people of goodwill".

I'm sure both of them will be happy to denounce it.

whisky_galore

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Doesn't bother me but

Not appropriate for the older people viewing it

We'll need to have content warnings for older folk now.

Don't let them watch Life of Brian.

TCM

Would RTE run a sketch about Mohammed being arrested for being a paedophile. No it would not.

storker

TCM wrote: »

Would RTE run a sketch about Mohammed being arrested for being a paedophile. No it would not.

That's as much because they could be killed for it as it is to do with wokeness.

TheChizler

TCM wrote: »

Would RTE run a sketch about Mohammed being arrested for being a paedophile. No it would not.

Most people wouldn't necessarily get the joke so why not go with something they're more familiar with? Know your audience. Christmas was kind of topical the last few weeks.

Snake Plisken

TCM wrote: »

Would RTE run a sketch about Mohammed being arrested for being a paedophile. No it would not.

That wouldnt have gone down well with the lads down in Clonskeagh.
It seems that some religons get a free pass with our state broadcaster but they to have no issue insulting Catholics who pay their wages.
Think I'm not going to pay my licence this year let them come after me all they want.

one world order

Satan tries to mock God. This country is spiritually dead and a lot of people unfortunately are on their way to hell. Everything nowadays is a joke, and you can see how immature and spiritually dead many people have become. This is what happens when Satan gains ground and the church loses its backbone. I threw out the TV two years ago and it was one of the best decisions I made. It has opened up personal testimonies on YouTube and Kindle of how Jesus has saved people and how Satan tries to deceive people in this world.

Karlos77

I love satan and jesus equally

expectationlost

TCM wrote: »

Would RTE run a sketch about Mohammed being arrested for being a paedophile. No it would not.

the person that wrote that joke was probably raised catholic, so they mocking their own not others.

GreeBo

corks finest wrote: »

Disgusting, of course the cowards wouldn't mention the prophet M

#SAYHISNAME

o1s1n

TCM wrote: »

Would RTE run a sketch about Mohammed being arrested for being a paedophile. No it would not.

If anything, that's more a sad reflection on the current state of Islam than anything else. RTE should be able to, but you know, the whole death/Fatwa thing.

Hotblack Desiato

Snake Plisken wrote: »

It seems that some religons get a free pass with our state broadcaster but they to have no issue insulting Catholics who pay their wages.

Laughable.

RTE broadcast a specifially Roman Catholic call to prayer every day on TV and twice a day on radio.

Not to mention the Masses and Church of Ireland services.

As an atheist I have much more grounds to object to the licence fee than you do!

I realise I'm after rolling into a thread in a very religious forum, so my opinion that there is no God and it's all make-believe is obviously not appreciated (although I've no issue with others believing whatever they like, so long as it doesn't hurt anyone else).


That said, despite regularly laughing at religious jokes and not being at all religious myself, I do think that, firstly, this skit was done dreadfully. It wasn't funny at all. It seemed like a joke you'd hear in a primary school class.

Perhaps it would have been funny if there was some 'magic' thrown in and god 'disappeared' from the cuffs leaving a bewildered Garda standing with empty cuffs looking for him, only for us to see 'god' flying past driving the Garda van in the background. Something a bit 'out there', rather than a mundanely read news report and a bad halloween outfit.


I do also think, despite my lack of religious belief, that the station that plays the Angelus should perhaps realise their audience might not appreciate such a joke at a time when they're likely not to be expecting the skit, and may have family around. If RTE have a comedy show on with a lad that's always making rape jokes and making funny racist remarks, at least you know what you're getting into before you sit down to watch him. This seems like it was a bit out of place for the kinda show it was.


I should state though, that I didn't watch the show in full and have just seen bits from it.

bfa1509

TCM wrote: »

Would RTE run a sketch about Mohammed being arrested for being a paedophile. No it would not.

RTE wouldn't want to offend paedophiles, seeing as they had one on their payroll for years.

Hotblack Desiato

one world order wrote: »

Satan tries to mock God. This country is spiritually dead and a lot of people unfortunately are on their way to hell. Everything nowadays is a joke, and you can see how immature and spiritually dead many people have become. This is what happens when Satan gains ground and the church loses its backbone. I threw out the TV two years ago and it was one of the best decisions I made. It has opened up personal testimonies on YouTube and Kindle of how Jesus has saved people and how Satan tries to deceive people in this world.

I would have thought that if Satan was in control, things would be a lot more fun than they are :P

Also if you believe that Satan exists, then you must also believe that your god is not all-powerful after all, which raises rather a few questions.

Hotblack Desiato

Deleted User wrote: »

I do also think, despite my lack of religious belief, that the station that plays the Angelus should perhaps realise their audience might not appreciate such a joke

Maybe this will initiate some much-needed changes at RTE.

It's long past time that they stopped pandering to the Roman Catholic Church.

This is offensive to other Christians, other religious believers and to non-believers, who are all obliged to fund it regardless.

Practising Roman Catholics are very much in the minority these days yet RTE panders to the RCC twice a day every day.

Treppen

bfa1509 wrote: »

RTE wouldn't want to offend paedophiles, seeing as they had one on their payroll for years.

Who was that ?

bfa1509

Treppen wrote: »

Who was that ?

Kieran Creavan

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/former-rte-producer-who-tried-to-groom-girl-13-sentenced-to-18-months-in-prison-36687151.html

John Hutton

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

I would have thought that if Satan was in control, things would be a lot more fun than they are :P

Also if you believe that Satan exists, then you must also believe that your god is not all-powerful after all, which raises rather a few questions.

The existence of Satan does not mean or imply that God is not all powerful.

Hotblack Desiato

An ex-RTE producer was caught by paedo hunters.

It's a swing and a miss really seeing as though the 'hierarchy' in RTE did not cover it up and hush it up for years, unlike another organisation I could name!

AlfaZen

John Hutton wrote: »

The existence of Satan does not mean or imply that God is not all powerful.

Can God create a rock that is too heavy for him to lift?

Either God is not all powerful or he doesn’t exist.

Hotblack Desiato

John Hutton wrote: »

The existence of Satan does not mean or imply that God is not all powerful.

Of course it does. If your god can create anything he or she can also destroy anything.

Minime2.5

Rte is where the athiest Gays go these days instead of the priesthood.

thebaz

RTE trying to be Hip in ther usual clumsy manner - RTE havn't been funny, creative or relevant for years and yet we are all forced to pay for this loss making institution. If the joke had ben on muslims ther would rightly have been uproar too.

Hotblack Desiato

If the joke had been aimed at Islam then 95% of the audience wouldn't have got it.

https://youtu.be/yPLfv9umERU?t=103

Hotblack Desiato

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

Maybe this will initiate some much-needed changes at RTE.

It's long past time that they stopped pandering to the Roman Catholic Church.

This is offensive to other Christians, other religious believers and to non-believers, who are all obliged to fund it regardless.

Practising Roman Catholics are very much in the minority these days yet RTE panders to the RCC twice a day every day.

Honestly, I like the Angelus. I've only ever been to Church for mandatory events (weddings, etc.) and I've no belief in any religion, but I think the Angelus is more than just a religious thing, I think it's an 'Irish' thing in many ways (I don't want to use the word 'culture' but you know what i mean, it's been a part of all of our lives, whether just a noise in the background or something people pray to, it's always been there).


Much like the nativity scene in an Irish hospital - I don't see how it's offensive, and it shouldn't be removed (albeit, I deliberately make that comparison because the nativities were removed).

Hangdogroad

Hellokitty1212 wrote: »

I’m Catholic and I couldn’t help with think if it were any other faith it would not have been broadcast but we are expected to just put up with it.

It didnt specifically mention Catholicism.

Hotblack Desiato

Uhh KKV, you just equated Catholicism with Irishness in a country (and indeed an island) with a major sectarian divide :rolleyes:

Alfred123

.. " ...anti-blasphemy laws were introduced as recently as 2009, making Ireland the only developed country to have introduced a new “blasphemy” law in the twenty-first century.

New 2009 “blasphemy” law

Article 40 of the constitution, though protecting freedom of religion and conscience, also states that:

“The publication or utterance of blasphemous, seditious, or indecent matter is an offence which shall be punishable in accordance with law”.

.... Section 36 of the act criminalizes the publishing or utterance of “blasphemous matter” and imposes a maximum fine of €25,000.

Under the act a person has produced “blasphemous matter” if:

“(a) he or she publishes or utters matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion, and

(b) he or she intends, by the publication or utterance of the matter concerned, to cause such outrage”.

25000 quid for causing outrage. Outrageous.
Maybe, Aonghus Mac Thingy shd take out the chequebook and cough up.

I often wondered how this Law got snuck in back in 2009 with barely a mention or debate.

Probaby same crew that flung open the gates to holy ground of Croke Park to all and sundry of late

I suppose, with Mohamed being a paedophile n all, they were expecting trouble, hence the Law. : Thou shalt not attempt to outrage me with your lack of faith in my belief system

Christy42

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

If the joke had been aimed at Islam then 95% of the audience wouldn't have got it.

https://youtu.be/yPLfv9umERU?t=103

His best phrasing of it was "cos I don't know anything about the Muslim and neither do you!". Same way we rarely get jokes about the different regions of China but you can get Kerry vs Dublin jokes a plenty here.

People can argue that there would be uproar if it was a Muslim joke but there would also be uproar if rte had something on for the Islamic call to prayer so you can call that balance.

As for the joke. Eh. WW are normally funnier but taking offense at it is a bit rich.

Hotblack Desiato

Alfred123, we had a referendum to remove the obligation to criminalise blasphemy from the constitution and have since passed legislation in accordance with that.

It was utterly ludicrous really as what one religion holds sacred another finds blasphemous.

Alfred123

Thanks for update !

I don't believe in the bible, but that 'joke' by RTÉ is offensive to a lot of people. They can't seem to report the Garda killing of an out of control knife wielding criminal, but they get all edgelord with this. Poor form.

Akrasia

John Hutton wrote: »

It was very disappointing to see this "skit" on RTE last night.

https://twitter.com/paulie_lufc/status/1344792634129346560
https://twitter.com/ArchbishopEamon/status/1345055042932510721
https://twitter.com/ArchbishopEamon/status/1345055133026160646

1. Joking about migrants being raped is not funny and is in bad taste.

2. This is grossly offensive to all Christians, particularly on the eve of the Solemn Feast of Mary. Other religions would not (and should not) be treated this way by the national broadcaster.

3. The underlying basis for the joke is false, Mary of course consented to be the mother of Jesus.

4. The joke isn't even funny.

Somehow I think everyone would be up in arms because of point 1, but because of 2 it is overlooked.

It wasn't even a throwaway joke by a participant in a show or something, but RTE commissioned, produced and decided to air this. Even involving former newsreader Aengus Mac Griana.

I normally don't watch RTE (or much TV at all really) just my luck one of the few times I do I see this. I wonder what RTE's response will be to the Archbishop's complaint. I would encourage Christians here to complain also.

13 year olds can’t consent to being impregnated

John Hutton

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

Of course it does. If your god can create anything he or she can also destroy anything.

There is no "of course" about it. This has been done to death by theologians for centuries... but you know this.

Shameful how some delight in fellow citizens being insulted by the national broadcaster. This program, the NYE countdown was watched by loads of people, RTE commissioned and produced it for people to watch to herald in the new year. It was not some random show or guest that did it, RTE had full control over it. To do this during Christmas, one of the most important festivals, is shameful.