State funded Catholic bashing unacceptable

NB Taxpayer is calling on the CBC to refund Canadian taxpayers the $600,000 which was provided [in part] from the Canadian Television Fund to run a pilot which portrayed altar boys as druggies and the Catholic communion host as “munchable snack food, possible poker chips and a repository for drops of LSD".

“Catholics should not have to pay for shows where their most sacred rituals and images are considered a starting point for dramatic licence,” said the Catholic Civil Rights League, which intends to lodge a formal complaint today with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for airing The Altar Boy Gang. And we agree wholeheartedly with the Catholic Civil Rights League here at NB taxpayer.

As an extension of the government and an institution funded by Canadian taxpayers, the CBC should be upholding freedom of religion for all religious faiths. Which is why I was surprised at the statement made by CBC spokesperson Jeff Keay where he defended the pilot and believed the premise of the show did not cross the line.

"Part of trying to produce compelling programming is to not be afraid of images that someone could find disturbing and I think this, while some people could have found it offensive, it falls within the realm of reasonable."

Yes, but. After the yes, comes the but for our organization here at [NB Taxpayers]: However, how does Keay explain the Mother Corp.'s recent decision to hire a Muslim Canadian consultant last year to ensure that Islamic practices were respected in the program Little Mosque on the Prairie? A consultant, which I remind you, was paid for by Canadian taxpayers. Are the CBC not setting a very blatant double standard here since the same treatment was not afforded to the Catholic faith?

Executive director of the CCRL Joanne McGarry questioned the CBC’s decision to air the program and demanded that their organization commit to respecting the religious sensitivities of all Catholics in Canada. She is also looking for a clarification from the CBC in order to determine whether they are truly "equitable" in upholding religious sensitivities for all faiths and denominations.

"It will be interesting to determine if opportunities were made available to observant Catholics to preview ‘The Altar Boy Gang’. If yes, upon whom did they rely? If not, why the double standard?” McGarry said.

“With this program, the CBC has moved into the area of blasphemy of sacred rituals. Can we expect similar treatment for other religious groups?

This is simply unacceptable and Catholics (and taxpayers alike) should not have to pay for state funded Catholic bashing. Plain and simple. Let's hope the CBC does the right thing and returns the money used to fund this pilot to its rightful owners, the Canadian taxpayer. (Hat tip Wolfvillewatch)