During last night’s New Years Eve countdown programme, RTE, in association with Waterford Whispers News, sunk to a new low by airing what they appear to believe was a comedy skit, accusing God of being a sexual deviant and rapist.
The item was read by former RTE News Reporter Aengus MacGrianna:
Not only is this item in very poor taste and an unnecessary attack on Chrisitans, it also serves to trivialize rape and sexual abuse, while belittling the actual victims of sexual abuse.
Fr Odhran Furlong, based in St Aidan’s Parish Enniscorthy, expressed the feelings of many people across Ireland:
RTE is a state-funded broadcaster, which every householder with a television is legally obliged to pay for. It would be expected therefore that during one of the most important religious festivals in Irish life, that those involved would show a greater level of sensitivity both to Christians, and to victims of sexual abuse.
One would also have to doubt whether our state funded broadcaster would dare to broadcast a similar item aimed at Allah or the Prophet Muhammad.
On the other hand, one could argue that this should come as no surprise given the appallingly low standards set by RTE in recent years. Last night’s New Years Eve countdown programme, and the Christmas schedule as a whole, just epitomized the bias, lack of creativity, and revolving door of mediocre talking heads who seem to dominate RTE.
Credit must go to TG4 however, who have shown excellent levels of creativity and content for the viewer over the Christmas period, despite operating on only a tiny fraction of the budget that RTE have. In the case of RTE v TG4, the taxpayer certainly doesn’t get what they pay for.
If you wish to make a complaint about the content of last night’s programme you can do so by contacting either RTE or the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland:
RTE Complaints Department:
E-mail to complaints@rte.ie
Or by Post to:
3rd Floor Admin Building
RTÉ
Donnybrook
Dublin 4
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland: https://www.bai.ie/en/contact-us/
Totally inappropriate and not in the least bit funny …shame on RTE…..wrong on so many levels….
Scandalous. Shame on you RTÉ….I want to lodge the strongest complaint and outrage to this so called skit.
You don’t deserve our licence fees. I hope you reflect on your disgusting action…but my guess is… that probably won’t happen!
I was shocked and disgusted at part of the skit on RTE last night New Year’s Eve programme. It was an outrageous and unnecessary attack on God, religion and people of faith.
This was disgusting behaviour for any TV production TV to all to be aired shame on ye
To whom it may concern.
What shame Aengus Mc.Grianna has brought on himself, his family, the National Broadcaster RTE and it CEO’s, and indeed anyone concerned with this shameful programme.
Cheap, lazy, thoughtless journalism and a new low for RTE, Standards and Ireland!
I suggest defunding RTE and sacking all who were involved in this defenceless programme.
Take a long objective look at yourselves and view yourselves as others are right now.Certainly not
a Station to be proud of!
As a young girl, I watched the opening and launch of RTE, New Year 1960: now it’s time for it to go and for something fresher and journalistically qbetter to replace it.
Shame on you for causing such pain to your Paymasters, I.e. the People of Ireland.
Anne Wilkinson Oxford. UK.
I didn’t watch RTE’s New year’s eve countdown programme but have just now watched a segment of it and I am really shocked at it’s blasphemous attack on God.
Thumbs up to TG4.Much better more intellegent and entertaining programmes.
Get rid of producer & all participants, a disgrace!! lack of education & morals