"Scientologists Declare War on South Park -- and Win"

[Robb]

Robb's note: Look at the crap that winds up in my inbox. Will someone tell conservatives this never happened? Plus, if it did, I distinctly remember seeing the episode in question, and it's therefore not "upcoming"? Self-serving self-promotion, by idiots, for idiots.... :eyes:


Scientologists Declare War on South Park -- and Win

Reports indicate Church of Scientology and Tom Cruise pressured network to cancel a
South Park show satirizing the Hollywood religion. Katharine DeBrecht -- author of
"Help! Mom! Hollywood's in My Hamper" -- condemns the actions as censorship and asks
"Where's George Clooney now?"

Los Angeles, CA (March 17, 2006) -- Reports out of Hollywood indicate that the
Church of Scientology used its well known celebrity muscle to pressure Comedy
Central into pulling an upcoming episode of the cartoon "South Park" that satirized
the religion. According to Daily Variety, the clash between Scientology and the
South Park creators is escalating in the wake of this latest move. The controversy
first gained national attention earlier this week when Isaac Hayes, the voice of the
popular character ?Chef,? quit over an episode mocking Scientology and its most
famous adherent, Tom Cruise.

Daily Variety reports a rumor suggesting that Cruise stepped in at the request of
the Church of Scientology, by saying he would refuse to help promote his upcoming
movie "Mission: Impossible 3" unless the episode was pulled. Comedy Central is owned
by Viacom, the media conglomerate that also owns Paramount, the studio behind the
"Mission: Impossible" franchise.

"These reports, if true, smack of exactly the kind of strategy Muslims have been
using in terms of the Mohammed cartoons -- stifling free speech because it sometimes
offends religious beliefs,? says best-selling children's author Katharine DeBrecht,
whose new book "Help! Mom! Hollywood's in My Hamper!" (Kids Ahead; hardcover:
$15.95; ISBN 0976726912) also satirizes Scientology and Cruise, as well as a number
of other Hollywood personalities. "While I am not a fan of 'South Park' -- and I
certainly don't think it's an appropriate program for kids -- it?s a show that has
consistently skewered many religions, including Christianity and Judaism. What makes
Scientology different? We must all defend the show?s right to parody this religion
and Tom Cruise, its most outspoken advocate.

"I also satirize Scientology and other trendy Hollywood religions in my new book as
something called 'Toenailology,'" adds DeBrecht. "Does this mean the Church of
Scientology will come after me next?" DeBrecht adds that Scientology -- which has
many Hollywood stars and power brokers in its ranks, including John Travolta,
Kirstie Alley, Beck, Jenna Elfman, and Lisa Marie Presley -- teaches that humans can
reach a godlike state, something she believes is opposed to traditional values.

"Where are George Clooney and his brave Hollywood friends?" notes DeBecht, chiding
the outspoken liberal who made a particular point during the Oscars of patting
himself on the back for having the courage to call Joseph McCarthy a bad guy -- 50
years and countless books and documentaries after the fact. "Here?s censorship
happening right under Hollywood's nose, but instead of confronting an actual free
speech issue, all these brave liberals souls don?t want to take on a clear violation
of free speech when it involves a big-name actor who might be able to give them a
job somewhere down the road. ?Hypocrisy? isn?t a strong enough word to describe
this.?


About Kids Ahead:
Kids Ahead is an imprint of Los Angeles-based World Ahead Publishing, the West
Coast's leading publisher of conservative books. Visit http://www.helpmombooks.com
to learn more.

Contact Information:
To interview author Katharine DeBrecht, contact Special Guests at [phone] or
http://www.specialguests.com/form.php.

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