Faith and Sports: Censorship Won't Allow Them To Mix

In 2006, I was stunned to read the article about Artur Boruc, a Polish national, who was arrested for making obscene gestures in a game in Scotland while playing for the Celtics. This horrible obscene gesture was—you guessed it—the Sign of the Cross! 

That's right, in Scotland, the Sign of the Cross is equivalent, if not more odious than, to giving someone the middle finger salute.  Boruc was arrested and has a criminal record in the EU.

The Roman Catholic Church condemned the legal action, however, expressing regret that "Scotland seems to have made itself one of the few countries in the world where this simply religious gesture is considered an offence."

Following extensive press comment, the Crown Office issued a statement on August 28, 2006, stressing that "very limited" action had been taken against Boruc for gestures made toward Rangers supporters, and that it would not take action against individuals for "acts of religious observance."

According to BBC New Online, the caution "brought the issue of sectarianism in Scotland back into sharp focus." 

I have been watching the major and minor college bowls as well as some of the NFL playoff games. I notice that every single time a player blessed himself with the Sign of the Cross or points up to heaven to give thanks, the camera suddenly cuts away.

Apparently, these acts are so offensive that they dare not be broadcast to the tender minds who watch sporting events on television. Former Saints kicker Martin Grammatica would cross himself before every kick. Yet, very few of these every made the TV broadcast.  I wonder why?

Meanwhile, melees, brawls, fights, and other acts of violence are broadcast, repeated in slow motion, and replayed. When those are over, I am fortunate enough to watch birth control and male enhancement commercials with my 12-year-old son. 

It seems like faith and sports, according to the network censors, just don' mix.