The Catholic League, led by president Bill Donohue, is on the attack after last Sunday’s episode of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm featured Larry David’s character accidentally spritzing a painting of Jesus hanging in a bathroom with a drop of urine as he relieved himself. In a statement, titled “Urinating on Jesus,” Donohue says, “At one point in the show, David goes to the bathroom in a Catholic home and splatters urine on a picture of Jesus; he doesn’t clean it off. Then a Catholic woman goes to the bathroom, sees the picture and concludes that Jesus is crying. She then summons her equally stupid mother and the two of them fall to their knees in prayer. When David and Jerry Seinfeld (playing himself) are asked if they ever experienced a miracle, David answers, ‘every erection is a miracle.’ That’s what passes for creativity these days. Was Larry David always this crude? Would he think it comedic if someone urinated on a picture of his mother?”
David, whose character did appear to be mortified by his predicament, has yet to return EW’s request for comment, but HBO has issued the followed statement: “Anyone who follows Curb Your Enthusiasm knows that the show is full of parody and satire. Larry David makes fun of everyone, most especially himself. The humor is always playful and certainly never malicious.” The network would not reveal how many emails Chairman and CEO Bill Nelson has received since Donohue shared his email address at the end of his statement, but HBO does tell EW that most of the emails followed some sort of form letter and that the senders seemed not to have seen the episode themselves.
Susan Fani, director of communications for the Catholic League, would not quantify the number of calls and emails its New York-based office has received about the episode, but says the phone has been ringing all day: “Our members are opposed to it. There’s no one calling to support it, let’s put it that way.” Donohue is set to appear on Fox News’ Fox and Friends, and The Opie & Anthony Show, on Thursday.
The clip in question follows (warning, shows urination scenes):
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The Church and professional moralists who profit from it will do anything to attempt to remain relevant to anyone. Does anyone care what they think? I mean anyone? If you do, please let me know, because I do not know anyone who does. The right wing talk shows will be in masturbatory moral outrage, I’m sure, but they aren’t representative of many people — less than the church. If a drop of piss on a painting of Jesus is enough to anger you, then I have to question your faith. Jesus would have turned his piss-stained check, no?
If it were really piss then yes reacting would be in order… I think this over-reaction against a show, that is completely full of mistakes that happen to alot of people and never admit it, is just that. A show that sheds light on everyones life in one way or another. Lets everyone start attacking everything else since the real issues of this country can’t be one……………………
Collin, 1,1 billion people find the Church meaning full. Thats over 3 times as many as every man, woman and child in the united states. It is you Collin who will cease to remain relavant.
I’m sure you meant “meaningful” and not “meaning full”. Perhaps people should worry more about proper education and being able to spell correctly than a pee-stained Jesus joke….which is just that – A JOKE!
The Catholic League does not represent the Catholic Church. Bill Donahue is a self-proclaimed “defender” with his own agenda which quite frankly, often conflicts with the teachings of the Catholic Church. It speaks for the Catholic Church about as much (and as legitimately) as any teary-eyed man on youtube speaks for Britney Spears.
Just people with an education care. I understand your social circle is excluded from this. Let me explain this to you when Larry David (a jewish person) makes a religious statement of this sort, why is he being treated differently from say Mel Gibson and his drunken anti-jewish tirade?
Because Larry is not a crazy fundamentalist spewing hatred about Catholics, he just had some pee backsplash. An absurd amount of pee backsplash. Pee doesn’t qualify as a religious statement, just a stupid accident. A funny one, actually.
My organization is offended because Larry David did not wash his hands at the end of that scene!
Didn’t Jesus kill Donahue with the Glaive? Oh wait, that was South Park. Alas!
I saw the show and it was pretty offensive. No other religion is as disrespected as Christianity and especially on HBO. I wonder if Larry would pee on the Torah in an episode?? Or if he’d think peeing on a Torah was funny? He’s a pathetic little man who is sometimes funny but oftentimes is elitist and offensive. No wonder his wife left him for the gardener. Now THERE’s a story line that’s funny, but I notice he doesn’t touch that scenario with a ten-foot pole. You can be rich and successful and still be a loser. Larry David is living proof.
whine whine whine. Now rise like a cult and bring down a pretend TV show because apparantly God must be on a holiday and can’t do anything. Sure he had the mind and ability to create all this, but when it comes to fake urine on a picture he is defenseless. SOMEONE TELL THE DEVIL WE HAVE A WAY TO BRING HIM DOWN
^
Thats how rediculous you extreme religous people sound to the rest of us. now go get your bottle you baby. And get god one too cause from what you said, he must be pretty sad too. Poor defenseless old man
Idiot. That really helps nothing. Bill Mauher Jr….
Have you seen any of the other episodes? They are all pretty much the same thing. LD makes a stupid decision and we all get to enjoy the fallout. You need to watch more of the episodes to get the joke, not just this one.
There are plenty of Curb episodes that satirize Judaism as well as Christianity as well as any other ideology deemed “too sacred” to touch by the ever-encroaching right-wingers out there. When topics become too-taboo for prime-time paid for premium channels to poke fun without repercussions…that is when I start to get worried.
the funniest part is that most christians are stupid enough to think a piss stain would be a tear. mazel tov, larry! mazel tov! “Why do Christians take everything so personally with Christ, ya know? It’s like not only do you have to worship him, you want everybody to. It’s like I like lobster. Do I go around pushing lobster on people? Do I say you must like lobster? ‘Eat lobster, it’s good, it’s good!’ It’s not only where you live, you go to Africa, you travel all over the world, ‘Eat lobster! Have some more lobster, it’s good.’”
truly, fine by me, you agree with what he did. Now lets see him do the same thing to Muslim or Jews
I would like to see where you will be hiding….
As a Christian, I have to say – IT WAS A PAINTING. No one peed on Jesus. Seriously, grow up people.
Finally, a normal Christian with a sense of humor!!! Kudos to you. Obviously the other comments here are from Christians who really don’t watch the show. Larry David makes fun of Jews (including himself and, in case you biblical scholars forgot, Jesus) on it ALL THE TIME. For the idiot who asked if Larry would pee on the Torah: no, he wouldn’t. You see, no Jew would be stupid enough to place the Torah next to the toilet. Watch the clip; its not like he goes into a church and purposely pees on a painting of Jesus and then laughs about it. Why aren’t all you Catholics offended by the fact that someone would hang a picture of Jesus in the bathroom?
Well cm, no Catholic would be stupid enough to put a picture of Jesus beside the toilet. Go to church. You won’t find pictures of Jesus beside the toilets there either. Only Larry David, in a base attempt at humor would hang a picture of Jesus next to a toilet. Mazel Tov to you Larry David. You win.
He wouldn’t only pee on the torah or a picture of his mother, but would crap on it if it was portrayed as an accident and part of a comedy show.
exactly. it’s about him making a mistake and the humor that ensues, it’s not about disrespecting jesus or christianity or anything like that!
And, may I add . . . look at the previous three comments and tell me that Christianity isn’t disrespected. Try that humor with Jews and Muslims and watch the reaction. If peeing on a picture of Jesus is Larry’s only tool for humor in his work box, he’s in worse shape than I thought he was.
RELAX! It’s a TV show. He didn’t really piss on a picture of Jesus. And him peeing on Jesus wasn’t funny; it’s the reaction of the mother/daughter buffoons that makes it funny.B/c, let’s face it, christians and catholics try way too hard to find ‘proof’ that their beliefs are legit. Such as the virgin mary in a grease stain, or tree knot or window pane. Religion, as a whole, has become comical.
You’ve obviously never seen the show.
Emmaline, if you think the show has never made fun of Jews then you have obviously never watched it.
this is how you know that those outraged don’t watch the show anyway. over at fox news’ forums, they’re trying to organize a boycott of the show’s sponsors… the show that airs on a subscription based network… with no commercials… they want to organize a boycott of it’s sponsors…
.
also emmaline, have you ever watched curb? larry david has done things to people of all faiths. anyone remember the one where he convinced a catholic not to convert to judaism for a marriage?
OMG that is the funniest thing I’ve read today!
Actually, I think it was the other way around: Larry convinced a Jew not to get baptized to marry Cheryl’s sister.
Yep, that’s pretty much sums up the level of intelligence of people who are offended by this.
I agree with Emmaline. Why doesn’t Larry mock his own faith (If he even has any) and leave others alone. He went too far with this one and it made me sick.
Your comments show that you don’t watch the show. He is constantly making fun of Jews!
I love this show and think it is hilarious.
I agree with bb. The show is hilarious and makes me want to have a bunch of funny Jewish people around, especially the GREAT Susie Essman(Jeff’s foul-mouthed wife). How about the episode where LD, by accident, gets Jeff and Susie’s daughter drunk?
Actually he does make fun of himself…i mean, the whole show is basically a satire about being jewish…remember the “ski lift” episode…come one people, lighten up
He does. All the time.
He makes fun of his own faith on a regular basis. You may want to try and watch the show before you comment. I’m so glad I’m not so sensitive. It’s like some people are on the hunt for something to offend them. Get over it.
Emmaline, did you watch the episode? I thought not. He didn’t “pee on a picture of Jesus” at all. There was no mocking of religion in any way in the episode, rather, he was mocking people who take religion too far (and if you watched the show you would know this is NOT limited to Christianity). Personally, I think it’s hilarious and David pulled off a joke he might not have even intended – people getting so offended about this are exactly the people he was mocking to begin with. Nicely done, Larry! Keep making us laugh!
Mikeman: I have watched EVERY episode ever written. I enjoy some of his humor, but not when it is religious-based. I think he has self-hatred about being a Jew and probably hatred of anyone who has a belief system different from his. There is enough real humor in the world for his show to be funny (it is funny) but not to be disrespectful of religion. That’s NOT funny. I’ve seen all his “religious” episodes (and there have been several) and I think they are all in poor, poor taste. I can find Larry David funny and still say he is offensive and pathetic.
This show isn’t written. It’s improvised.
someone listened to there Michael Savage today, Emmaline. Good job on the psychoanalysis. I’m sure M David would appreciate your insights.
If only Larry could hire you personally to be his script supervisor and function as the division of morality which sanctifies the topics that safe for satire…from those which are not. Congratulations Emmaline…you prove your ignorance.
All of his “religious episodes”? Are you sure? Religion might be something that pops up from time to time on CYE, but it’s never the overriding narrative. It’s always “Larry’s a buffoon who does something stupid and spends 30 minutes trying to untangle the mess he’s made.” Just like this episode. The show is funny, probably the funniest I’ve seen. Don’t take life so seriously, you should watch CYE sometime, you’ll have a good laugh providing you remove the stick from your ass first.
Stop watching the show if it’s such a strain you big baby. I think PBS has some real humdingers you’ll enjoy.
Did you lose your remote, Emmaline? When normal people find something un-funny or offensive, they simply change the channel.
Wow…this was not that bad, other shows like family guy make fun of catholics(and every other relgion/race)!
Jason, he was swinging his penis around and peeing all over the place, splashing everything and SAW that he had peed on the picture of Jesus. Which he did not wipe off. That’s funny? I think not.
Swinging his penis around!!! Seriously??? Apparently you are a comedy writer…and I take back my dire dislike of your arrogance.
He was taking medication that caused such force behind the pissing process. watch the entire show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A: we are all entitled to our own opinions, but I don’t think “making fun” of anyone’s religion is polite, kind or sensitive.
So … there are things that people can make fun of? Where is this imaginary line?
OK, then change the channel and STFU.
Now . . . if he had peed on a picture of TOM CRUISE maybe with no specific religious reference, I might have laughed. Actually, THAT would have been funny and offended no one except Tom Cruise.
So, it’s ok to piss on a real human being but not a fictional character? That just goes to show what’s wrong with you people. Let’s praise an entity that most likely didn’t exist but let’s piss on real people. You just proved my point, thanks.
You’re an idiot Josh. No matter what someone’s belief is, it doesn’t mean it’s a fictional character. So many morons on the internet, so little time.
Not sure why I’m an idiot. There’s absolutely no physical evidence that Jesus Christ existed. Just b/c one book says so doesn’t mean it really happened. But since you’re clearly the intellectual here why don’t you explain it to me. I was criticizing the original OP b/c she said it’s ok to piss on a real person but not someone that may or may not have existed. Again, explain…
DUMB ASS. Josh
And yes I would piss on you right in front of me before i would on a picture of Jesus Christ or a piece of paper with Jesus Christ written on it.. Then I would stomp a mud hole somewhere you wouldnt like it!!!
Well, Chuck has confirmed he is an idiot. Thanks, Chuck.
Tom Cruise IS my religion and I find your mockery of him to be highly offensive!
I am a Catholic that loves CYE. However, I was really put off by the peeing on of Christ and how ridiculous they were to bow down before the ‘crying’ Jesus. Simply bad taste, offensive, and not funny.
Catholicism is fair game these days. Whatever happened to ‘tolerance’?
A Catholic just asked for tolerance? As a gay man, I find that offensive.
Theoretically, the Catholic church tolerates you, but doesn’t want you being, shall we say, physically gay. That’s how I learned it, which is obviously ridiculous. It’s a very old, beaurocratic institution and it takes a long time to embrace change. Those of us young enough to have grown up in an era of greater tolerance are working to spread that tolerance, and eventually all the old geezers will die off and get replaced by more progressive minds. But for now, Jason, please know that there are many Catholics who support gay people and their legal rights.
Tolerate my intolerance!
Here is what The Catechism of the Catholic Church says about homosexuality: “They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.” (2358)
Anyway James, I love my gay friends and they love me in spite of my Catholicism.
I find it offensive that people are arguing over this and not worried about where your Liberel Leader is taking this country… CYE rocks
I thought the episode was one of the best ever; and, I feel that Jesus probably thought it was too!Jesus was just too bright not to appreciate parody. Wasn’t Jesus tolerant and accepting–unlike “some” news people, radical christian groups and the Taliban. Everybody lighten up–if we all laughed more instead of taking everything too seriously, like ourselves and beliefs, maybe we’d have fewer fights and wars.
Lucy, people find images of Jesus in Cheetos, toast, you name it and bow down to it like idiots ALL THE TIME. Don’t you watch the news? I don’t get what’s so offensive about one Jew accidentally splashing pee water on a portrait of another Jew. Shouldn’t you be offended by the fact that the portrait was in the bathroom right next to the toilet in the first place?
I am offended by that woman’s beer belly.
I concur – that really was the most offensive part of the episode
I concur – that really was the most offensive part of the show
Agreed. Scary. What was with that crop top she was wearing. I assume if I watched the whole episode it would explain that?
Emmaline, if you watched the EPISODE, and not a CLIP, there were several references earlier on to his inability to control his stream. Maybe comprehension is the problem here. Then again, why aren’t all the bible thumpers up in arms about the “graven image” that is so prevalent anyway? Hmmm, pick and choose what to get upset about much?