Joshua Bennett
Bill Maher has a history of anti-Catholic statements, including jokes about child abuse by Catholic priests. In 2019, Maher referred to Covington Catholic High School student Nick Sandmann as a little prick on his show Real Time. Sandmann's attorney threatened to sue Maher for defamation, but it is unclear if a lawsuit was ever filed. Maher's comments and jokes about the Catholic Church and child abuse have sparked controversy and criticism.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of lawsuit | 21 February 2019 |
| Plaintiff | Nick Sandmann, a Covington Catholic high school student |
| Defendant | Bill Maher |
| Allegations | Defamation |
| Plaintiff's lawyer's statement | "We have not decided who we will sue next. However, we are discussing that and these lawsuits will continue to roll out over the next 30 to 60 days" |
| Maher's comments about Sandmann | "I don't blame the kid, the smirk-face kid. I blame lead poisoning and bad parenting. And, oh yeah, I blame the f—ing kid, what a little prick" |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Bill Maher's history of anti-Catholicism
Bill Maher has a history of making anti-Catholic statements, dating back to at least 2003. On his show "Real Time with Bill Maher," he has frequently made jokes and comments that many perceive as anti-Catholic. For example, in 2003, during his Broadway show "Victory Begins at Home," Maher stated, "What's the reason for this insanity? [...] One word: religion. The Catholics got away with f*ing kids." He then impersonated an altar boy, saying, "Put some more lotion on, Father," and "Holy lubricant, Father!"
In 2008, Maher criticised a Catholic priest who said he would withhold Communion for people who voted for Obama, stating, "The cracker won't let you get the cracker." He also attacked the Pope as a Nazi and accused him of covering up for a molester, saying, "Whenever you combine a secretive compound, religion, and weirdos in pioneer outfits, there's going to be some child f*ing going on."
In 2013, Maher implied that Pope Francis and all clergy are homosexual, stating, "Who has more gay friends and co-workers than a pope?" He also joked about the Pope being an atheist, saying, "I think the Pope might be an atheist. [...] You could almost see them preparing the poison."
In 2015, Maher dismissed concerns about anti-Christian discrimination, arguing that Christians, as the majority in the nation, have no basis to complain about defamation or discrimination. He also joked about priests abusing children during an interview with Gerald Posner, author of a critical book on the Catholic Church.
In 2016, Maher made a comment about the Pope talking about vaginas, and in 2017, he stated that he is "not anti-Catholic, I'm anti-child f*ing," in response to criticism from the Catholic Church.
In 2019, Maher criticised Covington Catholic High School student Nick Sandmann, calling him "a little prick." He then made a joke about priest sex abuse, saying, "I do not get what Catholic priests see in these kids." The attorney representing Sandmann said they were "looking very carefully" at Maher for making "defamatory statements."
In 2020, Maher went after Supreme Court Nominee Amy Coney Barrett for her Catholicism, describing her as "really, really Catholic." He also made a joke about adding ice cream music to delivery trucks and turned it into an attack on priests, alluding to child abuse.
Maher has also defended Marjorie Taylor Greene's statement that Catholic bishops are "controlled by Satan," and he has been criticised by the Catholic League for his anti-Catholic remarks, with the league calling for his show to be canceled.
Cole and Sav: Catholic or Christian?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Mocking Catholic sex abuse victims
Bill Maher, a self-described anti-Catholic, has a history of mocking the Catholic Church and its members. In May 2003, during his Broadway show "Victory Begins at Home," Maher made light of Catholic sex abuse scandals, joking, "The Catholics got away with f*ing kids." He then impersonated an altar boy, saying to a priest, "Put some more lotion on, Father," and "Holy lubricant, Father!"
In April 2008, on "Real Time with Bill Maher," he attacked the Pope as a Nazi and accused him of covering up for a molester: "Whenever you combine a secretive compound, religion, and weirdos in pioneer outfits, there's going to be some child f*ing going on."
In January 2019, on the same show, Maher responded to the controversy surrounding Covington Catholic High School student Nick Sandmann, calling him "a little prick." He then made a joke about priest sex abuse, saying, "I do not get what Catholic priests see in these kids." Following this comment, the attorney representing Sandmann said he was "looking very carefully" at Maher for making "defamatory statements."
In July 2018, during his "Live From Oklahoma" stand-up special, Maher mocked the Catholic League for boycotting his show 12 years prior, saying, "I would say 'Bill [Donohue], I'm no anti-Catholic, I'm anti-child fking. Your organization has been caught doing a lot of that. That doesn't make me a bad guy."
In June 2020, on "Real Time with Bill Maher," he took a joke about adding ice cream music to delivery trucks and turned it into an attack on priests, alluding to sex abuse: "UPS trucks have to play ice cream music….So let's add the music and bring back memories of that summer day when you and your best friend got ice cream and your priest paid for it and then—okay, maybe not that memory."
While Maher has faced backlash and potential legal repercussions for his comments, he has continued to make controversial statements about the Catholic Church and its handling of sex abuse scandals.
Senior Housing: Catholic Charities' Support for the Elderly
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Defamatory statements about Nick Sandmann
Nick Sandmann, a student at Covington Catholic High School, was at the centre of a viral video at the Lincoln Memorial in 2019. The video showed him wearing a Make America Great Again hat and appearing to stare down Nathan Phillips, a Native American activist, as he played a drum. Twitter commentators interpreted the incident as an instance of harassment against Phillips. However, longer videos of the incident presented a more nuanced story.
Following the incident, Sandmann filed defamation lawsuits against several media organisations, including ABC News, Rolling Stone magazine, CBS News, Gannett, and The New York Times. He alleged that their coverage of the incident defamed him by characterising his actions towards Phillips in a negative light.
One of the most notable instances of alleged defamation involved Bill Maher, a political commentator with a history of anti-Catholic rhetoric. On his show "Real Time with Bill Maher," he referred to Sandmann as "a little prick" and made a joke about priest sex abuse, saying, "I do not get what Catholic priests see in these kids." Sandmann's lawyer stated that they were "looking very carefully" at Maher and HBO for allowing him to make those statements.
However, Sandmann's lawsuits were ultimately unsuccessful. Federal Judge William Bertelsman noted that Sandmann failed to present actual claims of defamation and that the statements he challenged constituted protected opinions rather than factual assertions. The court concluded that the media organisations' coverage, including characterisations of Sandmann "blocking" Phillips, were not defamatory and fell within the scope of protected opinions.
Sandmann also filed a defamation lawsuit against the Washington Post, which was settled in 2020. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but Sandmann tweeted about reaching a "mutually agreeable resolution."
Catholic University: COVID Vaccines Required?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Gloating about Catholic Church child-abuse scandals
Bill Maher has a history of anti-Catholic commentary, often involving jokes about child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. On his show "Real Time with Bill Maher", he has made several jokes alluding to child abuse by Catholic priests. For example, in 2020, he made a joke about adding ice cream music to delivery trucks, which he turned into an attack on priests: "New Rule: UPS trucks have to play ice cream music….So let’s add the music and bring back memories of that summer day when you and your best friend got ice cream and your priest paid for it and then—okay, maybe not that memory."
In 2019, in response to the controversy surrounding the Covington Catholic High School students at the March for Life, Maher criticized student Nick Sandmann, calling him "a little prick". He then followed that with a joke about priest sex abuse, saying, "I do not get what Catholic priests see in these kids." This comment led to the attorney representing Sandmann stating that they were “looking very carefully" at Maher for making “defamatory statements”.
Maher has also mocked the Catholic Church's response to sexual abuse allegations. In 2008, he commented on a Catholic priest in South Carolina who told his congregation that those who voted for Obama could not receive Communion, stating: "That’s right, the cracker won’t let you get the cracker. He said supporting Obama constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil. Then he proceeds to pass around the plate so everyone could chip in to pay off the child f*ing lawsuits."
In his 2003 Broadway show "Victory Begins at Home", Maher discussed Islam and religion more broadly, stating: "What’s the reason for this insanity? One word: religion. The Catholics got away with f*ing kids." He then impersonated an altar boy speaking to a priest, saying, "Put some more lotion on, Father," and "Holy lubricant, Father!"
While Maher has faced backlash and potential legal repercussions for his comments, he has continued to make similar jokes and critiques over the years.
Catholics' Perspective on Suffering and Hardships
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$10.22 $10.99
Bill Maher's views on religion
Bill Maher, a comedian, political commentator, and television host, is known for his talk show "Real Time with Bill Maher" and late-night show "Politically Incorrect." Maher, who was raised Catholic, has been described as agnostic, atheist, and apatheist, and is a vocal critic of religion, particularly Catholicism.
Maher has made numerous controversial statements about Catholicism, including jokes about priest sex abuse and the Catholic Church's handling of child molestation allegations. He has referred to the Pope as a Nazi and made light of Communion, saying, "the cracker won't let you get the cracker." In 2019, he criticized Covington Catholic High School student Nick Sandmann, calling him "a little prick," and joked about Catholic priests' attraction to children. These comments led to the consideration of legal action against Maher by Sandmann's attorney.
Maher has also targeted individuals for their Catholic faith, such as criticizing Supreme Court Nominee Amy Coney Barrett for being "really, really Catholic." He has defended figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene, who suggested Catholic bishops are "controlled by Satan," and has stated that "religion must die for mankind to live."
Beyond Catholicism, Maher has criticized Islam, citing human rights violations and "illiberal ideas" supported by majorities in Muslim countries. He has also expressed opposition to political correctness and holds moderately liberal views, describing himself as a libertarian and a progressive.
In his work, including his film "Religulous" and appearances on "Real Time with Bill Maher," Maher has expressed his belief that religion is dangerous as it "allows human beings who don't have all the answers to think that they do." He encourages rational people to speak out against religion and has aligned himself with other critics of religion, including Salman Rushdie, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris.
What's the Difference Between Byzantine, Orthodox, and Catholic?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
No, but the attorney representing Covington Catholic high school student Nick Sandmann said he was ""looking very carefully" at Bill Maher for making ""defamatory statements".
Maher called Sandmann ""a little prick" and said, "I blame the f—ing kid, what a little prick".
Maher said, "I don't spend a lot of time around Catholic school children, but I do not get what Catholic priests see in these kids".
The lawyer said, "We have not decided who we will sue next. However, we are discussing that and these lawsuits will continue to roll out over the next 30 to 60 days".
It is unclear whether Maher faced any legal consequences, but his comments were criticised as ""defamatory" and "mocking Catholic sex abuse victims".
