Did anyone see this episode Monday? I don't know if I am being prudish, but I did find it offensive. Amy's parents are very religious and they keep the Sabbath, of course, the Barones put them down and poked fun at them, and Amy came out and said something to the effect that "I am not sinning" (she is with Robert at his apartment). I just feel they made the very religious parents look bad, and I sided with them and didn't find it funny. I do love the show, but this bothered me. MaryAnn

-- maryann (maryann.parker@citigroup.com), February 26, 2003

Answers

Hi Mary Ann, I agree with you. Robert's fiance boldly told her parents that Robert sleeps there on many nights, and "I have decided" that we are not sinning. Hmmm. I guess she makes up her own doctrine as she goes along...Not unlike so many "cafeteria Catholics," (those who claim to be Catholic, but only pick and choose which teachings they find pallatable.) Pax Christi.

-- Anna <>< (Flower@youknow.com), February 26, 2003.

I saw the show too - it is one of my favorite shows on TV.

I am sure many people will be offended by it. However, I think things like that can happen when religious people border on fanatic and 'hold on' to tight to their kids and 'push' religion on them.

I do think that being religious is one thing, being a fanatic is another and I do not think we should push our children because they will rebel at some point and I think that is what Robert's girlfriend is doing in the show - she is rebelling against her parents (even though she is not a child). I mean, really, don't you think they are a little too much? She is an adult woman, not a child and she should be able to make her own choices even if those choices are wrong.

As far as the Barone's making fun of the religious parents, they were rather critical of the Barone family as well - looking down on them as if they were better than the Barones - they didn't bother to look in their own closet first - their son is a whacko!!

I love Our Lord too, but does that couple look happy? The wife is a shrinking violet who is afraid to open her mouth, the husband is a control freak, and they spend their free time doing puzzles of Our Lord? Now, really, do you think that is how Jesus wants us to live our lives?

I don't think so. Jesus does not want us to sit in our living rooms putting puzzles together of Him...he would rather us 'live our lives' and setting 'examples' of our faith - not looking down on others who do not have it.

Mother Teresa said, Jesus does not want us to be perfect...he just wants us to be faithful. Jesus also does not want us to be religious nuts looking down on others who do not share our faith and that is what the parents of Robert's girlfriend did to the Barones...

The Barones are Catholic and do attend Church on Sunday, if you remember the previous shows. Many Catholics are not used to seeing people holding hands and praying on the floor the way these people did. It is not a common practice for many Catholics - that does not make the Barones bad people.

In fact, in real life, the actor who plays Ray Barone's father, was a LaSallian Christian Brother for 4 years and lived in a Seminary so he is a very religious man with a strong, devout, Catholic faith..however, the life of celibacy turned out not to be for him.

It is a show, a tv show....take a deep look at what was really going on in that episode and don't take offense - control issues, fanaticism, judging others, 'hiding' behind religion, dysfunctional family issues, immorality, anger, etc., etc., etc......I was not offended at all....and I'm sure even Jesus laughed....don't take it all so seriously...

ml

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), February 26, 2003.

Well, confession: I didn't watch the whole episode. I was just doing something in the living room, and at that point, Amy's parents had just shown up unannounced at her apartment, and so I saw that particular scene.

Yes, Amy's family seems fanatic. Of course, Hollywood likes to portray religious Christians (especially Catholics) as fanatics.

I remember one episode recently where Robert drives all the way to NJ to ask Amy's parents for her hand in marriage. (They turn him down.) When he shows up, the parents are assembling a jigsaw puzzle of Jesus. The father lays hands on the puzzle reverently and says, "Give me strength!"

When an off-the-cuff offensive remark is made, the father quickly grabs a hand towel and covers the puzzle, as though this will keep Jesus from seeing or hearing what's going on.

It's poking fun of Catholic images in an extreme way, that even causes devout Catholics to chuckle over it, for the most part. I know of a priest who refers to that sort of humor as "sacrilarious." (Not sacriligious.)

But the fornication thing, did make me feel uncomfortable. It's a family show.

Pax Christi. <><

-- Anna <>< (flower@youknow.com), February 26, 2003.

Hi Anna, I did see that episode too. There was another one when Debra coaxed Ray to attend Sunday Mass and Frank insisted too. It turned out that Frank was an usher and like to stay in the back of the Church during Mass and talk and fool around with his elderly friends. He used being an usher as an excuse to avoid paying attention at Mass. Oh well. When the show is about other topics I do find it hilarious. maryann

-- maryann (maryann.parker@citigroup.com), February 26, 2003.

..sounds like a good show to give up for lent!!!

-- Theresa (Rodntee4Jesus@aol.com), February 27, 2003.

Well, I give them credit for at least *trying* to present a Catholic household. Most TV shows either ignore religion altogether or ridicule it mercilessly. This show, and "King of Queens" (both on CBS Monday nights) present some decidedly imperfect people who, nevertheless, at least *attempt* to be Catholics.

Beats "The Sopranos" anyway. :-)

-- Christine L. :-) (christine_lehman@hotmail.com), February 27, 2003.

The wife is a shrinking violet who is afraid to open her mouth, the husband is a control freak

You're absolutely right in that Our Lord is displeased with such perversions of virtue. Being feminine is (for a woman) a good, holy, and beautiful thing, wholly pleasing to God.

Now, being effeminate, either for women (or, alas, men); is a perversion of the virtue of femininity just as being a "control freak" or unduly cruel is a perversion of the virtue of true masculinity.

-- jake (jake1@pngusa.net), February 27, 2003.

italics off.

-- jake (jake1@pngusa.net), February 27, 2003.