Some people thought I was off-base in my criticism a few days ago of a Ford ad that showed a priest lusting after a vehicle with the vague hint of the Scandal wafting in the background.
I think I have made it clear that I am not one of those people sitting in my recliner just waiting to be outraged by someone. I have a sense of humor, a dark one even, and will gladly laugh at what others find offensive sometimes. But there is a difference between what might be darkly funny between friends and what should be shown on network television. It’s a question of appropriateness.
It is just too soon to be airing funny commercials that hint at priest abuse. Priests as the butt of a joke, okay. But a wink and a nod at celibacy (“Oh, those sexually repressed priests!”) and the inability to control one’s urges is just a little too close to home. Notice that it wasn’t priests or the Church complaining to Ford about this ad, but victims of abuse. I think that says something.
After all, would it be okay to air a funny ad about Muslim terrorists flying planes into high rises? You’re darned right it wouldn’t. It’s just too soon. Maybe after some time has passed, but not now.
Hey, a funny ad about Pearl Harbor would probably go unremarked.
Here’s a f’rinstance: This is not a real ad for a Volkswagen, but if it were, would you think it would be appropriate to air on TV? Sure, it’s kind of funny in a sick way, but on TV? No way.
(For those of you who are broadband-impaired, it’s a mock VW commercial showing a suicide bomber trying to use a Volkswagen to commit suicide and kill others, but the car “prevents” him.)
Saw the commercial on the local St Louis news. Frankly, if ‘Father’ would have put up “ENVY” on the sign, it probably would have passed muster.
To be sure, Clohessey was right there for a comment and managed to run together ‘pain,suffering, healing, closure, Bishops blah-blah-blah” in a 10 second sound bite/interview.
No mention from Clohessey on the status of his brother, a suspended pervert priest and SNAP’s plans for his brother’s victim(s) ‘pain, suffering, healing, closure’.