LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY britzkrieg)

I don't know if this is technically "dominionist" activity, but it certainly shows how conservative Catholics are flexing their muscles.

Following the Dec. 7 season finale of South Park, titled "Bloody Mary," the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights slammed the network for its irreverent portrayal of church icons and sought to block the episode from being rebroadcast.

It appears the group may have met with success. A repeat of the finale was scheduled to air Wednesday night, but was seemingly pulled from the Comedy Central lineup without explanation.

In the episode, [really gross and offensive stuff transpires]. Somewhat predictably, the Catholic League was incensed by the satirical portrayal of the Virgin Mary and the pope and by the fact that the episode aired on the day before the Catholic Church celebrated its Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

The conservative group demanded an apology from Viacom, Comedy Central's parent company, to Roman Catholics everywhere and "a pledge that this episode be permanently retired and not be made available on DVD." The Catholic League also sought a personal condemnation from Viacom board member Joseph A. Califano Jr., who the group noted is a "practicing Catholic."

Califano was only too happy to oblige. After viewing the episode, he released a statement calling the episode an "appalling and disgusting portrayal of the Virgin Mary."

Full Story

I've seen the episode in question -- twice, in fact. Personally, I was more offended by the writers' characterization of alcoholism as a simple lack of discipline than I was by the sacrilege. Nonetheless, this is South Park, folks. It's supposed to be offensive, and long-time fans have seen how the writers constantly "push the envelope." I doubt conservative Catholics are in the target audience.

I don't really like this episode, but I'd hate to see this attempt at censorship succeed. I hope someone will somehow make this episode available for download, as Xenu.net did with the Scientology episode.