We published a piece over the weekend about what was behind our decision involving a St. Patrick’s Day illustration, and readers responded with a such an interesting diversity of views on the matter that we’re sharing them.
The sharing comes partly in response to reader requests, after we mentioned how many we received in a text I send out each morning to let people know what we are working on and talking about in our newsroom. (You can subscribe for free at https://joinsubtext.com/chrisquinn.)
The original piece about the St. Patrick’s illustration is here, if you missed it and wish to read it. The short version is that we opted not to publish a wonderful illustration of grinning St. Patrick holding a mug of sloshing green beer, in a pose Dean Martin would have used. One factor in that decision was the anger expressed by a reader about a cartoon we had published a month earlier of ducks in line for Communion wafers because they considered it free bread.
Opinions were equally divided as to whether we made the right decision. Here are a bunch who would have published the illustration:
I’m enjoying your pieces very much. As a person of Irish descent myself who has also recently visited the soon-no-longer-to-be-derelict home my grandmother left in Killargue, Leitrim, I would not have minded the cover picture too too much. That said, I’d at least replace the green beer with a Guinness although the portrayal of the Irish as drunkards rankles.
For what it’s worth, I’m sure god laughed at the duck cartoon! But you are making decisions from an elevated consciousness by not choosing to offend anyone. A tall order, best of luck.
Parishioners hold the belief that the Communion wafer is “the Body of Christ.” Therefore, to them it is. A duck sees food. As a child growing up in an Irish Roman Catholic household [Papal infallibility and all that], we played “Communion” with Necco wafers. Was that blasphemy? I don’t think so.
Sorry you felt compelled to censor cartoons. I would rather risk being potentially offended by humor than being denied the option to laugh. The cartoon is funny and all the Catholics in this household appreciated the cherished laugh.
I thoroughly enjoyed your e-mail on this subject. Who is to say that St. Patrick did not enjoy a beer now and then. Depending on his “look” (i.e. not totally drunk or disorderly) I don’t see why Catholic and/or Irish people would not enjoy the comic. I am both Catholic and Irish. Although I can see why some devote Catholics would take offense at the ducks, I found it humorous, as I just took it with a grain of sand at the humor in which it was intended.
The ducks in a communion line is… hysterical… to anyone who has taken their kids to a duck pond with a loaf of bread. Yes, those ducks will do anything to get that bread including taking the wrapper and bread away from my 3 year old. On a sadly faith perspective, how many times have Catholics (and I include myself) approached receiving Eucharist like those ducks with a true lack of the faith and conviction of Real Presence in Eucharist, but go through the motions of taking the “free bread” -stand in line- and go about my life looking for another free meal to maybe to satisfy a need that I’m too busy to recognize?
As an Irish Catholic myself I wouldn’t have been offended by either thing. I love the explanation and especially the idea of using the pic next year with a shamrock. Those of us who will remember will get a good chuckle! I don’t envy your need to constantly worry about offending people. I like people wanting to be kind and respectful, but some people go so far! Best of luck!
I love this cartoon. I think it is clever and funny. People who are offended by every little thing need to change their attitudes about life. We have become a society of (either) snowflakes or bullies. If people don’t start laughing at themselves, we will not survive. I hope you will not back down because one woman thinks something wasn’t to her standards. We need to laugh more and whine less.
I certainly have no problem with the St. Patrick’s Day illustration. I don’t consider myself thin skinned or non-caring. It’s just that I don’t see anything wrong with virtually any work that appears in the PD. I am sure that a lot of thought goes into the placement of cartoons and other artwork and I suspect that no one goes out of their way to annoy their readers. Keep up the good work and thanks.
I read your full exposure of your careful attempt to not offend, I think I am offended by the fact you said Irish people would be more offended deeper into the day after drinking their sloshing green beer. I am not sure why I am offended, or why you should care! However, I am quite certain that if you do not want to offend anyone, you will need to not publish anything. I am an Irish Catholic who is proud of my heritage. I am also an American who knows that this great experiment of cultural melting pot can only work if we retain our sense of humor!!!
Here are some who agreed with our decision on the illustration:
I appreciate your efforts to communicate your response to an upset reader. You missed the mark BIG TIME when you said “Communion is considered the body of Christ by Catholics.” No, it is not considered, it IS the body of Christ! This is Church teaching... .it is the center of our faith. I never saw this cartoon, and yes, it is so offensive. Your attempt to make amends offends me too.
Thanks for being “aware” and sensitive. As a member of an ethnic group also sometimes subject to “unkind” references, I applaud your respect for the symbolic St. Patrick. However, I think your newsman self should be interested in the large audience of Indian fans and their feelings about the loss of Chief Wahoo and the real Cleveland Indians. I am sure just kissing up to the”Guardians” is avoiding a real story in our town.
I have to write to say the “cartoon” with the ducks is, indeed, disrespectful to the Catholics or possibly any Christian faith. I, too, had 12 years of Catholic education, no longer a practicing Catholic. I am however a devout Christian. The cartoon is inarguably disrespectful to the sacrament of Holy Communion which you would know is a sacred rite! A saint sloshing a beer stein is just as bad. The problem is disrespect and our nation has become so, mocking everything. Nothing seems beyond mockery and disrespect . If there is ever a doubt, don’t.
That was the right call. St. Patrick with green beer is disgusting and disrespectful. Irish, Catholic, maiden name Reagan, ancestors County Cork. No part of it is funny. Nix the smiling snake too.
Thank you for not using the St. Patrick’s Day cartoon of St. Patrick sloshing Green beer. There is a two-century history of anti-Irish and anti-Catholic bias in America, when we were a minority. This was reflected in images of simian-like Irish Americans in political cartoons that filled 19th century publications, alongside anti-Semitic, anti-Black images. St. Patrick’s Day in the US has become a second Mardi Gras, celebrating alcohol intake, unrecognizable as a religious feast. But some of us out here know the history, and are devout Catholics, and don’t think sacrilegious images are funny -- whether they are aimed at Catholics or Jews, or Muslims.
You wrote of a reader who found the cartoon of ducks standing in line to receive the holy Eucharist distasteful, disrespectful and vulgar. I wholeheartedly agree. You seem to think that because you “grew up in a Catholic household and spent 12 years in Catholic schools,” you can judge that this cartoon was not bad enough to cause outrage. After all, it’s “just a comic.” But the image of the prophet in the French magazine was “just a comic,” too, and look at the outrage it caused. Frankly, I can’t see how a beer-swigging St. Patrick compares even remotely to ducks receiving the Eucharist, but you chose not to use that image for the cover of IN THE CLE because you thought “a not-insignificant percentage of Irish Catholics” would look unkindly on it. Are Irish Catholics the only people to be considered?
The focus of some notes we received was on how we might treat other groups.
First of all, I am Irish, having all of my grandparents emigrate from Ireland in the 19th century. I am a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America, being an officer in my division, in the state of Ohio and also on the National Board. I am known for my sense of humor but I do draw the line when humor debases a particular culture and religion, especially that of the Irish. I don’t think for one moment you would consider a cartoon as such, on Muhammad or on Martin Luther King. You can say “it was only a joke,” then fine, accept jokes on every racial group. If you want to be politically correct, then do so. The Irish Americans don’t ask to be treated any better than any other group, but we will not accept being treated any worse.
In reading your response to the St. Patrick’s Day illustration, the main issue I have with all forms of media is using Catholics as low hanging fruit to make fun of religion. You know it’s safe, and blow back will be minimal. After all, the paper has plenty of moments in a year to publish pieces that offend someone, as you said. However, you would not in a million years show a picture of Muhammad, even in a comic, for fear of Muslim retribution, a la Charlie Hebdo. Certain groups are “off limits” and you know it.
Hi Chris. I’m Catholic. I’m not offended by the cartoon. I am however disturbed by your hypocrisy. If that cartoon insulted Jews or Muslims it would never have been published
If it insulted Blacks or Hispanics or Asians it would not have been published. The double standard is laughable and transparent. And you wonder why people think the media has an agenda.
Good Morning Chris - I am a devout Irish Catholic male. I go to Mass every Sunday and many times during the week. I am 68 years old. I am also not an over-the-top “religious” Catholic. I would not have ranted over the proposed picture. What I am questioning is why the debate? I have come to accept the loss of Chief Wahoo for all the reasons your team was debating whether to run the St. Patrick illustration. What is the difference? Native American; Native Irish; It is the inconsistency that drives me goofy!... Thank you for listening to my point.
This longer response had a philosophical perspective on the issue:
Mr. Quinn and the Cleveland.com team, how thoughtful of you to consider the views of your readers. Do hear one more opinion.
I found the cartoon narrative of the ducks collaborating for “Free Bread” to be a refreshing political statement. The subliminal message demanded us to reflect upon those who have taken unsavory steps to survive. The one critical reader with her sanctimonious elucidations seemed more distracted with the significance of the common communion element vs. the plight of those who have found themselves out in the elements without shelter or bread.
I agree, your second cartoon statement may have caused even greater disturbance of mind, if it had been published. Yes, it would have provoked some readers to anger, as they turned inward and recognized themselves wrestling with the sin-nature (snake). However, other may have been helped, as they realized truth (Bible), in its many forms, was being tossed to the ground and trampled upon by 21st-century apostasy. It is where this nation has succumbed to greed (green drink) and gluttonousness; that of wanting more and more, and never enough.
Visual imagines have a powerful ways of teaching truth. It is my prayer that your form of creating awareness, through cartoons and editorials, will continue to be a recognizable element within the Cleveland publications. Some eyes will opened to change, while other hearts will attempt to distract the masses through distorted Christian ideology. Mr. Quinn, as editor of content, it will take Godly wisdom and strength of character to do what is right, as you face opposition for speaking truth. We must all do so to avoid the iron-hand of censorship, where greater apathy and hypocrisy exist in the face of inhumane conditions, racism, misogyny, lack of civil liberties, and much more.
Therefore, Mr. Quinn, this is not the time to retract and wait. In these perilous times, we may not have a year. Continue to speak boldly, now, as you ought (Eph. 6:20). Finding the middle ground will be difficult, as society keeps shifting and truth is belied by tilting scales of injustice, which are maintained by Christian cults that subscribe to the philosophies: ‘Me-and-mine only,” and “The hell to the rest of you.” Let us not forget their violent voices on Jan. 6, 2021. Nor should we ever forget the bold hearts that spoke truth to our nation. Some were editors/cartoonists like you.
Finally, I thank the many people who started their notes expressing kind thoughts about the weekly Letter from the Editor that I write. I’m gratified that people appreciate the work we are doing to be transparent and explain our decision process, as we did with St. Patrick.
Thank you, for this informative email, and even more importantly, I thank you for all the thought and consideration that goes into the editorial process and decisions you make each day. Continued success with your choices.
But don’t worry. I won’t let the kind notes go to my head, because I also receive notes like this one, to keep me grounded.
I also need to say that I find the tenor of your weekly letters to be rather smug and self-righteous. Frankly, I think it would be better if you didn’t even write them. And, by the way, I am NOT a “woke” person in any sense of that word.