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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he feels regret and disapproval over a comedy skit presented by Lior Shlein, left.
Last update - 14:50 22/02/2009
Olmert apologizes for Virgin Mary television spoof
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, and The Associated Press
Tags: ehud olmert, israel news 

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday said he feels regret, sorrow and disapproval for a comedy show that mocked Christian theology and offended the Vatican.

Government spokesman Mark Regev said Olmert told ministers at a cabinet
meeting Sunday the comedy segment was in stark contrast to good relations
b
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etween Israel and Christians worldwide.

Broadcast recently on a late-night show on the private Channel 10 TV station, the segment mocked the belief that Mary was a virgin and that Jesus walked on water.

The skit was a sarcastic response to the Vatican's rehabilitation of a
Catholic bishop who denied the Holocaust took place. The host later apologized for causing offense.

The Vatican issued a statement Friday calling the segment a vulgar and
offensive act of intolerance.

In the sketch, Mary is said to have become pregnant at 15, thanks to a schoolmate. It said Jesus could never have walked on water because he was so fat he was ashamed to leave the house, let alone go to the Sea of Galilee with a bathing suit.

The foreign ministry said the segment wouldn't be shown again and that its host, well-known Israeli comedian Lior Shlein, had apologized.

Related articles:
  • Vatican irked by 'blasphemous' Virgin Mary TV spoof in Israel
  • Will Virgin Mary TV spoof jeopardize Pope visit to Israel?
  • ADL chief: Pope Bendedict's condemnation of Holocaust denial not enough
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Gilad or Gilad?
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    Take this waltz
    "Waltz with Bashir" was not made for Hollywood, it was made for human beings.
      1.   Any religion which cannot take criticism 11:56  |  Andyboy 22/02/09
      2.   THROWING ROCKS;IT GOES BACK TO THE OLD TESTEMENT 12:08  |  glenna 22/02/09
      3.   Stop Grovelling 12:31  |  Ethan 22/02/09
      4.   Olmert should rather apologize for the civilian deaths in Gaza... 12:51  |  Swiss (Dino) 22/02/09
      5.   Is this really happening? 13:09  |  David 22/02/09
      6.   Poor humor 13:41  |  Paul 22/02/09
      7.   For skits in a similar vein Dario Fo got a literature Nobel prize 13:41  |  Nemesis 22/02/09
      8.   Olmert and the Virgin Mary 13:42  |  amazona 22/02/09
      9.   THE VIRGIN MARY 14:08  |  CARL 22/02/09
      10.   Olmert Apologizing for What? 14:35  |  John Q. Public 22/02/09
      11.   television spoof 14:55  |  elliot 22/02/09
      12.   He should retire to Scandinavia. 15:15  |  Mark Lincoln 22/02/09
      13.   No concern about freedom of speech? 15:23  |  Binyamin Dissen 22/02/09
      14.   Boundaries 15:30  |  Sherlock Holmes 22/02/09
      15.   Blasphemy 15:44  |  Carole 22/02/09
      16.   Will Christians now apologize for The Passion 15:55  |  judith 22/02/09
      17.   Olmert Apologizes 16:25  |  Nili 22/02/09
      18.   You people are sad 16:26  |  Dude 22/02/09
      19.   I hope he apologized "if anyone took offense" 16:59  |  Kenny 22/02/09
      20.   Apologizing for a sketch is utterly stupid. 17:09  |  Sarah 22/02/09
      21.   #4 "If Christians still believe in those myths…" 17:12  |  John Graham 22/02/09
      22.   IF IT WAS MOHAMAD OUR BELOVED PROPHET 17:28  |  indrajaya 22/02/09
      23.   #12 Denouncing anti-Jewish portrayals in the NT… 17:49  |  John Graham 22/02/09
      24.   To Anybody in Eilat 17:54  |  Persian Kitty 22/02/09
      25.   above 18:13  |  Luiz Felipe Haddad 22/02/09
      26.   David in Israel 18:13  |  rich 22/02/09
      27.   #22 way to jump in there and find yourself some supporters;gotta 18:49  |  glenna 22/02/09
      28.   To Swiss (Dino # 4). Olmert should rather apologize. 20:16  |  flyingdoc57 22/02/09
      29.   Olmert apologizes for virgin Mary television spoof 21:31  |  Elisabetta Ventura 22/02/09
      30.   # 28 flyingdoc57, it`s always a good idea to be well-informed.... 21:42  |  Swiss (Dino) 22/02/09
      31.   Virgin Mary television spoof 22:17  |  Martha 22/02/09
      32.   Wise thing for Olmert to do. 23:00  |  Maureen Ann 22/02/09
      33.   a caution 23:23  |  li wong 22/02/09
      34.   So what ? She was a slut. Big deal. 23:39  |  Miguel Almela Perez 22/02/09
      35.   To Swiss (Dino # 30). Are you for real??? 00:07  |  flyingdoc57 23/02/09
      36.   olmert and the mary spoof 00:08  |  keith c 23/02/09
      37.   # 18 - You do not get out much, do you?!! 06:31  |  ES 23/02/09
      38.   flyingdoc57 17:14  |  Beano 23/02/09
      39.   #29 Elisabetta Ventura 17:16  |  Beano 23/02/09
      40.   Miguel Almela Perez 17:21  |  Beano 23/02/09
      41.   Virgin Mary Spoof 07:11  |  Bruce 24/02/09
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