Jesus cartoon 'vile and offensive', religious coalition says
Religious coalition criticise 'vile and offensive' Jesus cartoon
Wednesday, 02, Jun 2010 10:40
By Lewis Bazley.
A group of television watchdogs has united to attack a new Comedy Central cartoon pilot about Jesus Christ as "vile", citing his depictions on South Park as evidence.
The US network is developing an animated project entitled JC which sees Jesus attempting to live a normal life in New York City and escape from the shadow of his "powerful but apathetic father".
And though the cartoon remains in early development, a coalition of religious and family groups are to hold a press conference this week urging advertisers not to endorse the show.
The Coalition Against Religious Bigotry (CARB) - comprised of Media Research Centre president Brent Bozell, Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, talk radio host Michael Medved, Catholic League president Bill Donohue, Rabbi Daniel Lapin of the American Alliance of Jews and Christians and Parents Television Council president Tim Winter - has issued a statement in criticism of JC, pointing to the characterisation of Jesus Christ on South Park.
"After we reveal the vile and offensive nature of Comedy Central's previous characterisations of Jesus Christ and God the Father, we expect these advertisers to agree wholeheartedly to end their advertising on Comedy Central and discontinue their support for unabashed, anti-Christian discrimination," said Bozell in a statement.
"Why should they be supporting a business that makes a habit of attacking Christianity and yet has a formal policy to censor anything considered offensive to followers of Islam?" he added, in reference to the network's recent response to criticism of a planned depiction of the Muslim prophet Muhammad.
Bozell continued: "This double standard is pure bigotry, one from which advertisers should quickly shy away."
Comedy Central has not yet commented on the matter.
CARB have also issued a video to illustrate their unhappiness at Comedy Central's depictions of Jesus.