A Sydney Catholic priest has launched a fiery attack on the TV show The Project from the pulpit amid ongoing fallout from an X-rated joke about Jesus on the show.
Fr Brendan Lee used his Sunday homily to attack the show, saying he wants the show 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 told the congregation. “It does not practice what it preaches.”
“It is hate speech and bigotry.”
Fr Lee told news.com.au that political and media leaders need to take a stand against the lewd joke.
“It was just so offensive,” he said. “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 said the comments reflected an ongoing attack against Christianity.
“These things escalate and if Christians don’t push back it will get worse,” he said.
The priest’s comments were made in reaction to queer comedian Reuben Kaye’s now infamous 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 looked stunned by the joke while co-host Sarah Harris burst into laughter.
On Wednesday’s show, 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 said: “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 officer and Paramount Australia executive vice president Beverley McGarvey to condemn the “public mockery” on the show.
He also invited The Project panellists and production staff to visit St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney to “better understand” what Christians believe 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”.
Viewers had a mixed reaction the X rated joke.
“Absolutely disgusting comment about Jesus. He just insulted millions of people of faith,” one wrote on Twitter.
An upset parent wrote: “Having to explain the offensive joke to my eight-year-old before Survivor kicked in, thanks legends. Shame on you guys. Have some respect and offer a public apology.”
But others found Kaye’s joke amusing.
“More of this on The Project please. I p***ed myself,” said one.
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Another wrote: “I can’t believe Reuben Kaye just said that on national, prime-time television. What an icon!”
Aside from the controversy, The Project is experiencing a world of pain, haemorrhaging viewers across the country. The TV show has lost almost a third of its national audience in the last 12 months.
carla.mascarenhas@news.com.au
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