The Project Jesus joke

2023 - 3 - 3

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Sydney Morning Herald"

Serious Christians don't mind a Jesus joke. The Project's apology is ... (The Sydney Morning Herald)

A spoonful of satire is no threat to faith or salvation. Christians have had a saucy sense of humour for centuries.

[Miles Pattenden](/by/miles-pattenden-p5364f)is a senior research fellow at the Institute for Religion & Critical Inquiry, Australian Catholic University. The broader point is this: a religion which has so often harnessed the erotic potential of its saints and deity can hardly expect others to declare that strategy off-limits in their criticisms. He seemed the bigger man – much more so than the ludicrous Spanish bishop who, [in 2017, said](https://www.mirror.co.uk/incoming/catholics-outraged-spain-after-drag-9953688) that a drag queen who dressed up as the Virgin Mary left him sadder than when a plane crashed killing 154 people. They won’t end the jokes, of course, but they shouldn’t want to or try to. Christians shouldn’t let them, if only out of a self-interested awareness that there’s plenty in their catechism that others too could deem hateful or be offended by. Renaissance portraits of Christ on the cross often show him with an erect penis – a theological point to emphasise his humanity. “What other business would complain when people shout out the name of the shop?” [Reuben Kaye’s off-colour one-liner on Network Ten’s The Project](https://www.theage.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/the-project-declared-jokes-about-jesus-are-off-limits-are-we-okay-with-that-20230302-p5cows.html). It imagined the pope as a petulant child voiced by Ruby Wax. [Popetown](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3684464.stm), a 2005 adult sitcom billed as “Father Ted meets South Park”? A self-confident religion takes criticism and doesn’t rush to demand retribution against its heretics. Jesus was a man of many foreskins.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Daily Mail"

Em Rusciano says The Project 'threw Jesus joke comedian under ... (Daily Mail)

Em Rusciano tweeted on Thursday she finds it 'hard to believe' the joke was not green-lit by producers given her experience on the program, which she says ...

It comes after an insider at The Project claimed Channel 10's flagship talk show was being trashed by sloppy production values and editorial standards. And on the occasion an 'edgy' guest wasn't available for a pre-record, the hosts would be meticulously briefed, allowing them to 'neutralise any situations like that, intervene if necessary and apologise if needed… 'I've worked on The Project - very little is off the cuff! They have flat-out thrown him under the bus, in my opinion. Rusciano accused The Project of throwing Kaye 'under the bus' by distancing itself from him and offering a sombre apology stressing how 'deeply and needlessly offensive' his joke was She accused The Project of throwing Kaye 'under the bus' by distancing itself from him and offering a sombre apology stressing how 'deeply and needlessly offensive' his joke was.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "NEWS.com.au"

Ex-Project star hits out: 'Thrown under bus' (NEWS.com.au)

A former panellist on The Project has taken aim at the show over its handling of a controversial joke by a guest which sparked heavy backlash.

“If the interview was done live because that was the only time (Reuben Kaye) was available, why weren’t Sarah Harris and Waleed Aly more prepared? In the end, we always seem to champion the non-threatening and the mediocre.” We are sorry.” Obviously, I understand how profound that offence was.” “I’ve worked on The Project – VERY little is off the cuff! They’ve flat out thrown him under the bus (in my opinion).

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Sky News Australia"

'Thrown under the bus': Former Project panellist's surprise claim ... (Sky News Australia)

Former radio host Em Rusicano has claimed Network Ten threw a queer comedian "under the bus" amid backlash over a lewd Jesus joke made on live television.

"I've worked on the project - VERY little is off the cuff! A tiny, tiny amount. There wasn't a lot of time to react in any sort considered way," Harris said on Wednesday before they delved into the show. I’ve worked on the project - VERY little is off the cuff! "We weren't expecting a comment like that to be made. He told hosts Waleed Aly and Sarah Harris "queer people...

Explore the last week