Gerard Henderson rejects David Marr’s “sneering, secularist Sunday”
Gerard Henderson accused David Marr on ABC1’s Insiders today of “sneering” at Christians and, in particular, Catholics.
The panel discussion livened up when program presenter Barrie Cassidy opened up a discussion on the canonisation of Sister Mary MacKillop in Rome tonight.
“I take it for granted no one’s watching the show this morning,” David Marr said drily.
“I mean, I take it for granted that everybody’s at mass.”
Then Marr prompted this exchange:
DAVID MARR: So, therefore, we can really speak amongst ourselves and amongst ourselves do any of us here believe in miracles?
Annabel, do you believe in miracles?”
ANNABEL CRABB: Well, not especially, but, umm, I think that, umm …
DAVID MARR: No you don’t.
GERARD HENDERSON: Many Catholics don’t believe in miracles, but what I note though, David, is that it is “sneering, secularist Sunday” again. It’s all having a sneer at the Catholic church. I mean, I know people who believe in crystals. I know people who believe in horoscopes. I mean, I know some people who believe in Gough Whitlam. I mean, all sorts of people believe in different things. But it’s very easy to sneer at Catholics. I mean, I don’t see many sneers at Muslims.
Cassidy noted that Mary MacKillop was being canonised while the atheist Julia Gillard occupied the Lodge.
DAVID MARR: I asked her, “Do you believe in miracles?” and she said, “No.” Bluntly, “No.” I don’t either. I don’t think there’s anybody up there doing magic tricks for us down on Earth. I’m not sneering at them, but I do think that it’s a ludicrous belief. Just as you sneer sometimes, Gerard. You sneer at believers in the Labor Party.
GERARD HENDERSON: That’s not true, actually. I might sneer at the Greens, but that’s different.
… I just think we ought to drop the ridicule. It’s really easy to go at people. And if you’re going to start ridiculing Muslims, I’ll be very interested, David, and I’ll send out a protection [block?] to look after you.”
Marr asked Cassidy if he believed in miracles.
“I’m with what Kevin Rudd said,” Cassidy replied.
On Channel 10’s Meet the Press this morning, Kevin Rudd said, “If you are asking me, as a Christian believer, do I accept the proposition of the supernatural, and of supernatural intervention, well, of course, one follows from the other.”
