A Sydney Catholic priest has launched a fiery assault on the TV present The Project from the pulpit amid ongoing fallout from an X-rated joke about Jesus on the present.
Fr Brendan Lee used his Sunday homily at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Bondi in Sydney’s jap suburbs to assault the present, saying he desires the present to be taken off air.
He labelled The Project the “worst show on television” and described it as “full of putrid”.
“It is a show that preaches diversity and tolerance but has no tolerance itself for different religions and people of faith,” he informed the congregation. “It does not practice what it preaches.”
“It is hate speech and bigotry.”
The priest’s feedback have been made to a packed congregation with St Patrick’s common with younger folks throughout Sydney.
Fr Lee informed news.com.au that political and media leaders must take a stand in opposition to the lewd joke.
“It was just so offensive,” he stated. “Jesus Christ is the son of God. You couldn’t mock something more sacred. He is our everything. To knock Jesus Christ is to knock Christianity.”
Fr Lee stated the feedback mirrored an ongoing assault in opposition to Christianity.
“These things escalate and if Christians don’t push back it will get worse,” he stated.
The priest’s feedback have been made in response to queer comic Reuben Kaye’s now notorious lewd joke about Jesus on prime-time TV earlier this month.
“I love Jesus, I love any man who can get nailed for three days straight and come back for more,” Kaye quipped.
Host Waleed Aly appeared surprised by the joke whereas co-host Sarah Harris burst into laughter.
On Wednesday’s present, Aly apologised to viewers.
“During a live interview last night, our guest told a joke which we know was deeply and needlessly offensive to many of you.
We want to acknowledge the particular offence and hurt that it caused our Muslim and especially our Christian viewers. Obviously, I understand how profound that offence was.”
Harris added: “Live TV is unpredictable. And when this happened in the last few moments of the show, it took us all by surprise, there wasn’t a lot of time to react in a considered way.”
Aly then stated: “We weren’t expecting a comment like that to be made and we acknowledge the offence it caused. We are sorry.”
Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher has since written to Network Ten’s chief content material officer and Paramount Australia govt vice chairman Beverley McGarvey to sentence the “public mockery” on the present.
He additionally invited The Project panellists and manufacturing employees to go to St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney to “better understand” what Christians imagine and why attacking these beliefs is inappropriate.
“Worryingly, the insult not only went unchallenged, but was even endorsed with spirited laughter by members of the panel,” he wrote. “That a ‘news and current affairs’ program would so flagrantly mock the beliefs of more than half of all Australians is extremely upsetting and frankly incredible.”
The Archbishop went on to label the apology by Aly and Harris as “forced” and “insincere”.
Aside from the controversy, The Project is experiencing a world of ache, haemorrhaging viewers throughout the nation. The TV present has misplaced nearly a 3rd of its nationwide viewers within the final 12 months.
Originally printed as ‘Worst show on television’: Priest lashes Project in Sunday homily
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
