VeraMaria Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 MTV Trashes the Church -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Exclusive commentary by Martin Kelly Nov 13, 2003 On the evening of October 6th, the MTV Europe Music Awards were held in Edinburgh. The good burghers of the windy city allowed one of the most egregious acts of disrespect for the Catholic Church in recent times, which if repeated on the streets would earn the MTV board prosecution under Scotland’s unfortunately necessary, anti-sectarianism laws. As Shakespeare said, there is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Similarly, there is in the mind of a Catholic a tide that, if exposed to for sufficiently long periods, makes even the most tepid of the brethren say, No More. Intolerant as it may seem, I now zone out pop singers and actors saying how repressive they found Catholic school, or how the nuns beat them with rulers. Like G.K. Chesterton’s Flambeau, I have been stuffed with liberalism like a Strasbourg goose full of grain, and I have had my fill. Bleating about Catholic guilt is always good for a cheap shot and a few bucks. None of them ever talk about Catholic pride, in my society a complete social taboo. In Scotland, you’re better off admitting to glue sniffing or necrophilia than saying you’re proud to be a Catholic. Not that a properly trained, properly informed, properly devout, properly devout Catholic should ever want to. One of our prayers runs “But Christ was humbler yet, even to accepting death, Death on a cross” If God himself, in the form of his son Our Lord, can express humility, then it follows that the rest of us should really follow suit. Which brings me to the scandal perpetrated on October 6th in the city of John Knox and Jenny Geddes. The MTV Europe music awards opened with what appeared to be a church choir, robed in white, proceeding from backstage. A trapdoor opened and from below stage there appeared Christina Aguilera, dressed as a nun. Wearing an expression of piety, her hands clasped in apparent prayer, Miss Aguilera then cast off her habit to reveal that she wasn’t wearing very much underneath. She then proceeded with the standard pelvic thrusts. I should explain that I saw this on a clip on the early morning GMTV News Hour. As one gets older, there are things that one can’t take that early in the morning without a second cup of coffee, and Christina Aguilera prancing about like a nun with no bra is one of them. I was quite relieved that the clip was as short as it was, as otherwise the remote would have gone through the screen. Miss Aguilera is a cultural phenomenon that has completely passed me by. I can’t name one of her songs, I don’t even know what her voice sounds like. She is a completely closed book, and one that I would prefer did not sully a nun’s habit for the purpose of making an entrance. She may devote her spare time to the performance of good works and small acts of corporal mercy – I am not the keeper of her conscience. However, the boys (and it will be boys) at MTV, the alpha predators at the top of the jungle of the music business, know that if it’s sensational, it will sell. And like greedy trial lawyers, for them it’s all about the money. It would be interesting to know whether any MTV executives observe any kind of religious practice, be it Catholic, Protestant, Jewish or Muslim. In the very short clip of Miss Aguilera in her underwear, there seemed to be a sort of studied, indifferent sterility to her actions. The move had been thoroughly planned, of course, to produce the maximum impact, but its impact was that of much modern art – crucifixes in dung and that sort of stuff. Even Catholics aren’t shocked at having their symbolism desecrated any more, such is its prevalence. The practice of abusing Christian symbols has nothing to do with rejection of patriarchy or clerical abuse. It’s everything to do with a lack of boundaries, and the desire of people like the top boys at MTV to make as much money as possible. Those guys should watch one of the better movies about the Society of Jesus, The Mission. The central character, Mendoza (Robert De Niro) is a slave trader and mercenary who reforms and becomes a priest. There is still time for them to reform, and as we say ‘repent, and believe the Good News’. Miss Aguilera’s moral interests might be better served by finding some new homies. The Sisters are always recruiting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeraMaria Posted November 14, 2003 Author Share Posted November 14, 2003 i haven't heard about this before. And Christina Aguilera says that she's "very religious, a very religious Catholic," bla bla bla, as was posted in another thread. :angry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geetarplayer Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 There are many hypocrites in the pop music business. Brittney parades around half-naked, and then acts all offended when ABC asks her to wear just a towel for her TV special. "It's like they just want my body, you know?" she says. What a victim. -Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeraMaria Posted November 14, 2003 Author Share Posted November 14, 2003 :( it really gets to me how Christina Aguilera completely mocks nuns and theirb holy habits...ARGH! I guess i let things get to me too easily... :ph34r: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paladin D Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Hahaha moron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellenita Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Same old, same old from MTV. I don't know why Martin Kelly was so surprised. MTV are not likely to take any notice of the fact they might be causing offence - they think they are the 'cutting edge' of youth culture and causing offence is obligatory. Of course MTV execs delude themselves about being 'cutting edge' -Madonna was doing this sort of thing 10 years ago! He ought to be asking why Edinburgh saw fit to host the awards ceremony in the first place.....oh wait, is that the sound of the cash register ringing?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geetarplayer Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 That's right, Madonna was born a Catholic... but she had burning crosses and stuff in her "Like a Prayer" video. -Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilroy the Ninja Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Oh wait.. MTV... is anyone really surprised? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hyperdulia again Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 madonna's like a prayer stopped me from killing myself once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geetarplayer Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Interesting! How so? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilroy the Ninja Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 madonna's like a prayer stopped me from killing myself once. That's all well and fine, but Christina isn't Madonna. And frankly, I didn't really see the HUGE uproar about the Madonna video - it was a saint statue if my understanding is correct. Now, in a church and all...well.... that's the sticking point. But I am unimpressed with Miss Aguilera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hyperdulia again Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 there really isn't an interesting story, i was 15 and depressed...vh1 was replaying a concert...i had a mini-epiphany. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilroy the Ninja Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 I find VH1 tolerable - MTV, in it's current state, could fall of the face of the planet and I wouldn't miss it. I want my OLD MTV! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hyperdulia again Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 i'm just horrible...i couldn't live w/out mtv. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paladin D Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 i'm just horrible...i couldn't live w/out mtv. I can't live without news. MSNBC or Fox would do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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