South Park episode 'has not been canned'

Network bosses have denied pulling a controversial episode of South Park in the face of a campaign from Catholics.

Comedy Central failed to air a scheduled repeat of the Bloody Mary episode in the States on December 28, leading to speculations it had bowed to pressure from activists.

The animated show revolved around a statue of the Virgin Mary believed to be bleeding from her backside. However Pope Benedict XVI investigates and concludes the icon is only menstruating, declaring: ‘A chick bleeding out her vagina is no miracle. Chicks bleed out their vaginas all the time.’

The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights demanded an apology and a pledge the show never be repeated or released on DVD.

However, the cable network has now reassured fans that the episode, which originally aired on December 7, had not been canned.

In an email to concerned bloggers, Comedy Central’s viewer services department said: Though Comedy Central did not include the Bloody Mary episode in a special year-end marathon of South Park episodes in deference to the holidays, Bloody Mary did in fact air in every one of South Park's normally scheduled repeat timeslots.

‘As satirists, we believe that it is our First Amendment right to poke fun at any and all people, groups, organisations and religions and we will continue to defend that right.

‘Our goal is to make people laugh, and perhaps if we're lucky, even make them think in the process.

‘Despite misleading claims from those who would like to claim victory, we have not permanently shelved the Bloody Mary episode from future airings due to outside pressure nor will we exclude it from future DVD releases.’

Published: 9 Jan 2006