catholicsphere

The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights received a number of complaints about the November 3 episode of C.S.I.. Bill Donohue made comments about the episode and urged people to let CBS know of your concerns. You can read the references on the CSI website for the episode.

Now, I watched the episode … and, in addition to some off-hand comments here and there — which Donohue notes — there was an exchange between the character of “Catherine Willows” and the doctor of Project Sunflower character which was the focal point of the message the episode tried to convey. The website describes the doctor as “a very unlikable woman”. Why? Because she says the organization “believes every embryo is a baby from the minute the sperm meets the egg.” But the website finishes the phrase with “the minute it’s fertilized in a laboratory dish”. This really dehumanizes the issue. If its a dehumanized process, the writers certainly don’t take issue with it.

But, Willows shoots back the “16th century position of the pope” that said that ensoulment occurred at the time of what was called “the quickening”, “the moment the mother first felt movement.” Yet, as a scientist, and wanna-be expert on church doctrine, Willows appears ignorant of the scientific advances that have led the church to further refine such a position.

The character of “Gil Grissom” does make reference to Leviticus in “reprimanding” Willows for her exchange, though appreciating her stand. He refers to the verse that says that “the life of the flesh is in the blood”, noting that blood does not enter until the 18th day.

I will say that most of the show is not focused on putting out a pro-choice message … but it does try to make a statement, for whatever reason the writers have. Shows tend to make arguments for various agendas … and if they make ones that are at odds with what we believe, it is usually a sign that our arguments are not making enough sense or having a strong enough effect on people. That signals a need for change.