Maria Steen
On New Year’s Eve, RTÉ broadcast a show, ‘NYE Countdown’, hosted by Deirdre O’Kane and Kathyrn Thomas. Aengus MacGrianna, the former RTÉ newsreader, also took part, delivering a ‘Waterford Whispers’ comedy sketch in a mock newsroom. The show confirmed me in my decision – once again – to get rid of our television and stop paying the licence fee. At this juncture, no one can be in any doubt about the station’s general anti-religion bias, and particular loathing of Catholicism.
As one of a number of “news” items, MacGrianna announced that God was “the latest figure to be implicated in the ongoing sexual harassment scandal”. He said that God “stood accused of forcing himself on a middle-eastern migrant and allegedly impregnating her against her will,” before going on to say that he had been “sentenced to two years in prison with the last 24 months suspended”. The following item, showing a photo of movie producer Harvey Weinstein, a convicted rapist, said that Weinstein was looking for a retrial in Ireland.
The show’s content drew sharp criticism from Catholic quarters. Archbishop Eamon Martin was the first Church leader to tweet about it, saying that he was “shocked” that RTÉ didn’t realise how deeply offensive was its mocking news report. He called the broadcast “deeply offensive and blasphemous” and called for the “outrageous clip” to be removed immediately.
Deeply disturbed
Newly appointed Archbishop-elect of Dublin, Dermot Farrell, added to the criticism, saying that he was “deeply disturbed” by the item, and that it showed a “fundamental lack of understanding of the nature of rape and of God”.
RTÉ reported that by January 2, more than 1,000 complaints had been lodged with the station about the show. An online petition was started by Becky Kealy of Aontú and had gathered over 5,500 signatures at the time this paper went to print.
Apology
RTÉ eventually issued a mealy-mouthed apology: “Having reviewed the feedback and complaints received up to this point, RTÉ wishes to apologise to those who were offended by the segment.” The subtext of the statement translates as: only because so many of you made such a fuss, are we apologising (if we did anything wrong, which we don’t accept we did).
And again, “RTÉ recognises that matters which can cause offence naturally differ from person to person, within comedy and satire in particular”. Translation: we’re sorry you have no sense of humour or appreciation of sophisticated satire.
The station has so far refused to remove the item, merely adding a disclaimer of sorts at the start of the programme that states: “Viewer discretion is advised for the following content.”
Dee Forbes, Director-General of RTÉ, has been silent since the broadcast; the promotion of the show is still top of her Twitter feed. Neither has there been a comment from Aengus MacGrianna, who read out the offending material, nor any attempt by Kathryn Thomas or Deirdre O’Kane, the presenters of the programme, to distance themselves from what was said.
One can imagine the scrambling efforts to apologise if it was something they were really bothered about, or worried would affect their careers. Remember the grovelling apologies in grave tones after the RTÉ staff were caught having a party in the middle of the Covid-19 restrictions? Imagine if the joke had been racially insensitive or had been about Muhammad?
The truth is that RTÉ simply does not care about offending Christians. Noted. But we don’t have to pay for it any longer. You may choose to insult me and my religion; I should not be required to pay you to do so.
The time has come for people to stop paying their licence fee and campaign for the defunding of RTE. The organisation continues to rely on a patina of objectivity and neutrality which, if it was ever the reality, certainly is not the reality today. We now have access to a variety of sources of information and entertainment, many of which are superior to RTÉ. Some are funded by advertisements; for others we choose to pay subscriptions. But those subscriptions are not compulsory. The licence fee provides RTÉ with an unfair competitive advantage, which it uses to promote an agenda that is offensive to Catholics, and many others.
Failing financially
It also seems strange that a station that has been failing financially for years should be so cavalier about insulting such a large swathe of its own viewers. This latest offence by RTÉ underscores the reality that the station simply doesn’t deserve to be propped up any more by the licence fee. It abuses God, degrades the Mother of God, and ridicules Christianity, and then expects us to pay for the privilege.
Aside from the fact that the ‘comedy sketch’ in question was decidedly unfunny, the parody as presented was totally ignorant of Christian beliefs and the Gospel narrative. Real humour requires the ring of truth – and the problem with this piece was not merely its clunky and leaden writing, and its hammy delivery – but that it managed entirely to miss the point of the story it was trying to send up.
Anyone familiar with the Gospel story of the Annunciation will know that its centrepiece is Mary’s consent. The dialogue between Mary and God’s messenger, the Angel Gabriel, has been a source of contemplation and wonder down through the ages. Here was the Creator of all things sending his emissary to ask permission from a woman whom he had created, and who, in the eyes of the world, was nothing. The fate of all humanity depended on her answer. The act of asking for consent was itself an exercise in humility, love, and respect. For a moment, God placed himself in Mary’s power, as asking for permission implies the possibility of rejection. Following her “fiat” the God of all things placed his only Son under her care and authority.
There is a reason why the Annunciation is a story that is still retold 2,000 years after it happened and why all generations still call Mary “Blessed”. The story bears no resemblance to RTÉ’s crass portrayal. On the contrary, it demonstrates God’s profound respect and care for us, his created beings and adopted children, and is the prelude to the event that literally divided time in two: the birth of our Saviour.