In the life of nearly every celebrity there’s a moment after the white hot fame cools and the spotlights are averted when a decision needs to be made. Does the celebrity begin a new life in obscurity or do they break out the white spangled jumpsuits and take the first flight out to Las Vegas to milk the last of their fame for every last embarassing moment of notoriety?
But recent years have shown that while Vegas still remains a tantalizing option, many former celebrities are establishing nice second careers as Catholic bashers. The prerequisites are minimal. You don’t actually need to know anything about the faith. Just dust off some old Pope insults, scream about priestly celibacy and homosexual rights and you’ll be a star again in no time.
Sinead O’ Connor’s singing career has long since past its expiration date but she’s cleverly found new life as one of the most sought after anti-Catholic “celebrities” on television. She’s been on CNN more than Wolf Blitzer this past month and MSNBC treated her like one of the greatest Catholic thinkers since Bishop Fulton Sheen. Sinead inexplicably accused Pope Benedict XVI of not believing in God which didn’t even raise an objection on MSNBC. And now for her willingness to rip her former faith, Sinead is sought out almost as much as she used to be for her beatiful singing voice.
Bill Maher, the former comedian who makes my television feel icky, has had quite the nice second career by bashing Catholics. He’s mocked the Blessed Virgin Mary, called the Pope a Nazi, and he’s been telling anyone who will listen that celibacy is the cause of the sex abuse scandal. For this he’s been rewarded with his own shows as well as more guest appearances on Larry King Live than psychic John Edwards. (And that’s saying something.)
Rosie O’Donnell, whose career followed the course of the Titanic (the ship not the movie) recently said on the radio that the Catholic Church reminds her of the Jonestown suicide cult. Now she’s being discussed as picking up the mantle of Oprah who’s allegedly leaving the airwaves sometime soon.
The media is so hungry for unthinking anti-Catholicism that it will offer airtime to any “celebrity” willing to say nasty things about the Church. Even Roseanne Barr recently figured it out recently and said, “I am starting to think that any parent who takes their kids to catholic churches from now on should lose custody.” Expect Roseanne to have her own sitcom by September.
This kind of trend will not go unnoticed. Expect more celebrities to take this route to their second stardom. I just can’t wait to hear what Lady Gaga thinks of the Church.
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Thank you for mentioning this reality that only we (Catholics) seem to notice. I am amazed at what gives one status as a Catholic ‘expert’. And I am also amazed at everyone’s acceptance of what would be deemed insulting to any other group. We can take some consolation in the knowledge that Jesus told us it would be this way - the world will hate us as it hated Him first.
The Catholic Church is the new George W. Bush. They spend time trying to tripple dog dare you to hate it more than them.
This is a very timely issue, for it turns our heads away from what the WH and Congress is doing to our lives. The O doesn’t look ssoooo bad when compared to “those” men who wear clerical collars.
Everyone needs a scapegoat. It’s so convenient to throw your sins on the goat and send him out the gate. Then you don’t have to look at the reflection in the mirror and change what is wrong.
The French rebels enthroned a prostitute to personify freedom. Today, Obama’s supporters throw mud at priests to enoble their positions that support abortion and Communism. Whenever people criticize Obama’s policies and cite the Church’s teachings, you can bet that within a minute a derision of your point will come in the form of a pedophilia attack. It is illogical because as
St. Thomas Aquinas taught, “It is not who said what that matters, it is what was said.” But for those who do not care about the truth, facts or reason, any excuse to dismiss valid points is good. It is even better if one can ridicule the opoonent - an Alinsky technique that Obama learned and taught himself.
It may be troubling because it marks the collapse of dialogue and communication. Others refuse to see the light. They prefer to stay in the dark. Then there are those who belong to the dark and reward others who keep the light out - like these actors who want to stand on the shoulders of the Pope or priests.
The tragedy though is with others who seek the truth and are misled by false witnesses. What can one do except replace the lie with the truth for those who care to know. As for the Church, history has shown that She has become more vigorous during times of persecution.
These entertainers are so funny they make the Lord laugh.
Psalm 2:4
The one enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord derides them
Psalm 37:13
But the LORD laughs at them, knowing their day is coming.
You guys need to get a sense of humor.
Why would an uptight religious type even go to Vegas in the first place? Stop the Vegas-bashing and get real. It’s a free country and you’re free to not visit our state. I’m tired of P.C. right-wingers bashing Nevada and Las Vegas.
lolreligion is missing the point entirely unless he feels that there is nothing in Vegas except has beens. I visit the state 4 times a year to visit family. I find that Vegas offers more variety of things to do for non-gamblers like me than my home town.
I am also a lifelong Democrat and hate the term PC right winger.
It has long been observed that when one has run out of intelligent arguments, you can always resort to name-calling. This array of Catholic bashers all fit the description. They are fed bad lines by public relations types, and fee-challenged lawyers. But not to worry. They, like their audiences, have short attention spans. They soon will tire of the same jabberwocky, and will then find another tree to bark up.
Well, maybe if the church had done the right thing instead of shuffling child molesters around from parish to parish, this would be a non-issue.
As it is, you can’t really blame them for lashing out at the church—there have certainly been some shameful moments in the church’s history, but I can’t think of any after the industrial revolution that compares to this.
Too bad what happens in “Vegas” can’t just stay there, in this case too.
Shoot the messenger. That always works.
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