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« Today's News: Our Take
Bill Maher to Apologize for Comments About Pope
Bill Maher by Janet Van Ham/HBO
Comedian Bill Maher will apologize tonight for calling Pope Benedict XVI "a Nazi" and Catholicism a "child-abusing religious cult" on last week's episode of Real Time with Bill Maher (Friday at 11 pm/ET, HBO).
He'll apologize specifically to the Catholic League, which took issue with his statements and demanded the apology.
The group received a phone call from an HBO executive on Thursday advising them that Maher will apologize tonight. — J.R. Whalen
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Apr 18, 2008 4:38 PM
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I was raised Catholic and have since walked away, but "child-abusing" and "cult" are taking it way too far.
"Nazi" I understand, but surely there is a better choice of insult.
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Apr 18, 2008 6:16 PM
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It's ridiculous. Why should he apologize for something he feels. Bad choice of words or not it's how he feels. And even though the choice or words might have been a little over the top there are definite elements of truth to his statement. The great Catholic Church which proclaims to follow the doctrine of Christ let little boys and girls get abused over and over again because they didn't want to admit any of their priests could be pedophiles. Seems to me the victims in the Church that the offending Priests were moved to to keep it all on the down low should be able to sue the Catholic Church. Maybe some of them did. They knew by moving them other kids would be abused in the next place so how can they claim to be God-loving children of Christ? What they did goes against everything Christ is supposed to stand for. If I were Bill Maher I'd ask for a live press conference and instead of apologizing I'd tell the Catholic Church to shove it up their hypocrital asses.
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Apr 18, 2008 7:01 PM
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That didn't offend me as much as when he categorized that beating of the high school girl so they could put the video on YouTube as kids being kids.
Schoolyard fist-fights between a couple of boys does not even come close to 7 on 1 where the victim ends up in the hospital with hearing and vision loss. All so they can brag about it on the 'net. Not to mention how some of the "alleged" perpetrators were laughing about it when the were in the pokey.
Their parents must be so proud (and from what was reported one or two of these stellar role models was more indignant about their children's incarceration than concerned for the well-being of the battered victim).
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Apr 18, 2008 7:07 PM
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"...instead of apologizing I'd tell the Catholic Church to shove it up their hypocrital asses."
I don't think Christ would like that much, either.
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Apr 18, 2008 7:16 PM
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Not to mention HBO. And according to the above mentioned article it was the Catholic League that demanded the apology not the Catholic Church. I am not defending the Catholic Church (curluplw--right back at 'cha) however, there are many practicing Catholics out there who do not condone what has occurred in the Church and should be treated with some respect. Points can be made without resulting in insults--to me, "Nazi" was not necessary.
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Apr 18, 2008 7:40 PM
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I think his comments seethe with the anger and frustration that comes from the realization that some priests in the Catholic church have gotten away with the sexual abuse of children. It's a disgrace that drove me from the Catholic church. One of my strongest role models growing up was my parish priest, but that doesn't detract from the disgust I hold for the people who condoned and concealed their responsibility in ruining the lives of so many people.
Apparently, even Bill realizes his comments were over the top, but I hope this apology is coming from his heart and not from his bosses. Personally, I always appreciate when someone exercises their freedom of speech, ragardless of whether I agree with him or her.
I have to say, it always makes me arch an eyebrow that a country that trumpets its freedom of speech so much has such a high proportion of people issuing apologies and retractions. If you believe something, no matter how controversial, have the courage to stand by what you've said!
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Apr 18, 2008 7:48 PM
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PatMc, just so we're clear, I said I understand where "Nazi" came from...not that I think it was necessary!
TV Gord, I, too hope that in his heart Bill Maher realizes his comments were over the top, and his apology is extended not to the Papacy and administration, which doesn't deserve it, but to the millions of good, decent Christian people who comprise the Catholic Church and have never and will never harm a child.
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Apr 18, 2008 8:03 PM
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What heart? He has made a career provoking people.
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Apr 18, 2008 8:08 PM
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Nicely said, curluplw! I can't agree more! 
mtvcops, I think some of the children violated by priests felt Maher was expressing their anger and has a very open heart. You think he's merely trying to provoke people. I think he's trying to hammer some fresh concepts into the heads of a slack-jawed population who are more interested in voting for another cookie-cutter American Idol than a President.
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Apr 18, 2008 8:23 PM
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Bill shouldn't have to apologize for his comments. Its what has made this country great that we can criticize and not have to apologize for what we say & think.
He's right that the Church of the Devil only wants people to join because they want their children. He wants people to wake up and smell the coffee . . . er, . . . kool-aid of the Catholic church and remove themselves & the families ASAP!
No one is listening now, but it will be too late when they realize the Church of Satan has sold them a true bill of goods. They're using Bush43 & all the celebrities to get your children on board. BEWARE . . . the Church of Satan!
And doesn't the picture of Benedict as a cardinal look like a poster from Hell Boy?? Just asking . . .
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Apr 18, 2008 10:41 PM
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Curluplw--my bad--I was referring to your remark about being raised Catholic and have since walked away--I was trying to say, me too. (Fingers faster than brain)
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Apr 18, 2008 10:53 PM
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Oh, no PatMc, I got that. You just seemed to be harder on the Nazi comment than I was, and I didn't want to seem un-hard on it. I just liked the child abusing/cult stuff less.
Buttercup, I don't know where you get your information about the Catholic Church, but I think you need to do a little more research.
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Apr 18, 2008 11:26 PM
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I don't think Bill should have to apologize to anyone for his comments here. I think the Church should have to deal with their failure to deal with the pedophilia they have been hiding for lord knows how long.
As for the Nazi comment. The current Pope was part of the Nazi Youth movement. I would think that would be an important thing to remember.
For a country that is supposedly founded on free speech, and a network that rarely censors anything, he (Bill) should be able to say what he believes and how he feels without having to take it back because some group or another is offended. His whole point seems to be to wake up the sleeping US public to some of the things that are affecting the country and need to be brought into the light of day. I believe this to to be one (two) of them.
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Apr 19, 2008 1:42 AM
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With all the various regular words out there, it just seems a shame to resort to name calling to make a point. If some statements were made expressing his displeasure with the Catholic Church without using "Nazi", "child abuse cult" etc. he probably would not have been called upon to apologize. (And Curluplw--finally I do believe I'm on the same page as you are--it takes awhile but sooner or later I catch on....)
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Apr 19, 2008 2:43 AM
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