The Catholic League

This is a press released put out by the Catholic League. "For Religious and Civil Rights."

http://www.catholicleague.org/

April 12, 2006

CBS MUST FIRE PENN JILLETTE

On his April 5 CBS radio show, Penn Jillette commented on the rumor that Paris Hilton may play Mother Teresa in a movie. He said Mother Teresa “had this weird kink that I think was sexual” about seeing people suffer and die. He also said that “Paris Hilton is so far above Mother Teresa on the moral scale, she should not lower herself” to playing the saintly nun. After comparing Mother Teresa to Charles Manson, Jillette again said she “got her [sexual] kicks watching people suffer and die.” He concluded by saying, “Paris Hilton. You’re so much better than that. Don’t take the gig. Keep making good wholesome porno films. Just do that. Do what you’re cut out for. Don’t lower yourself to playing Mother Teresa.”

Subsequent to Jillette’s remarks, John London, a radio talk-show host on KIFR/San Francisco (a CBS station that carries Jillette’s show), said that he would offer “$5,000 to the person that kills Jillette” for his attack on Mother Teresa. He added that if Jillette “suffers, I’ll make it $7,000.” London, and his producer, Dennis Cruz, were then fired by the CBS management in New York.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue responded as follows:

“Last year, Penn Jillette referred to Mother Teresa on his Showtime TV show as ‘Mother F---ing Teresa.’ After I registered a complaint with Sumner Redstone, chairman of Viacom (which owns Showtime, as well as CBS), I was told about the merits of ‘artistic freedom’ and ‘tolerance.’ After Jillette’s latest attack, it is clear that such excuses are wholly unacceptable. It is up to CBS Radio CEO Joel Hollander to fire him. His own record, which includes a vigorous defense of Howard Stern, is also in question. So this is an important moment for him as well.

“Contact Hollander at joel.hollander@infinitybroadcasting.com and demand that CBS dump Jillette immediately. What Jillette said is outside the parameters of irreverent humor—it’s a malicious, obscene frontal assault on Mother Teresa and everything she stands for. And the culprit is a repeat offender, therefore meriting his termination.”

The Catholic League is the nation's largest Catholic civil rights organization. It defends individual Catholics and the institutional Church from defamation and discrimination.

Apprarently they are quite selective when it comes to exactly whose rights they will be defending. As in their's and little else. I honestly don't understand people and organizations who partake in this kind of activity. If these folks feel everyone here has been bestowed with just too darn many rights, there is a stack of countries that will oblige them with an iron fist. Stop trying to fuck this one up.

But no no they say! It is CBS who should change. An enormous, international media giant with an equally enormous audience and marketable talent should change because an obnoxious group of pushy daydreamers couldn't be bothered to watch any other network available. Or read a book, or go outside and play, or take a long, honest look in the mirror and punch themselves in the face.

Joel Hollander and CBS should NOT fire that man. Instead I ask them to make a stand for free speech in a time where religious zealots are attempting to stage a coup against our constitution and demanding people abide by only their rules. Especially over something this trite and trivial.

Not in this country.

Perhaps they need to be reminded of our Freedom of Speech. If I forgot daily, as these people do, of our constitutionally protected right, I might publicly demand that all Catholics were silenced entirely. But I'm not that short-sited. On the other hand, these people can’t wait to demand the removal of rights from others, never for once thinking the day may come when the same is done to them. One main responsibility of living in a free society is TOLERANCE. Forget that and we all lose, for it is much easier to convince those in charge to pick away at our rights than to get them back. Lest these complainers forget it was blood that earned them the right to snivel and whine.

I would also suggest here that offering a cash reward for the torture and murder of an individual, even in jest, falls well short of tolerant and fails to display any of the outstanding morals the Catholic church might hope to be identified with. Frankly, it smacks of fundamentalist Islam instead. I am not a fan of either man, but I support their free speech equally. Unfortunately for John London, the line is drawn at threatening bodily harm.

Have fun finding a new gig John. Maybe you and the guy that suggested we randomly shoot illegal immigrants will find kindred spirits on the 700 Club.

I'm also betting that not once, throughout this entire complete waste of time and energy, that anyone ever considered the grave danger to Paris Hilton's reputation as a social trashcan and her future employability as a webslut. Priorities folks...

stabby