The Vancome Lady Takes on the Catholic League

The Vancome sketch Vancoma engendered the ire of the Catholic League, a self-proclaimed Catholic civil rights organization. Here's the Associated Press wire story:

Catholic group angry at Fox over sketch

NEW YORK (May 1, 1998 5:31 p.m. EDT http://www.nando.net) -- A civil rights organization accused Fox's "Mad TV" of slurring Roman Catholics in a skit that refers to a priest as "Father Fellatio" and shows him groping two women.

The Catholic League, a 350,000-member Catholic civil rights organization, said Friday that the skit was offensive and urged Fox not to air any sequels.

"It is one thing to poke gentle fun at a priest, quite another to set him up as a depraved cleric," said Catholic League president William Donohue. "The language used was deplorable and it makes absolutely no difference ... that it was a late evening show. There is no legitimate time slot for Catholic bashing."

Fox defended the skit, which aired April 25, saying it featured an ongoing character who specializes in making "politically incorrect" statements.

Fox issued this statement it attributed to the show's producers: "We respect the Catholic League's work to combat religious bias. Comedies like 'Mad TV' use social satire to expose cultural stereotypes rather than to perpetuate them."

Actress Nicole Sullivan plays her character, the Vancome Lady, in the skit. She's shown in a hospital bed while in a coma, but is still able to hurl insults.

The priest who came in to administer last rites was played by actor Lou Diamond Phillips, last week's guest host. In addressing him, the Vancome Lady also makes references to child molestation and drinking.

"This is not the first time that 'Mad TV' has offended Catholics, nor is it the first time that it has made a cheap sexual statement about Catholic nuns and priests," Donohue said. "To our knowledge, the show has not sought to ridicule any other religion, thus raising serious questions about motive."

Fox, however, issued a tape showing a parody commercial for "G.I. Jew" and "G.I. Jehovah's Witness" dolls.

The Catholic League raised objections last summer to ABC's "Nothing Sacred," a drama about a Catholic priest, before the show even aired. Other Catholic organizations later supported that show.