Penn Ultimate Sin

Jeff Taylor | January 23, 2003

It's not enough that Penn Jillette has drawn the attention of the national security state, oh no. He now stands accused of "anti-Christian" acts by the Catholic League.

In a letter to ABC, League president William Donohue charges that a recent Penn & Teller act was so offensive that the network should pull the duo's Super Bowl pre-game gig.

The bit evidently involved Teller on a cross, a cherub -- whom the presumably in-the-know Donohue describes as "a midget dressed as an angel" -- some simulated sex, and some Shroud of Turin lampooning. (Taking offense at the later seems on par with objecting to a Piltdown man sketch, but to each.)

The offending act also sounds like the exact opposite of treacly Super Bowl fare. There's a reason non-fans tune in to watch the ads. The ads entertain.