…and this is a 
It's cruel, but he is such a tempting target, so full of himself and so, so crazy. It seems The Simpsons tossed out some mild one-liner making fun of communion ("What kind of civilized people eat the body and blood of their savior?"), and Bill Donohue has fired off another angry fax ("mocking the heart of any religion always crosses the line, and mocking the Eucharist does it for Catholics.")
Too bad, Bill. Silly superstitions will always be a magnet for mockery.
You can see the whole Simpsons episode and Donohue's full complaint at The Friendly Atheist.
Comments
Posted by: WowbaggerOM
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October 21, 2009 6:50 PM
Geez, where's he been? The Simpsons has been piling it on Christianity for a long, long time.
One of my favourites is from the episode where Homer joins the travelling rock festival 'Hullabalooza' and Bart asks him which religion he is; Homer replies, 'You know, the one with all the well-meaning rules that doesn't work in real life...uh, Christianity.'
And remember, he doesn't even believe in Jebus!
Posted by: Glen Davidson
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October 21, 2009 6:58 PM
I don't know about that, but Bill's constant apoplexy sure makes it fun.
Trouble with Bill is that he doesn't really care about his religion, or he wouldn't keep making jokes at the expense of it so rewarding. It does keep him in the business of foaming at the mouth, his real purpose.
Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/mxaa3p
Posted by: Porco Dio
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October 21, 2009 7:04 PM
when Billy-Bob Donahue gets offended I feel warm all over...
Posted by: Eamon Knight
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October 21, 2009 7:07 PM
The minister at the (liberal mainstream) church we used to attend said that he liked the Simpsons because they were the only prime-time show that took Christianity seriously enough to make fun of it. Unlike Donny-heehaw, some Christians have enough perspective to sometimes look at themselves from the outside, so to speak.
Posted by: The Science Pundit
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October 21, 2009 7:09 PM
I saw that episode this weekend and just loved that line. I also just knew that ole Bill Donohue would blow a gasket. :-)
Posted by: Insightful Ape
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October 21, 2009 7:14 PM
I have to agree with him on one thing though. What kind of uncivilized people work at Fox? I mean, would any civilized person want to be associated with Hannity, Beck and O'Reilly, no matter how tangentially?
Posted by: Jim1138 | October 21, 2009 7:19 PM
Does Matt Groening have a "vote for your favorite target" poll?
Posted by: Nerd of Redhead, OM
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October 21, 2009 7:21 PM
IA, the Simpsons are in their 21st season, plus a couple of years as bit fillers for Tracy Ullman prior to that. So it predates the talking brainless bozos.
Posted by: lose_the_woo
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October 21, 2009 7:22 PM
Lose the woo, Donohue.
Posted by: Zeno | October 21, 2009 7:35 PM
Bill Donohue doesn't like it when The Simpsons tweaks him, yet he seemed to find his sense of humor when South Park did a number on him. Perhaps he liked the “Fantastic Easter Special” because it shows him deposing Pope Benedict and taking over as pope. That apparently appealed to the crusty old fascist. I wonder why.
Posted by: lose_the_woo
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October 21, 2009 7:35 PM
Hey you, Donohue;
it seems to me Russell's quote rings true;
and sticks to you like smell on poo.
(...and you wear it like a rash)
Happy Monkey!
Posted by: john | October 21, 2009 7:36 PM
you and donohue are amazing. you would be nothing without him (as he brought you national attention) and he would be nothing without people like you. you both give press to each other to the point one could believe there is some sort of unholy alliance.
Posted by: Andrew | October 21, 2009 7:36 PM
I've just watched Bill Donohue's foul interview with Pat Robertson and I feel sick.
By way of contrast, I've just watched Richard Dawkins talk about his new book, The Greatest Show On Earth.
I will always be on the side of the quietly spoken; the side who don't shout and make absurd accusations; the side who speak for naturalism and science. It upsets me that people like Donohue are so bullish and stupid. We all live on this earth and it is not for those with the loudest voices to dictate the agenda.
Posted by: RamblinDude
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October 21, 2009 7:38 PM
I suspect Bill does, too. Fuming himself into a righteous boil seems to be his nirvana.
Posted by: lose_the_woo
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October 21, 2009 7:40 PM
baseless assertion: ur doin it rite.
Posted by: Owlmirror | October 21, 2009 7:43 PM
Billy-Goat D produced Expectorated!?
Fixed.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand;
Posted by: Owlmirror | October 21, 2009 7:47 PM
Does Billy-Goat D get his panties in a wad every time he sees or hears the phrase "hocus pocus"? That, too, mocks the heart of his religion (Hoc est corpus meum), and it's been mocking away for far longer than a cartoon.
Posted by: tacitus | October 21, 2009 7:52 PM
Poor, poor, Bill. So much blasphemy, so little time...
Posted by: Sastra
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October 21, 2009 7:55 PM
john #12 wrote:
I'm guessing that you found out about PZ Myers through reading something about or from Donohue. But he's been in the media many times before and since, and it had nothing to do with Catholicism. Usually, it was for creationism, or atheism.
I suppose your statement might be more accurate if you went with the parallel: PZ would not have gained as much national attention if it wasn't for people 'like' Bill Donohue -- which could include creationists, theocrats, pseudoscientists, demogogues, and so forth. But that's hardly an indictment of anyone who deals in controversial matters: if there was no active other side, you wouldn't be an activist for the side you're on. Well, true.
Posted by: Travis | October 21, 2009 8:00 PM
Comments like John's seem to be fairly common. It seems many people who come here, and to other similar places, because of a single cause often are quite myopic. They know they came for a certain reason and do not have any real grasp of the overall history, so they assume the same about everyone else.
Posted by: Cliff Hendroval | October 21, 2009 8:02 PM
I asked roughly the same thing of my mother when I was seven. She told me it was grown-up stuff.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbCHimp | October 21, 2009 8:04 PM
Yes John, PZ had zero readership before the great cracker desecration.
Posted by: Nebula99 | October 21, 2009 8:28 PM
John, I found the opposite to be true. I found out about Myers' existence because he bashes the creotards, and I found out about Donahue's because of reading Pharyngula. Myer's has gotten press for lots of stuff, and he is "somebody" within himself, whereas Donahue is a sack of hot air.
Posted by: Janine, Vile Bitch, OM | October 21, 2009 8:35 PM
John, speaking only for myself, I was reading this blog long before the Crackergate kerfuffle. And frankly, I would love not having to read the name of that fool ever again. I do not find his eruptions funny nor moving. It matters not to me when Donohue gets angry, he is the type that would get angry about any perceived slight.
One last thing, John, your outrage has the same lack of meaning as Donohue's outrage.
Posted by: marie-annick
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October 21, 2009 8:40 PM
Is he suggesting that Jesus should have hung around and bathed in everyone's food like Bart did at the end of the episode ?
Posted by: Desert Son
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October 21, 2009 8:48 PM
john at #12,
Some things PZ Myers was before crossing paths with Bill Donohue:
Human
Male
Son
Student
Husband
Father
Professor
Published
Minnesota resident
Driver
Traveler
Biologist
Atheist
Writer
. . . just to name a few. A list of things Bill Donohue was before crossing paths with PZ Myers could also be drawn up. It might also include things like "son," "husband," "father," as well as, say, "Catholic," "divorced," and so on.
What's more, PZ (and Donohue, to be fair) continue in some or many of the example characteristics independent of their connection.
So it's a fairly useless statement to suggest that PZ and Donohue are "nothing" without each other, not to mention the paradox contained in the idea of "being nothing."
Regardless, I suspect what you were getting at is the whole Batman-Joker dichotomy where the nemeses somehow necessitate the existence of the other while simultaneously existing in complete opposition. I like comic books, too, john, and there have been some excellent ones written in the Batman-Joker milieu (for example, I recommend Alan Moore's Killing Joke), but I think you may be reading a little too much into the dynamics of connection between PZ and Donohue. Whatever else they may be, I'm pretty sure "nemeses" is not one of those things (Donohue's bluster notwithstanding).
Now it remains to be seen, will john return to say more, or will john add "drive-by poster" to the list of characteristics that can be ascribed to him?
No kings,
Robert
Posted by: Nerd of Redhead, OM
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October 21, 2009 8:49 PM
I will support Janine's statement that I also found this blog prior to Bill the Whore becoming a big deal During Crackergate. And I would much rather read a cogent opinion from out own Bill Dauphin (BD) writes than any screed by BD the Cat-o-lick stooge. One would think he could realize the RCC is an organization that doesn't need ignorant self appointed amateurs like himself to defend it.
Posted by: Crewvy
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October 21, 2009 8:51 PM
Donohue ha ha charade you are.
Posted by: Desert Son
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October 21, 2009 8:55 PM
Nice Pink Floyd reference.
No kings,
Robert
Posted by: Yoritomo
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October 21, 2009 9:01 PM
Did Donohue just tell us that eating the body and blood of their savior is the heart of Catholicism? News to me, but who am I to argue with Bill?
As an aside, am I the only one who thinks it hypocritical of the Catholic League to provide the e-mail addresses of their opponents but not their own?
Posted by: rufustfirefly | October 21, 2009 9:06 PM
#12
I heard about Donohue long before PZ Myers, but only because he's an inane asshole. That was when Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ came out and Donohue and some of his followers did a mock crucifixion. Unfortunately, they lacked the courage of their convictions.
Posted by: woozy | October 21, 2009 9:08 PM
To quibble:
1) It was reverend lovejoy who got all huffy at the remark and he is *not* catholic. So the mockery wasn't of catholics but of all christians.
2) It was Marge who made the comment and she *is* very Christian. Thus the humor was she was unknowingly mocking her own religion.
The Simpson's likely to make fun of religion but I don't see that it's ever actually come out *against* religion. In fact, its occasionally potrayed it in quite a positive light (but not as frequently as its lightly jabbed).
Anyhoo... there's mocking and belittling. I consider the above mocking to be on the level of the "hey peter! I can see your house from up here" joke[1], and to say such mocking always crosses a line is to be preposterously thin-skinned.
I'd disagree with the statement that belittling or ridiculing the heart of a religion always crosses a line, but I'd least I'd empathize (empathize? Is that the word I want?) with it.
[1] For those who haven't heard this rather mild joke, it's about Peter at the cruxifiction hearing Jesus call his name and Peter running to hear some last divine words only to have Jesus say... Christians love that joke! Atheists ... tend not to really get it.
Posted by: woozy | October 21, 2009 9:12 PM
Okay, I've got a confession to make. I'm not entirely sure I know who Bill Donahue is...Posted by: Enkidu | October 21, 2009 9:51 PM
"What kind of civilized people eat the body and blood of their savior?"
Marge asked a valid question. Bill's answer entirely failed to address it.
Posted by: ckitching
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October 21, 2009 9:52 PM
Things were so much simpler when the church could simply imprison (with or without trial), or burn alive those who said disparaging remarks about it.
You gotta wonder, though. Why is it that an omnipotent god can't seem protect himself from these things without the intervention of "mere" mortals? It's almost like.... no, that's too improbable to be possible.
Posted by: Tom S. Fox
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October 21, 2009 10:08 PM
I don't understand why he makes such a fuss. All they did was say what he believes in. He must be very ashamed of his own beliefs to have a temper tantrum because somebody mentioned them.
Posted by: Insightful Ape
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October 21, 2009 10:19 PM
So many have said it before me. But I'll add my two cents: I've been a fan of PZ Myers since early 2006. I didn't have a clue who Bill the Intolerant was back then.
Oh, and without PZ Mr don't-mess-with-us-catholics wouldn't be looking for trivial things to whine about? Under what rock are you living?
Posted by: JohnnieCanuck
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October 21, 2009 10:35 PM
Whining is what puts the bread and wine on the table for the Donahue family. He whines and whinges and people send him money so he can do it some more. It's a career.
He isn't going to stop until the money stops and he has to get a real job.
Posted by: ironysandwich
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October 21, 2009 10:39 PM
Are they really mocking the heart of his religion?
I mean, the rituals don't specify. So they could be mocking the liver, the spleen, the lung...
Posted by: Teddydeedodu | October 21, 2009 10:47 PM
Unlike Janine, I was late coming into Pharyngula (after Crackergate but before I knew anything about Bumbling Bill Buffoon). I was refered to it by other atheists. At first I thought that it was just another blog. But there was something about this site that held me in awe to the point that nowadays I keep checking the place up at least three times each day.
I am just dazed (but not confused) everytime I visit this place. It is like PZ has this supernatural attraction about him that I just cant resist.
Posted by: arensb
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October 21, 2009 10:53 PM
What gets me is that during the crackergate kerfuffle, Catholics were all over the news and blagosphere saying that the eucharist is really, truly the body of Jesus. And not in a symbolic or metaphorical sense, but literally. As I recall, BillDo had one or two things to say about that as well.
So why is he now getting upset at the Simpsons writers for pointing this out?
The other thing I found interesting is that I asked this question on three Catholic blogs, without any snark. All of them have comment moderation, and none have seen fit to post my question.
Posted by: Pierce Presley | October 21, 2009 10:53 PM
It reminds me of a colleague at the AP pointing out that in Arkansas, we tend to barbecue our mascot before games. (Okay, the ones we cook are usually domesticated, not wild, but the principle remains the same.) This practice is not, so far as I know, carried out by the smaller schools in the state, which have mascots like the Boll Weevil, Red Wolf (after a fit of sensitivity made Indians seem insensitive) and Wonderboy (alongside some boring old Bears, Trojans and others).
The dirty-minded editor in me won't let you get by without speculating on what Alabama football enthusiasts gobbling up Crimson Tide might entail.
(I should also point out that high schools in the state of my birth get in on the action with the Dardenelle Sand Lizards, the Harrison Goblins, the Danville Little Johns and, my personal favorite, the Arkansas School for the Deaf Leopards.)
Posted by: Tulse
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October 21, 2009 11:02 PM
Does their marching band drummer only have one arm?
Posted by: arensb
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October 21, 2009 11:13 PM
kcitching @ #35:
I believe this is known as the "What does God need with a starship?" argument.
Posted by: Equisetum | October 22, 2009 1:09 AM
Actually, I find in encouraging that Donohue watches The Simpsons. Maybe he'll learn something. It's a long shot, but you never know.
Posted by: Equisetum | October 22, 2009 1:13 AM
If you live in the U.S. You could have warned us that it's a fucking hulu link.
Posted by: hf, Supreme High Lamb-y Dragon-y Person of Christians for the Antichrist | October 22, 2009 1:17 AM
mocking the heart of any religion always crosses the line
Somebody should make Bill talk about Aleister Crowley's religion of Thelema: "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law."
Posted by: Snoof | October 22, 2009 4:25 AM
Oh yeah? Well, my religion _requires_ that the hearts of other religions be mocked! So there!Posted by: Zabinatrix
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October 22, 2009 4:59 AM
Like Wowbagger mentions in #1, the Simpsons has taken swipes at religion before. One of my favorite lines comes from the episode where the protestants and catholics are fighting over Bart and his immortal soul. In the end Bart steps between them and calms them down with:
Oh, and I've also always loved how the Simpsons has demonstrated that even a stupid buffoon like Homer can poke a big giant hole in the popular form of Pascal's Wager:
Posted by: Walton | October 22, 2009 5:34 AM
So, where do I apply for a job in the whining industry? Sign me up...
Posted by: Islander | October 22, 2009 6:39 AM
Just head on down to your local Libertarian headquarters, Walton! (sorry, couldn't resist) :)
Posted by: toth | October 22, 2009 10:01 AM
I loved that line. I also loved the Family Guy segment where Jesus appears to the family and, in response to the question "So which religion should we follow?" says "Six of one. They're all crap." (and Brian says "THANK you!"). Anyone know if Billy got apoplectic about that one?
Posted by: Electric Monk's Horse
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October 22, 2009 10:34 AM
Can we mock a religion's spleen instead?
Posted by: Brownian, OM
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October 22, 2009 11:17 AM
What kind of civilised people make Hulu unavailable for Canadians?
Posted by: ereador
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October 22, 2009 12:14 PM
Sorry, Bill. I'm a natural-born line-crosser. So are all of my friends. Bye, now.
Posted by: Janine, Vile Bitch, OM | October 22, 2009 12:17 PM
...mocking the heart of any religion always crosses the line...
But what if we are mocking the heart of darkness of any religion?
Posted by: 7 | October 22, 2009 12:39 PM
Some time back I remember reading somewhere that The Simpson’s writers get a real kick out of pissing of Donohue and have his letters of complaints framed and hanging on a wall. They purposefully go out of their way to offend him every season so to keep the tradition running (not that offending this old drama queen is particularly difficult to do). To not get a letter from Donohue would mean they have lost their edge.
As a fan of the show from the very beginning, I can safely say The Simpsons are an equal opportunity offender and have taken shots at every religion out there. Yet somehow, its only the Professional Victim Donohue that takes umbrage. Case in point: a few years back there was an Itchy and Scratchy where both were presented as Jews, and Itchy (the mouse) was to perform a briss on Scratchy. Instead he cuts the cat up into little pieces, puts him in an oven in order to melt him down so to make him into a glass that is then stomped on and smashed in a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony. Sort of funny, until one considers that part of the joke involves PUTTING A JEW IN AN OVEN! I think most of us can say that’s pretty close to going over the line, yet there was no dust up. No Jewish groups freaked out and demanded the show be canceled. And of course Donohue, with all his hyper sensitivity never uttered a peep.
Posted by: John | October 22, 2009 2:52 PM
Mr. Donohue feels as passionate about the sacrement of the the Holy Eucharist, as you do sir about evolution. You would be wise in choosing your words Mr. Meyers when mocking your Creator.
One man's "silly superstition," may be another man's first love. May God's peace be with you and heal your broken heart.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | October 22, 2009 3:01 PM
Mr. Donohue has every right to be passionate about his fairy tale. He does not have the right to demand we are equally passionate or reverent about it.
And comparing PZ's passion for empirical based science to Donohue's passion for a religion is a serious category failure.
You would be wise in choosing your words Mr. John when making such outlandish statements.
So what?
May you grow up and stop believing in fairy tales.
Posted by: Janine, Vile Bitch, OM | October 22, 2009 3:05 PM
Posted by: John | October 22, 2009 2:52 PM
Mr. Donohue feels as passionate about the sacrement of the the Holy Eucharist, as you do sir about evolution.
The eucharist is a ritual. Evolution is a proven fact. They are kind of different things. Also, the eucharist is dogma. Evolution is something that can be studied and the knowledge about it can expand and change.
You would be wise in choosing your words Mr. Meyers when mocking your Creator.
You just might be a troll if you cannot correctly spell the name of the person hosting the blog. Also, please provide proof that there is a creator.
One man's "silly superstition," may be another man's first love.
Yet many of us move on from our first love. If you insist on using analogies, please do a better job of picking one.
May God's peace be with you and heal your broken heart.
If PZ's heart were broken, his blood would be released into his chest cavity. What exactly is wrong with PZ Myers that you think that your big sky daddy has to heal him.
Posted by: Brownian, OM
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October 22, 2009 4:46 PM
I don't believe Dr. Myers mentioned Brahma anywhere in this post, you fool.
Posted by: Brownian, OM
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October 22, 2009 5:16 PM
Funny, for all the noise theists make about those of us sans god-belief having no reason to care about 'humanity', your garden variety Abrahamist doesn't seem to give much of a shit about humanity either. Don't get me wrong; there are many theists of all stripes who'll fight tooth and nail for freedom of speech, separation of church and state, or the lives of strangers halfway around the globe. However, religious conservatives seem to be--almost to a person--solely concerned with themselves and their immediate friends and family. The anti-abortionists don't give a shit about the souls of the fetus or their would-be mothers, they're concerned God's going to smite them for tolerating an abortion clinic on their watch. I don't think I need do more than mention prosperity theology. And were a bolt of lightning to strike him blind and convert Bill Donohue to Southern Baptist, we'd immediately learn that the liberal media has hated not Catholics but Baptists all along, and anyways who cares what PZ, The Simpsons or anyone else has to say about those Mary-worshipping Dogans anyway?
He is not a man of conviction or integrity; he's a self-serving mercenary, and his supporters are cowards who publicly praise his 'passion' so they don't have to admit to themselves they're paying blood money to a shrieking banshee as long as he promises to keep the rest of the world from holding them accountable for the sins of the church they feed.
Posted by: llewelly | October 22, 2009 6:03 PM
Brownian, OM October 22, 2009 11:17 AM:
You thought America was civilized?
Could you get me a picture of a unicorn? 'Cause I'm pretty sure they live on your home planet.
Posted by: MAJeff, OM
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October 22, 2009 6:07 PM
May God's peace be with you and heal your broken heart.
blah blah blah blah blah
Posted by: Cowcakes
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October 22, 2009 6:13 PM
It was definitely the line of the season so far. In recognition I feel it calls for a Nelson Muntz acknowledgement: Ha Ha
Posted by: Brownian, OM
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October 22, 2009 6:17 PM
llewelly wrote:
I was being facetious. No nation can be considered civilised unless its constituents have reasonable access to Coffee Crisp.
Posted by: woozy | October 22, 2009 7:09 PM
Mr. Donohue feels as passionate about the sacrement of the the Holy Eucharist, as you do sir about evolution.
Having never met Dr. Myers, I can't say for certain whether or not he believes the mocking of evolution always crosses a line. It is possible that Dr. Myers believes his passion toward evolution entitles him to demand that evolution never be mocked. However, I have never read anything written by him or about him to imply that either of these are true.
You would be wise in choosing your words Mr. Meyers when mocking your Creator.
He usually is. "Silly Superstition" is a fairly good choice in that it's succint and to the point and adequately expresses Dr. Myers' opinion. "Sky-fairy", for example, is an exceedingly wise choice of words to mock his Creator in that it is simple, accurately reflects Dr. Myers belief that religion is an arbitrary folklore or "fairy tale", but its beauty lies in the mocking image of the God of the Old Testiment in frilly dress one can't help but inadvertantly have while reading the phrase.
However, your point is taken. For example, Dr. Myers' once refered to the Creator as "cosmic policeman" which unfortunately was not a very wise choice for mocking. While it accurately demonstrated the point he was trying to make, namely that obedience out of fear of a "cosmic policeman" can not in any way be construed as being equivalent to a sense of morality, it failed to provide a significant mockery of god himself. While "cosmic policeman" deminishes the many roles of god, it is still a figure of authority and even, to the law-abiding, respect. Thus it was a somewhat poor choice of words for the purpose of mockery.
But on the whole, such lapses into valid critique without mockery are rather rare. I believe you and I can rest confortably in knowledge that Dr. Myers' record for choosing his words of mockery is quite good.
One man's "silly superstition," may be another man's first love.
I was never aware that one's first love was beyond mockery. My first love was a very pale skinned-girl with straight blonde-white hair named Sylvia. If you wish to mock the black vinyl boots that were popular among 6-years in 1968, you do not require my permission to do so.
Posted by: Nerd of Redhead, OM
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October 22, 2009 7:21 PM
Can't be more wrong. PZ would deny evolution if the proper scientific evidence was presented that another scientific theory did a better job of explaining the fossil, DNA, and geological evidence than evolution. However, Donowhore, would never be swayed by any evidence that his poor cracker was nothing but a cracker except in his mind. And there is no creator, as there is no evidence for one. He, just like, you, will not be swayed by evidence. So just keep telling your lies. We have your number as a liar and bullshitter.Posted by: Kendo
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October 22, 2009 10:58 PM
May your ears become arseholes and shit on your shoulders.Posted by: woozy | October 22, 2009 11:36 PM
Um,... may Hermes reside in your nasal passages and give you a running nose.Darn. Yours is better....
How 'bout
May your arsehole become a mouth and so you may eat where you shit.
Shoot. Needs work.... (Yours is still the best so far.)
Posted by: Michael | October 23, 2009 3:37 AM
Unfortunately, your readers from outside the hermetic bubble of the USA aren't allowed to watch Hulu.