Hat tip to Fr. Zuhlsdorf at WDTPRS
Here is the advert, below which I have offered a sample letter to the president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America:
I encourage you all to write to Hyundai.
Christopher R. Altieri
[ ...]
[ ...]
craltieri@yahoo.com
John Krafcik
President and CEO
Hyundai Motor America
P.O. Box 20850
Fountain Valley, CA 92728 – 0850
Re: offensive Hyundai advert
Dear Mr. Krafcik:
Your company has recently released a television advertisement to air during World Cup matches, in which certain rites of Catholic religion are parodied.
The advertisement is offensive.
The advertisement depicts the following: a soccer ball crowned with thorns (a symbol of Our Lord's passion); a glowing soccer ball in place of the Blessed Sacrament (Christ really and truly present in the species of bread); a mimickry of the Rite of Communion, in which the Eucharistic Bread is replaced with pizza.
In all these, your company's advertisement passes out of the realm of mere irreverence, and into the realm of blasphemy.
I am quite willing to understand that it was not Hyundai's intention to offend Catholics, though even if you were sincerely to offer proof of the most absolute lack of malice, you could not remove the objective insult to our Faith and to our God, which your advertisement has given and continues to give.
I ask that you remove the ad from circulation immediately, and publish an apology as soon as practicable.
Yours Truly,
Christopher R. Altieri
Monday, June 14, 2010
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10 comments:
Well written.
I saw someone comment that they thought what was being mocked was the soccer culture, not the Eucharist and the Church. Somehow that doesn't wash with me.
At best, the message seems to be a trivialization of religious belief and practice: "isn't it curious how humans get passionate about one thing or another?"
Thanks for the sample letter. I faxed it to them at 714-593-3500 and 714-965-5070.
Also, "mimickry" is spelled "mimicry" (no "k").
Dear Geremia,
Thanks so much for visiting the blog and making use of the sample letter. I hope to see you here again, soon (and in this, I am confident that I speak also for my colleague in blogging, the HP).
Best,
LD
p.s. "mimicKry" is an archaic, but acceptable, spelling.
Geremia,
I visited, and followed, your most excellent blog. Very interesting stuff!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOY-5uxeaYQ
EQUALITY!!!
get a clue people
Dear Sean Yates,
I do find the VW ad to be in particularly poor taste, though, in order for it to be offensive in a way similar to the Hyundai advert, suicide bombing would have to be a rite of Muslim religion.
Are you really arguing this?
Best,
LD
Islam advocates killing infidels (e.g., see this Quran verse, among many others), so in a sense it is a "rite" of that "religion," really a totalitarian political ideology.
Dear Geremia,
You might enjoy this post.
I just received this email from them, as did others on WDTPRS:
Hello and thank you for your feedback regarding Hyundai advertising.
Hyundai Motor America would like to thank you and other consumers for sharing concerns about a new ad titled "Wedding" which aired during the opening games of the FIFA World Cup broadcast last week. We take comments of this nature very seriously. Because of feedback like yours, we have removed the ad from all Hyundai communications and stopped airing it.
We credit the passionate World Cup viewers and Hyundai owners for raising this issue to us. The unexpected response created by the ad, which combined both soccer and religious motifs to speak to the passion of international soccer fans, prompted us to take a more critical and informed look at the spot. Though unintentional, we now see it was insensitive. We appreciate your feedback and hope you will accept our sincere apologies.
With appreciation,
Hyundai Motor America
Also, it looks like they have made an effort to pull the ad off TV and online: Hyundai pulls television ad after Catholic uproar
Thanks, Geremia!
I posted about Hyundai pulling the ad the other day. Several people have received the same letter.
Best,
LD
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