The CBC was under no obligation to air a pilot of The Altar Boy Gang, said the Canadian Television Fund, quoted by a conservative Christian news web site.
The show drew criticism that it was “anti-Catholic” by airing scenes such as characters using the Communion host as snack food.
CBC TV executive Richard Stursberg responded by saying the Corporation had no choice but to air it because it had been funded by the CTF.
“After making the pilot episode, we determined not to proceed with turning the program into a series. Unfortunately, because the pilot was financed with public funding, including tax credits and Canadian Television Fund (CTF) monies, we were required to put it on air.”
But according to the web site LifeSite.net, the CTF says it doesn’t put strings on what gets aired:
“…Broadcasters were not required to air programs against their discretion. Communications director MaryBeth McKenzie said CBC would have been fully aware of what was in the program and would have approved the script prior to production…. It’s the broadcaster that determines what kind of program they want to support and air.”
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Er… as a former alter boy, I can confirm that in fact some hosts were eaten as “snack food”, and they were sacrilicious. The wine wasn’t bad either.
Until they’re blessed, they’re not the host. they’re unleavened bread. Period. the entire purpose of the ritual of the mass is the transformation of that little piece of bread and what it repres…
…you know what? Forget it.
The Catholic League sucks. Period.
-Also Catholic
As always the bashers see and hear only what suits their view of CBC.
I quote from the current CTF Broadcaster Performance Envelope Guidelines “A broadcast licence agreement containing an Eligible Licence Fee must include an unqualified
commitment by the broadcaster to broadcast the production closed captioned, in peak viewing hours, within 18 months of completion and delivery of the production. Should the broadcaster fail to comply with these broadcast requirements the licence fee will be deemed not to be an Eligible Licence Fee”
Clearly the Ms. McKenzie is referring having a choice before one signs the agreement. Of course you would. But Mr. Stursberg clearly states that “Once the pilot was made” which would be after the CTF agreement was signed.
To be fair, the penalty if the production was not aired would be to refund the CTF their contribution, so I suppose CBC could have spent taxpayers money to not air a show. Then they would have been beat up for not being fiscally responsible. Face it, they can’t win.
Hi Mike - as a “basher”, I’d like to know where I’m on the wrong track. Can you point me to the CBC shows that balance the negative-Catholic shows? Maybe we can do a little list (as CBC is so fond of doing these days) where you give me your list of non-Catholic/Christian bashing shows and I’ll respond with 10 Christian bashings for your every one. If you can find one.
Once again, I’ll remind you that I really couldn’t care less about this imbalance as long as I don’t have to unwillingly pay for it.
Once again further, it’s quite odd that people who ask for value for their tax money are diminished to “bashers.” No doubt that’s what the average CBC employee thinks of us peons too.
If the CBC aired a show that “blasphemed” Islam, there would be death threats, broken glass, and marchers in the streets. Where’s the balance? Too comfy in their PC, taxpayer fed isolation me-thinks.
Uh huh…
*gives Mike another skeptical look…*
Dwight gives a skeptical look, but doesn’t step up to the challenge. Present a list of shows that try to balance the CBC’s coverage on this topic. Present your list Dwight and I’ll easily provide 10 or 20 to your every one. But of course, there isn’t even the one show that blasphemes Islam on CBC is there? Give us ONE show. Just ONE. It doesn’t exist. Balance indeed!
Once again, the root of my displeasure is the fact that the CBC rips off the taxpayer so brazenly. Such bias - at such a cost to the taxpayer. $1Billion a year. Shame!
Where’s the balance Dwight?
No doubt Dwight was looking down his nose when he gave his skeptical look. Stupid taxpayers!
Where’s the balance? Have you even watched Little Mosque? It’s not blasphemous, but it is irreverent, and, as someone else has already pointed out, until the host is consecrated, you could play frisbee with it and it’s not blasphemy. (It may be in bad taste, but that’s a separate issue.)
One thing that really grinds my gears about North America in general (it’s mostly centered in the US, apart from the odd Canadian like yourself that takes their cues from due south) is this ongoing attempt to portray Christianity as an oppressed minority religion. Face it, since Constantine converted, it’s the majority. It’s hard not to see it as a cynical attempt to further a power agenda by co-opting the protections put in place for actual minorities.
I’d really love to see your list of 10 shows by the way, not because I think it’s worth trying to refute it, but just to see how much of a wingnut you really are. Please, post it.
Kev thinks a show that presents “white” people as morons and Muslims as the patient moral superior is CBC’s “daring” foray into the world of challenging the notion of Islam being a religion of peace. (the show is very occasionally funny so it’s alright in my books - that’s my bottom line, unless I’m paying for it unwillingly out of my pocket)
Oh ya Kev - thanks for the blanket US basing in your post. Without it, I may have taken you a little more seriously.
Kev, are you serious when you ask me to give you a list of 10 shows that are critical of Catholicism/Christianity? I’m on it tomorrow and you will be drowned in shows. Are you really going to try and reply with a list of anti-Islam or anti-Native shows?
I’m up for it if you have the stones to take it.
BTW - I’m an atheist!!! I just hate having government bureaucrats wasting my tax dollars offending me.
Hey Tod - why not set up a special thread just for this list? Make it sticky so it stays up top all the time with a running score - a la CBC list strategy of the future.
I love this!!!! Tod, please make it happen! (Thanks Dwight for the great idea)
Kev, I think you got it in three paragraphs.
a show that presents “white” people as morons and Muslims as the patient moral superior
Again, have you actually watched the show?
I’m wondering why a sign of balance would be to bash Muslims to offset bashing Catholics. Wouldn’t you offset anti-religious programming with pro-religious programming?
And, similarly to someone above, I wonder why fundamentalist Christians (especially) like to pretend that they have no power and no influence and that disagreement with some of their excesses amounts to heresy and prejudice. They, on the other hand, are allowed to be intolerant in the name of God.
Kathleen has a very good point. My problem is that the CBC is so lazy with their programming choices. Even as an atheist, I am bothered at their (its) blatant anti-Catholic/Christian slant. Of course, it’s even more bothersome when one is unwillingly paying for this propaganda to the tune of $1 Billion a year. I’ve got no problem with some wacko documentarian spewing lies — if I can witch the channel. I just don’t want to pay for programming that offends me.
Yes, Kathleen, you’re catching on: Fundamentalist ANYTHING is not good. Thanks for making that distinction.
The persistent sense of persecution of Christians is one of the most breathtaking things to invade the public space in the last two decades. It’s an easy, lazy road, since, of course, focusing on the persecution aspect of the Christ story misses all the important stuff. It also allows for a heightened sense of B.S. rhetoric like all the twaddle Mike’s been spooning here.
The reality, of course, is that the Catholics Mike speaks for are far from unanimous on this issue. And like Italians who can see the forest for the trees on The Sopranos and The Godfather, the true “majority” of Catholics don’t share the hysterical “you’re bashing us” cant. This Catholic League fooferal is actually a horrible retrograde throwback to the days when there was actual real live discrimination in hiring, association, housing, and social standing applied to Catholics.
Now, of course, saying that Catholics are “oppressed” by mainstream media because of a few jokes is like saying white people are “oppressed.” You’ve come a long way baby — long enough that you (us, or most of us, anyway) can take ribbing and jokes because we have made it, and don’t have to suffer every poke as a potential crown of thorns.
When the specious comparison to Islam and sensitivity, and the idea that “if you made jokes about muslims like that there’d be riots,” I just shake my head at the complete softheadedness of it all.
That’s the yardstick now? Really? We’re going to compare ourselves to people who riot over cartoons and things said in an interview?
What the hell did we fight for all those years if, as Catholics, as Christians whatever — our values and egos are so easily bruised?
It’s a pernicious myth that Catholics are oppressed in any way, on TV or film, in North America. Those with such a ridiculous view would do better to raise the “threatened” image of their religion by doing good works. You know, the point of what Jesus was talking about.
Nah. Probably better to complain about TV.