A 22 Minutes skit that aired in February depicted a Canadian Catholic mass, where the bread and wine, symbolizing the body and blood of Christ, were replaced by Tim Hortons coffee and Timbits.
Comedian Shaun Majumder, playing a priest, handed out communion while saying, “In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, take ’er easy.”
Mike Wallace, who represents the riding of Burlington, Ont., has tabled several petitions from Catholic residents denouncing the CBC and Halifax-based 22 Minutes.
The petitions say 22 Minutes “maliciously ridiculed” the sacrament and “launched an offensive and disrespectful attack on the very core of our faith.”
The petition ends with a call for the federal government to stop funding the CBC because of its discrimination.
Wallace said he isn’t taking sides on the issue.
“I’m not going to say I’m for or against, but I think they have a reasonable point,” he said of his Catholic constituents.
“They all thought the television program made fun of this important sacrament. It has great meaning to them. I think it’s a fair comment. If it happened to a different religious group, I would think it’s also a fair comment.”
MPs are obligated to table petitions from constituents in the House of Commons. The applicable government minister must then respond to each one.
Wallace tabled five petitions on the topic last spring and another on Thursday, which had more than 50 signatures. He said he doesn’t recall how many have people signed the others.
He said the issue has been spreading among Catholic churches.
In a response to the spring petitions, Canadian Heritage Minister Shelly Glover said she has an arm’s-length relationship with the CBC and cannot dictate the broadcaster’s content. She recommended the petitioners contact CBC head Hubert Lacroix.
CBC said it received about 150 complaints about the sketch.
Complainants received a letter saying the show was only trying to make light of the discussion at the time about the possibility of a Canadian pope.
“We have heard your concerns and please know that we have the utmost respect for people of all faiths across this country,” says the letter provided by CBC.
“We understand that in many cases, comedy is in the eye of the beholder. … The segment was not meant to cause offence.”
The 22 Minutes sketch played with themes of excessive Canadian politeness and modesty. Majumder’s lines included “grant us your salvation, if that’s OK with you” and “forgive us our sins, oh Lord, but bear in mind we could be a whole lot worse.”
Parishioners prayed “for you alone are the most high, oh Jesus Christ. But you’re not stuck up, which is why we think you’re OK. Amen.”
Original Article
Source: thechronicleherald.ca
Author: PAUL McLEOD
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