Comedian
Larry David pushed the mocking of religion over the edge in latest
episode of his HBO show, critics say. Comedian
Larry David is under attack from critics who say he pushed the mocking
of religion and Christian belief in miracles over the edge in the
latest episode of his HBO series "Curb Your Enthusiasm," which the
cable network defended as "playful."
On
the show's most recent installment, which aired Sunday, David urinates
on a painting of Jesus Christ, causing a woman to believe the painting
depicts Jesus crying.
Deal
Hudson, author and publisher of InsideCatholic.com, said he doesn't
find any humor in the episode.
"I
don't think it's funny," Hudson told Foxnews.com. "Why is it that
people are allowed to publicly show that level of disrespect for
Christian symbols? If the same thing was done to a symbol of any other
religions -- Jewish or Muslim -- there'd be a huge outcry. It's simply
not a level playing field."
Hudson
said an apology from the show's producers and writing team should be
issued.
"Somebody
should [apologize]," Hudson said. "When is it going to stop? When is
common sense going to dictate that people realize this willingness of
artists to do to Christianity what they would never do to Judaism or
Islam?"
In
a statement to Foxnews.com, HBO downplayed the controversy.
"Anyone
who follows Curb Your Enthusiasm knows that the show is full of parody
and satire," the statement read. "Larry David makes fun of everyone,
most especially himself. The humor is always playful and
certainly never malicious."
Bill
Donohue, president of the Catholic League, also criticized the episode,
saying David should "quit while he's ahead," and that the show is proof
that the comedian's best years are behind him.
"Was
Larry David always this crude? Would he think it's comedic if someone
urinated on a picture of his mother?" Donohue said in a statement.
"This might be fun to watch, but since HBO only likes to dump on
Catholics (it was just a couple of weeks ago that Sarah Silverman
insulted Catholics on 'Real Time with Bill Maher') and David is Jewish,
we'll never know."
During
Sunday's episode, David, who created, wrote and produced "Seinfeld,"
visits a bathroom in his assistant's home and splatters urine on a
picture of Jesus. Instead of wiping it off, David leaves the restroom.
Minutes later, David's assistant enters the bathroom and concludes that
Jesus is crying. She then summons her mother to the bathroom, where
both women kneel in prayer.
"When
David and Jerry Seinfeld (playing himself) are asked if they ever
experienced a miracle, David answers, 'every erection is a miracle,'
Donohue's statement continued. "That's what passes for creativity these
days."
The
episode, "The Bare Midriff," primarily revolves around David's
assistant and her belly-revealing attire. According to the show's Web
site, a "new pill" increased David's urine flow, leading to the
"misunderstanding about a miraculously weeping Jesus."
HBO
promoted the controversial scene on the show's site, complete with a
"squirm-o-meter" that ranked the urine incident ahead of David's
confronting his assistant about her exposed midriff.
Larry
David is being criticized for a story line in which his character
urinates on a photo of Jesus Christ.
St. Prophorius, was martyred. He was a comedian and jester and was not a Christian until:
The infidel emperor ordered him to imitate the Christians. When he came to the ritual of the holy baptism and made the sign of the Cross over the water in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Lord enlightened his mind and he perceived a divine grace coming down on the water and light shone from it. He immersed into the water three times, then went up and put on his clothes. He confessed that he became Christian.
The emperor rebuked and threatened him. Then the emperor promised to give him many gifts. In spite of that, the Saint went on saying, "I am Christian. I am Christian." Finally, the emperor ordered his neck to be cut off and he received the crown of martyrdom.
Mocking of Religions has become a past time for certain people. It is a very unfortunate incident and the comedian should be punished as per law or made to attend prayer functions compulsorily for aleast a year, so that he may change his attitude.
