It seems major media cannot offend Catholics enough. ABC recently aired graphic sexual insults against God and jokes about the virgin birth of Jesus, the Church and the Eucharist on the Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher show.
In response, the American TFP and its affiliate campaign America Needs Fatima announced a massive June 22 rally of peaceful protest and reparation in front of ABC/Disney studios in Burbank, Calif.
Particularly offensive were remarks found on the show’s March 4 transcript, where comedian Jimmy Kimmel referred blasphemously to God as the father of Jesus. In the same episode, musician Kirk Franklin added, “we got to move people away from religion…And I think most people are taught a very oppressive thing. Got to go to Church, got to kneel, got to bow, got to take the cracker, got to stay away from this, got to do this, got to do that.” (Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, page 11, 03-04-02)
“It seems like it is open season on the Catholic Church,” says campaign director Robert E. Ritchie. “We have no choice but to rally protesters, praying the rosary and peacefully protesting to defend Our Lady’s honor.”
Thousands of Catholics appeared for similar peaceful protests against the play Corpus Christi, the movie Dogma and other such blasphemies. Judging from the interest, Mr. Ritchie believes this protest might be the biggest ever.
TFP and America Needs Fatima supporters are being urged to send e-mail protests to ABC/Disney. They can also order and send protest postcards. The TFP rally is one more step Catholics can take to let their voices be heard.
“A lot of people are offended by the show which has a huge audience.” Mr. Ritchie added. “Not to say anything would send a message to ABC that Catholics don’t really care about their Faith.”