The March edition of the CBS program, “The Early Show,” featured another attack on Catholicism; it was the third outburst in less than two months. Joining Bryant Gumbel in this attack was his co-host Jane Clayson, anchor Julie Chen and meteorologist Mark McEwen. Here is a sample of the extended discussion:
McEwen: Do you go to church?
Gumbel: No.
McEwen: Then why do you give up stuff for Lent?
Gumbel: Because I think there is a great deal of Catholic guilt that remains.
McEwen: That’s what—that’s what drives the Catholic Church, is guilt.
Gumbel: I mean, so if you even—if you even think about Betty Sue in the backseat, forget about doing it. Save your effort. You already sinned.
Chen: I haven’t thought of Betty Sue in the backseat…
McEwen: …if you do go to the backseat, you can go say you’re sorry.
Gumbel: That’s right.
McEwen: It’s called confession.
Gumbel: …were, like no matter what you did, if you had a double murder, he’d give you, like, a Hail Mary.
McEwen: That’s right.
Gumbel: Say a Hail Mary and go home. And the other one, if you, like, ate meat on Friday, he’d make you take a trip to Lourdes. Seriously. I mean, no—the penance was different….
In a statement to the press, Catholic League president William Donohue commented as follows:
“I mean, like, hey man, like, when will Bryant grow up?”
