Archbishop calls on RTÉ to remove 'blasphemous' clip

riffmongous

In a tweet, Archbishop Eamon Martin said he was "shocked" that the programme's producer or editor "didn't realise how deeply offensive was a mocking 'news report' accusing God of rape & reporting his imprisonment".

He continued: "To broadcast such a deeply offensive and blasphemous clip about God & our Blessed Mother Mary during the Christmas season on 'NYE Countdown Show' on @RTE, @RTEOne & on Eve of the Solemn Feast of Mary, Mother of God is insulting to all Catholics and Christians".

So first, no RTE definitely wouldn't have dared to make a clip about Mohammad being a paedophile. Would it make it better if they had.. should all religions be bashed, equally, as part of the New Years Countdown Show from the national broadcaster?

The way I see it, having the freedom to mock religion is important, but just because you have that freedom doesn't mean you have to use it either, unless it's serving some important purpose for society (Charlie Hebdo, even Father Ted). And this skit just seems a bit mean spirited and poorly timed to me. Like it or not deep religious beliefs are still held by a lot of people in Ireland and going out of your way to mock them, around Christmas no less, is scummy imo.

The clip in question

https://twitter.com/paulie_lufc/status/1344792634129346560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1344792634129346560%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.boards.ie%2Fvbulletin%2Fshowthread.php%3Ft%3D2058145820

Badly Drunk Boy

That sketch was in poor taste and not in any way funny, just like any of the other Waterford Whispers bits that Aengus MacGrianna read out on that New Years programme. I'm not religious at all but it was just bad, completely inappropriate for that sort of programme.

Smee_Again

If they don’t want to see the clip they should just not watch it.

riffmongous

Smee_Again wrote: »

If they don’t want to see the clip they should just not watch it.

Normally that would be my attitude too, but this was in the New Years Countdown Show, it's one of those shows that most people would be watching and saying don't watch it if you don't like it isn't on in this case

Patrick2010

Smee_Again wrote: »

If they don’t want to see the clip they should just not watch it.

Would have been very brave if they made it about Mohamed

biko

It's kinda funny I think.
Although Mary wasn't a migrant. She simply travelled with her husband from Nazareth to Bethlehem for a census. They then returned home again.

Smee_Again

riffmongous wrote: »

Normally that would be my attitude too, but this was in the New Years Countdown Show, it's one of those shows that most people would be watching and saying don't watch it if you don't like it isn't on in this case

What about personal responsibility? They should know that getting offended is a risk of watching TV so they can’t very well complain after the fact. They’ll just have to live with the offence.

Mr. Incognito

If your faith is so weak that you are offended whose problem is it

TheValeyard

Everything should be up for comedy or satire. No special cases, no exceptions.

riffmongous

Smee_Again wrote: »

What about personal responsibility? They should know that getting offended is a risk of watching TV so they can’t very well complain after the fact. They’ll just have to live with the offence.

It was the Countdown Show, I don't think anyone thought there'd be a risk of getting offended.

riffmongous

TheValeyard wrote: »

Everything should be up for comedy or satire. No special cases, no exceptions.

Don't disagree. The question is more if it's necessary to exercise that freedom all the time

Smee_Again

riffmongous wrote: »

It was the Countdown Show, I don't think anyone thought there'd be a risk of getting offended.

Look, there’s many other people would love the opportunity to watch and be offended at what’s on TV so rather than ban/remove it, those who are offended should donate their TV to those who don’t have one.

Beechwoodspark

As I said on another thread

RTÉ always take the easy lazy and cowardly option (cheap shots on Christianity)

If RTÉ want to go down the route of religious humour let them take the p1ss and have a good go off

Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, traditional african religions

etc etc along with the easy and cowardly option of Christianity.

TheValeyard

TheValeyard wrote: »

Everything should be up for comedy or satire. No special cases, no exceptions.

Thankfully the influence of the Catholic Church is waning, this isn't the 1950s and McQuaid threatening to cast everyone on the fires of hell. Sure it wasn't in exemplary taste, then again neither is most satire. Don't like it, there's the remote. In a secular society, whinging to the national broadcaster only serves to invite more lampooning. Devout Christian? Good for you, practice away in your own place of worship. Don't be trying to foist your precious beliefs on others. Last I checked we reside in a democratic country.

McCrack

The archbishop coming on "denouncing" it is like a throwback to the 1950s

F*uck off

whisky_galore

*insert tired Fr Ted quote here*

Beechwoodspark

McCrack wrote: »

The archbishop coming on "denouncing" it is like a throwback to the 1950s

F*uck off

He’s right to highlight that RTÉ would run a mile from “offending” literally any other religion

riffmongous

Smee_Again wrote: »

Look, there’s many other people would love the opportunity to watch and be offended at what’s on TV so rather than ban/remove it, those who are offended should donate their TV to those who don’t have one.

So no child or family friendly entertainment allowed in your world, only shock jocks, got it

Wildsurfer

If you were hanging on the edge waiting for a glimmer of New Year hope, that show would have pushed you over the edge. Mary most depressing voice ever Coughlan and Brian I can't stop talking about my rectum Kennedy.

Smee_Again

riffmongous wrote: »

So no child or family friendly entertainment allowed in your world, only shock jocks, got it

Maybe we could have a compromise where we import a TV channel on which blasphemy is banned and all the offended people could just watch that channel?

Wildsurfer

If you were hanging on the edge waiting for a glimmer of New Year hope, that show would have pushed you over the edge. Mary most depressing voice ever Coughlan and Brian I can't stop talking about my rectum Kennedy.

Donald Trump

TheValeyard wrote: »

Everything should be up for comedy or satire. No special cases, no exceptions.

Go ahead and make a joke there, tasteless as you'd like, about the recent incident where a man was shot dead by the Guards and I'd say you wouldn't be too long before receiving an onslaught of outrage, and probably quick removal from this site. As you should be


If you want to want to die on that hill for your belief in the sanctity of "comedy" then go and find the most tasteless remark you can find about that incident on twitter and post it on the thread.

gazump123

mzungu

It's in poor taste and not in the least bit funny to boot.


However, I don't believe the clip should be taken down, nor do I believe those kind of jokes should be censored. It's a free country and RTE/WWN can make a skit of what they like.

Comedy, like music, is subjective.

rockatansky

RTE should move the offending clip it to another location on its website.

That seems to be how the Catholic Churches solves its problems anyway.

TomTomTim

mzungu wrote: »

It's in poor taste and not in the least bit funny to boot.


However, I don't believe the clip should be taken down, nor do I believe those kind of jokes should be censored. It's a free country and RTE/WWN can make a skit of what they like.

Comedy, like music, is subjective.

I'd agree, if RTE were principled in their value of the right to mock religion. If someone else made some skits mocking Islam, RTE would take the first seat on the outrage bandwagon.

Kraftwerk

I think if God raped that young women he should face the consequences. Dirty old men don't get a pass just because 2000 years have gone by.

GarIT

I think RTE should be above making dark humour jokes.

I like dark humour and hate the RCC but the state broadcaster on the new years eve countdown isn't the place for it. Similarly I wouldn't make that joke in work.

If they wouldn't do it about another religion they shouldn't do it about Christianity either.

carq

The joke has the right to be made.

The catholic church can be offended by it all they want but blasphemy is thankfully no longer a crime.


Interesting if mcantee has her way with propsed hate speech, martin may legally have a case.
This legislation should be avoided at all costs.

ElJeffe

I don't think that actual clip is funny but I do believe in the right of comedians to rip the piss out of all sky fairies. Problem is they usually sidestep Islam and concentrate on Christianity

Kraftwerk

GarIT wrote: »

I think RTE should be above making dark humour jokes.

I like dark humour and hate the RCC but the state broadcaster on the new years eve countdown isn't the place for it. Similarly I wouldn't make that joke in work.

If they wouldn't do it about another religion they shouldn't do it about Christianity either.

I think the issue is RTE is run by idiots who haven't a clue what they're doing. They have no concept of good, bad or inappropriate. Its the type of thing David Brent would do in the Office "I think there's been a rape up there...".

Atlantic Dawn

I'd have little issue with it if other major religions were also made crude jokes off but that didn't happen.

whisky_galore

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I'd have little issue with it if other major religions were also made crude jokes off but that didn't happen.

Just a little matter of the possibility of your head being sliced off by a religious lunatic.

GarIT

whisky_galore wrote: »

Just a little matter of the possibility of your head being sliced off by a religious lunatic.

I guess the Christians should be doing some more head slicing then if it's working for others.

Ger Roe

TheValeyard wrote: »

Everything should be up for comedy or satire. No special cases, no exceptions.

I agree entirely... but comedy should certainly be funny, this was just a cringe - as was most of that particular segment.

A pity, as I like reading Waterford Whispers, but it looks like someone went to a bit of effort to find and film the least funny offerings.

Sure I’m sure even if there is a God he’s a bit too busy to care what RTÉ might have said about him. Prob has a communion or baptism to focus on. Bishop didnt need to get so up in arms over this & RTÉ making fun of it is little different to me than if they aired Fr. ted.

GarIT

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Sure I’m sure even if there is a God he’s a bit too busy to care what RTÉ might have said about him. Prob has a communion or baptism to focus on. Bishop didnt need to get so up in arms over this & RTÉ making fun of it is little different to me than if they aired Fr. ted.

It doesn't fit with the theme though. "2020 has been bad, 2021 will be better, were all in this together, **** the Christians, yay diversity, woo Ireland!"

whisky_galore

GarIT wrote: »

I think RTE should be above making dark humour jokes.

I like dark humour and hate the RCC but the state broadcaster on the new years eve countdown isn't the place for it. Similarly I wouldn't make that joke in work.

If they wouldn't do it about another religion they shouldn't do it about Christianity either.

RTE aren't that good at comedy full stop.
WWN is hit and miss at the best of times, quantity over quality.

It's not really appropriate to a NYE show, edgy late night comedy any other time, sure knock yourself out.
I'll bet the Brits will chuckle at our expense, an archbishop weighing in...what a benighted priest ridden island they'll think.

Fast Twitch

Smee_Again wrote: »

If they don’t want to see the clip they should just not watch it.

It was a NYE programme and came onscreen quickly. How do you just not watch it??

Fast Twitch

Smee_Again wrote: »

What about personal responsibility? They should know that getting offended is a risk of watching TV so they can’t very well complain after the fact. They’ll just have to live with the offence.

What a stupid point.

rtron

Wud it have been funnier if it was about Mary and Joseph trying to get a B&B, hotel or an Inn during a pandemic on Christmas Eve?

CiboC

riffmongous wrote: »

It was the Countdown Show, I don't think anyone thought there'd be a risk of getting offended.

I actually found the whole show offensive, jesus it was awful television. And yes, I did turn it off when it breached my 'WTF is my licence fee paying for?' threshold

Fast Twitch

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Thankfully the influence of the Catholic Church is waning, this isn't the 1950s and McQuaid threatening to cast everyone on the fires of hell. Sure it wasn't in exemplary taste, then again neither is most satire. Don't like it, there's the remote. In a secular society, whinging to the national broadcaster only serves to invite more lampooning. Devout Christian? Good for you, practice away in your own place of worship. Don't be trying to foist your precious beliefs on others. Last I checked we reside in a democratic country.

Democratic Country.

Do you know what that means?? Respecting the rights of minorities. Calling somebody's God a pedophile isn't democratic. You're a buffer. Making waffly speeches and don't know what the words you use mean.

Kivaro

If RTE just had that clip on their fabulous RTE player, then most of us wouldn't have seen it anyway :pac:

Achebe

biko wrote: »

It's kinda funny I think.
Although Mary wasn't a migrant. She simply travelled with her husband from Nazareth to Bethlehem for a census. They then returned home again.

The flight into Egypt.

whisky_galore

If there's anything more miserable than being forced to stay home on NYE, it's watching whatever "special" RTE comes up with.

Guaranteed awfulness.

Fast Twitch

rockatansky wrote: »

RTE should move the offending clip it to another location on its website.

That seems to be how the Catholic Churches solves its problems anyway.

Why are ye all so fixated with the Catholic church? I'm Anglican and found it offensive.

Fast Twitch

whisky_galore wrote: »

RTE aren't that good at comedy full stop.
WWN is hit and miss at the best of times, quantity over quality.

It's not really appropriate to a NYE show, edgy late night comedy any other time, sure knock yourself out.
I'll bet the Brits will chuckle at our expense, an archbishop weighing in...what a benighted priest ridden island they'll think.

What have they to laugh at? And why is the first thing you think of what will the Brits think? Fcuk the Brits. They're a joke. Look at their response to Covid, their joke of a PM, Brexit.

Grow up ta fcuk, stand on your own two feet. Oh mammy what will the Brits think? Christ.

Helgagirl

If comedians or people in general have the right to say whatever they want, surely the Archbishop or anyone else has the right to state that they found this offensive.

whisky_galore

Fast Twitch wrote: »

What have they to laugh at? And why is the first thing you think of what will the Brits think? Fcuk the Brits. They're a joke. Look at their response to Covid, their joke of a PM, Brexit.

Grow up ta fcuk, stand on your own two feet. Oh mammy what will the Brits think? Christ.

Ah relax will ya?

Don't you think it's a bit odd in this day and age an archbishop giving out to anyone publicly? Fr Ted life imitating art?

Fast Twitch

Helgagirl wrote: »

If comedians or people in general have the right to say whatever they want, surely the Archbishop or anyone else has the right to state that they found this offensive.

That's equality and liberty today. Many like to preach a good game of equality and freedom of speech for all...but really this only applies to the people and causes they like.