Bobblehead Pope On the Rails (by Rose Marie Berger)
Who says that Americans don’t have a sense of humor? This video ad put out by the Washington, D.C., transit authority prompting the faithful to ride Metro when the Pope visits this week proves the point.
The U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference was less than pleased and asked Metro to pull the ad. My guess is the Pope would have laughed—but the Bishops apparently need additional practice in exercising their authority.
Rose Marie Berger, a Sojourners associate editor, is a Catholic peace activist and poet.
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Comments
Sure, take a cheap shot at the Bishops. Did you even bother to find out why they want the ad pulled?
"Our concern is that this was a bad bobblehead," said Susan Gibbs, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese. "You had unauthorized merchandise and you had a misdressed pope."
The bobblehead portrayed in the Metro video was wearing a red skull cap, known as a zucchetto, and a red cape. "Popes don't wear red skull caps" and they don't wear red capes, only white ones, Gibbs said.
...
The archdiocese did not ask for the video to be pulled; Metro offered to do it voluntarily, Farbstein said.
Here's the link
If you don't like being called out for shoddy journalism, then take a few minutes to find out what actually happened.
Posted by: Odin's Beard | April 14, 2008 11:17 AM
Beard and Rose Marie,
Is there a difference between "The U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference" and "the archdiocese"?
Igor
THREE months after Benedict XVI became Pope, his eclectic sartorial style has Vatican-watchers scratching their heads.
At first sight his dress sense is as conservative and traditional as his theology. He frequently wears the short, dark-red cape and heavy red-and-gold stole that have always been part of the official papal wardrobe but which his predecessor avoided, apparently because they made him too hot. They are the papal choice even on a blazing hot day in June.
(see at: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article544549.ece)
Sorry Gibbs!
Posted by: Deryll | April 14, 2008 12:20 PM
You know, as a Catholic, I'm actually quite prone to forgive offense if the trade-off is a good laugh. But while I don't find this particularly offensive, it's not that funny either.
Not offensive, just in poor taste. Rather like Berger's unexplained crack at the bishops.
Posted by: sangerinde | April 14, 2008 4:27 PM
Oh no, Catholic riots are on the way. This rivals cartoons about the prophet Mohammad!
Hey, just laugh it off; it's no big deal. I thought it was pretty funny.
Posted by: Cads | April 14, 2008 6:55 PM
Bad information (like the red cap) is always a bad thing. But isn't the real point that some things are sacred and should be treated as such?
I don't mean that from a pious perspective -- but going to see the Pope is a huge deal for those attending. We public transportation makes light of it, it looks like the government does.
Posted by: frankie | April 14, 2008 7:05 PM
I'm happy to see the Pope made sport of as long as the same people are able to make sport of the Dalai Lama. However, the Pope is especially inviting jokes by claiming to be infallible.
Posted by: I and I | April 14, 2008 10:09 PM
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