Colbert Guide for Catholics - A Guide to a Satirical Apostle
Paul | September 17, 2008Political Satirist Stephen Colbert has caught my attention more and more. My brother introduced me to the show, and I’ve been catching clips and episodes from time to time on ColbertNation.com and Hulu.com.
Yes, he’s funny and over-the-top, but I’ve noticed more and more Catholic bloggers linking to his clips. Many times, it seems, he is expressing on a secular cable network (Comedy Central, for crying out loud - home to some of the worst trash on television) matters of faith and morals that get everyone laughing. Is this part of the new evangelization? Is it intentional, or just for the laughs?
Either way, it takes gall in this day in age to say that you like Pope Benedict XVI “better as JP2’s Rottweiler,” condemn ecumencalism as a watering down of one’s own faith, and recite the Nicene Creed on the air of the same nationwide network that airs South Park.
Or even more, to tell the Anglican Church to their face (in front of millions of people) that a return to unity with Rome is in order, and that however they want to spin it, their Church was founded by a promiscuous king who didn’t like the Church reinforcing the 10 commandments.
Sure, he likes to make pope jokes - but even then you can recognize his understanding of Church teachings:
He can also ask intelligent questions when he has clergy on the show:
When Rev. Hagee criticizes the Catholic Church, he calls in William Donohue of the Catholic League to pinch-hit in expressing outrage:
On the negative side, I did read on CatholicColbert.com that Colbert is pro-contraception - meaning there is some more dialog that needs to be had with him still.
A bit of background on Colbert - he was the youngest (that explains a lot) of 11 children in a Catholic family. At age 11, he lost his father and 2 of his brothers in a plane crash, which devastated his faith. In time, he came back to the Church and is now a practicing Catholic and Sunday School teacher. You can read more on his life in this article from Parade Magazine and this extra information from the interview.
Special thanks to CatholicColbert.com for providing a lot of links to these videos and info - and since that site is down, thanks to Google Cache for letting me still get to the content.
R.A.G.E. Media » Colbert Guide for Catholics - A
PickAFig.com | September 17, 2008R.A.G.E. Media » Colbert Guide for Catholics - A Guide to a Satirical Apostle…
A summary of Colbert’s Catholic position, with videos….
I'm not sure that this is what JPII had in
Joshua of Catholic Tech Tips | September 17, 2008I’m not sure that this is what JPII had in mind when he talked about the “New Evangelization”, but I can see how it could appeal to both Catholic Christians and the Secular.
Stephen Colbert’s comedy almost demands respect for the Catholic faith, but at the same time disrespects it. It is kind of like the “Umbert the Unborn” cartoons. On Amazon, It got 5 star ratings from both people who liked it for its blatant pro-life message, but also from someone who mistakenly thought the book is mocking people who hold life sacred.
Colbert is so obstreperous that it is hard to differentiate when he is being serious, or when he is playing the over-the-top persona that makes his comedy so funny. I can’t tell if he has a genuine misunderstanding of Papal Infallibility, or if it is for comedic value.
I did find myself cringing at his jokes about the Eucharist and some of his jokes about the Pope. I’m going to end my comment with a quote from JPII that I am probably taking out of context, but it is fitting.
“Stupidity is also a gift of God, but one mustn’t misuse it.” - Pope John Paul II
Right on. I agree Colbert is a mixed bag; and
Paul | September 17, 2008Right on. I agree Colbert is a mixed bag; and that while he is a professed
Catholic, who unlike Pelosi and Biden is knowledgeable of his faith, he is a secular comedian.
I find this idea interesting, but I must say that
Dave | September 17, 2008I find this idea interesting, but I must say that I shudder when I hear Colbert mention Catholicism. He does say quite ostentatiously that he is Catholic, but we should remember that the person we see on television is not the real Colbert but his personification on a crazy, wild-eyed right-winger. For example, his persona went to Dartmouth but the real Colbert did not. Now, I have no problem with this idea, as it is certainly entertaining to see his persona, but that leaves me wondering if he is mocking Catholicism when his persona claims it as his religion, just as the real Colbert mocks Republicans with his personification of them.
Furthermore, if he is *actually* a devout Catholic in the media, that is certainly interesting, but I do not find his approach refreshing or respectful at all. He tends to make cheap shots at the church and entertain Christian thinkers who really don’t represent the faith very well, and this includes the priests he has had on his show. Overall, I find that he’s probably just riding the title of being Catholic enough to retain some respect from Christian viewers, but really is not an asset to the faith or the church. This may change, and I hope it does, but I doubt he could come out more openly and intellectually in support of the church but he would probably lose his job.
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