Dear Editor, I have written to The Late Late Show to complain about an item that appeared on the January 6 edition of the show when in a discussion about a “post-truth” world, we had to endure sneering and mockery of Jesus and the Blessed Eucharist, which Ryan Tubridy seemed to find amusing. The Eucharist was referred to as “haunted bread”.
There was not a word of protest from any member of the studio audience and there was nobody on the panel to present an opposing viewpoint. I found the entire thing in very bad taste and very ignorant.
Can you imagine what the result might be if it was the Islamic faith or Judaism that was being sneered at on a chat show?
What is a post-truth world? One guest, Michael Harding, seemed to believe that there is no objective truth and everything is relative. Really? There are no self-vindicating moral values? Is love not objectively better that hatred? Is cruelty not morally wrong? Is rape not objectively wrong? Was there no objective moral difference between Hitler and St Vincent de Paul? Harding’s view makes no sense. And without an infinitely loving God morality has no intrinsic meaning. It all comes down to just a matter of opinion and taste. Even Nietzsche, who was an atheist, said that without God moral values have no meaning. It is God who gives meaning and purpose to our lives. Without God everything is just chaos and despair. As Dostoyevsky said: “If God does not exist, then everything is permitted”. Yet, many atheists are good people with sound moral principles. Why is this if life has no meaning or purpose? It’s all merely a matter of opinion, isn’t it? Everything is relative, according to the atheist.
I considered this item totally one-sided and distasteful. It was sheer bad taste and a sneering attack on the most sacred aspect of my faith.
Yours etc.,
Anthony Redmond,
Drimnagh, Dublin 12
