‘View’ co-host Joy Behar followed up her anti-Catholic "saints are crazy" line, noting she "got in trouble with the Catholic Church." Though she emphasized it was "not all but some," she still called them "nuts" and "psychotic," and added that "not all of them deserved to be saints." Behar also added her opinions how crazy people in medieval Europe would be able to escape punishment by saying they were saints.
"I mean, let’s say that you were a person in those days, right? And you were hearing voices, and maybe you were mentally ill, but you were not stupid. As they say ‘I may be crazy, but I’m not stupid.’ So you said to yourself, ‘let’s see, if people think I’m crazy they’re going to put me in a dungeon. If I pretend to be a saint, they’ll name a church after me.’"
This was brought up as Whoopi Goldberg mentioned that Pope Benedict called for stricter guidelines for canonizing saints. Goldberg implied that the pope agrees with Behar exclaiming "you’re not the only one who feels this way." Behar responded with joy "Pope Benedict and I both." None of the co-hosts stepped up and called out Behar on her inflammatory charge. Token conservative Elisabeth Hasselbeck said that Behar’s comments were "actually very pro-saint."
The conversation continued in a fact free zone, contrary to Behar’s claim that they "do our research here." A conversation continued about St. Christopher.
BEHAR: Wait a second. They also will get rid of certain people like St. Christopher is no longer a saint, so now he’s like "Mr. Christopher" which sounds like a hairdresser on Rodeo Drive.
HASSELBECK: What did he do to not be a saint?
BEHAR: He wasn’t good enough. I don’t know. These are details.
HASSELBECK: There must be so many spots, and they fill them in.
A quick search will find that St. Christopher actually was taken off the calendar in 1969 because there is not enough historical evidence of his existence. The co-hosts need to do more of their research.
The ladies also discussed the canonization process and there was a great deal of confusion of how many miracles (as Joy says "hearing voices") are required for sainthood. Joy first claimed the criteria changed with Mother Theresa because "she was just good."
BEHAR: Well, Mother Theresa changed the sort of the criteria a little bit too, because she was just good.
GOLDBERG: Well, no she just got miracles attached to her, yeah.
BEHAR: She did?
GOLDBERG: You have to have miracles attached to you, before-
BEHAR: How many?
GOLDBERG: I think one.
BEHAR: No, I think three.
HASSELBECK: I think two, you have to hear voices-
GOLDBERG: Why did you ask if you know? I don’t know!
BEHAR: I wanted to confirm the three.
Another quick search for these allegedly well researched women, will find that two miracles need to be associated with a person to be canonized as a saint.
The entire transcript is below.
WHOOPI GOLDBERG: Now, I don’t know if you watch us everyday, but perhaps you don’t. I’m going to do a little catch up with you. A couple of weeks ago we were talking about saints and maybe they, there’s reasons why there haven’t been any saints, and Joy had a really interesting take on it. Which was, that you felt that with the onset of Prozac all of these other things, people aren’t hearing voices anymore. [laughter] Right?
JOY BEHAR: Yeah and I got in trouble with the Catholic Church.
GOLDBERG: You got in trouble.
BEHAR: But my implica- and also my cousin in Pennsylvania, the priests’ mother got upset, and so I’m not saying anything against them. I’m saying some of them might have been psychotic, some of them might not have been. Not all of them deserved to be saints. Some of them were nuts.
ELISABETH HASSELBECK: You’re saying now they would be deemed as needing medication so-
GOLDBERG: Some of them, yeah.
BEHAR: Now it’s hard to find, because you have thorazine and things that stop the voices
[laughter]
SHERRI SHEPHERD: Well but-
GOLDBERG: Well, you- go ahead.
SHEPHERD: I just wanted to know-
BEHAR: I don’t think there was anything wrong with what I said and they got upset.
GOLDBERG: I know they did.
SHEPHERD: Well, my question for you is-
HASSELBECK: It’s actually very pro-saint what you said.
SHEPHERD: What is the qualification to be a saint? You said you have to hear voices from God?
BEHAR: Well, in the old days you did.
SHEPHERD: They said they heard from God?
HASSELBECK: What if it’s just one voice?
GOLDBERG: There was a lot of stuff. There was a lot of stuff going on. But now here’s the interesting thing. Pope Benedict told the Vatican to use stricter criteria for candidates for sainthood.
BEHAR: Well, he’s German. [laughter] He’s going to be strict.
GOLDBERG: But listen to this.
HASSELBECK: That is so stereotypical.
GOLDBERG: But listen to this. His predecessor , John Paul II, canonized almost 500 saints. More than all of the other popes combined.
HASSELBECK: Good for him. The more, the merrier, I say. Just bring on the saints.
BEHAR: Well, wait a minute, he beatified 1,000 I believe. Beatification is like being nominated for the Oscar. Canonization is you actually win. It’s like that.
HASSELBECK: I grew up with the saints. I came from, like a very Roman Catholic family. So anytime something went wrong, like I would lose, you know, my key, or lose my book, my grandmother would say "here’s a card of St. Anthony. You just pray to St. Anthony and you will find it." So I kind of grew up with Anthony and Jude-
BEHAR: You know how many earrings I’ve lost that St. Anthony can not find? Please!
[laughter]
HASSELBECK: St. Anthony has found so many of my things.
GOLDBERG: And keys, husbands.
SHEPHERD: Someone gave me a saint for the baby. When I went to get pregnant, they gave me the card for- I don’t remember which saint it was.
HASSELBECK: Saint-
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Saint Gerard
GOLDBERG: How come no one gave me St. Gerard when I got pregnant? Is he new?
BEHAR: Wait a second. They also will get rid of certain people like St. Christopher is no longer a saint, so now he’s like "Mr. Christopher" which sounds like a hairdresser on Rodeo Drive.
HASSELBECK: What did he do to not be a saint?
BEHAR: He wasn’t good enough. I don’t know. These are details.
HASSELBECK: There must be so many spots, and they fill them in.
GOLDBERG: Well, that’s the interesting thing, and people got so upset with you and what you were saying and, and obviously, you know, you’re not the only one who feels like this.
BEHAR: Pope Benedict and I both.
GOLDBERG: Benny! You and Pope Benny.
SHEPHERD: So do you have to give certain things from God, now to become a saint, a certain lingo?
BEHAR: Well, Mother Theresa changed the sort of the criteria a little bit too, because she was just good.
GOLDBERG: Well, no she just got miracles attached to her, yeah.
BEHAR: She did?
GOLDBERG: You have to have miracles attached to you, before-
BEHAR: How many?
GOLDBERG: I think one.
BEHAR: No, I think three.
HASSELBECK: I think two, you have to hear voices-
GOLDBERG: Why did you ask if you know? I don’t know!
BEHAR: I wanted to confirm the three.
SHEPHERD: One miracle, two miracle, five miracle...and sold!
GOLDBERG: It’s interesting, it’s interesting, you know, because when I was a kid, and you know, you had relics of saints. They had pieces of saints that you carried. You know, they, they were very meaningful in the Catholic Church. I think what’s happened now, and I just, I hate to keep bringing it up, but I was quite amused that people were so upset by the idea that it might have been triggered by all kinds of things as opposed to not just hearing the voice, but maybe because the person might have been ill, they heard it clearer.
BEHAR: Exactly!
GOLDBERG: It just was, is impossible to discuss and it’s very interesting.
BEHAR: Not all, but some. I mean, let’s say that you were a person in those days, right? And you were hearing voices, and maybe you were mentally ill, but you were not stupid. As they say "I may be crazy, but I’m not stupid." So you said to yourself, "let’s see, if people think I’m crazy they’re going to put me in a dungeon. If I pretend to be a saint, they’ll name a church after me."
HASSELBECK: Wait, wait, wait. I’m not about that idea!
GOLDBERG: The interesting thing, because if you, if you-
BEHAR: Am I in more trouble now?
GOLDBERG: No, no, no.
HASSELBECK: Yes! Yes you are!
GOLDBERG: No, no.
BEHAR: Forgive me Catholics, but I’m a Catholic girl. These are things that go on in people’s minds.
GOLDBERG: The truth of the matter is, if there were people who say "you know what? If I say I hear from God, I can talk to more people. I can get to more people."
HASSELBECK: Or the divine sacrifice that they’ve made, yeah.
GOLDBERG: There’s a whole bunch of stuff, yeah.
HASSELBECK: They were slaughtered. They were killed for their faith. I think that’s something that-
SHEPHERD: I would be scared if I said you hear God and then become a saint and then you get before God, and you was [sic] being, you know-
BEHAR: Well, that’s the tricky part! That’s the tricky part!
GOLDBERG: I thought it was You! [laughter] I’ll tell You, I swear to You I thought You were in my head!
[laughter and applause]




















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Comments Policy
these sure are worthwhile
February 19, 2008 - 13:49 ET by TruthMongerthese sure are worthwhile girl-chats - day after day after day - we learn so much don't we
how many miracles does it take to be a saint? one, two, and three - i think
joy always does her thorough research before broadcast
it's three joy
watch the movie "the saint" and you'll find out - the movies are probably where you learn everything, I'm sure
behar
February 19, 2008 - 14:02 ET by misterbillLet's say you are really, realy stupid and say a lot of asinine things. Someone might say, well let's lock her up for observation..so you say--no, no, I am on "The View""--Then they know you are OK?????
St. Joy the Behar
February 19, 2008 - 14:13 ET by greenfairieThe patron saint of obnoxious loudmouths on t.v.. Not to be confused with Saint Rosie O'Donnell, patron of obnoxious conspiracy theorists.
You know, I may be missing
February 19, 2008 - 14:30 ET by motherbeltYou know, I may be missing something important here, but I doubt it. I couldn't even read that whole transcript.
But Joy...One can't "pretend to be a saint." One doesn't say "I am a saint." One is declared a saint, by the Church, after one's death.
So please let us know how that works out for you when you tell someone you're a saint. My guess is, they'll still think you're crazy.
PS Thanks Justin, for providing the info about St. Christopher. I remember when the Church decided that he was probably just a legend, and not a real person. Which, IMO, increases, not decreases the Church's credibility.
Nuts
February 19, 2008 - 15:00 ET by iveseenitallIf Behar, Rosie, et.al don't give the face to "nuts", nothing does.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
LOL isia... I can't even
February 19, 2008 - 15:06 ET by bigtimerLOL isia...
I can't even read all of her blathering drivel anymore...her and Olermann should check into a padded co-ed room somewhere in their nearest looney-bin as far as I am concerned....make a perfect pair they would.
Just once....
February 19, 2008 - 15:42 ET by Army BratI'd like to hear this harpy attack Islam instead of Christianity.
I mean...in Islam we have a religion that calls for men to beat their wives when they disobey. This doesn't bother her a bit.
A religion that is OK with sex with animals...as long as you slaughter them afterwards and don't sell the meat to anyone in your village. (You have to sell it to those in a neighboring village.)
A religion that says it's cool to have sex with children "as young as a baby", as long as you don't take the victims virginity. (This from Irans highest ranking religious leaders.) This also fails to interest her.
A religion that is OK with 2 hour marriages, or however long it takes to satisfy ones sexual desires. This having been done to combat prostitution...but you still have to pay a dowry. (Hmm.... Isn't that still prostitiution?) I guess not if your Imam says it's Ok.
Now why in the world wouldn't this brave woman of "The Spew", take on a religion like that? Could it be that she is gutless? Could it be that she knows no Christian will be calling for her beheading for insulting Christianity?
She's a coward, attacking those who will not fight back.
Next week she'll take on the Amish, or maybe the Quakers.
Happy Trails...
not all, some some
February 19, 2008 - 15:23 ET by mom_roxOkay, then, not all, but some of the ladies need to speak less.
jm - "a fact free zone" - great description. I'm so glad NB watches this, because I don't. But I might if someone like Laura Ingraham were on the panel.
A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw, 1944
Laura Ingraham would not
February 19, 2008 - 16:14 ET by motherbeltLaura Ingraham would not embarrass herself by appearing on this "short bus" version of Oprah.
Beside the fact that she's already occupied with her radio show.
February 19, 2008 - 21:55 ET by mom_roxBut it would be fun to watch.
A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw, 1944
wasn't Ingraham
February 19, 2008 - 23:32 ET by dans0622Wasn't she on the show not too long ago? Within the last few months, I think.
book tour?
February 20, 2008 - 01:16 ET by mom_roxidk - like I wrote above - NB watches so I don't have to.
I'm guessing that if Laura were on the show, it was to promote her book; therefore, she wouldn't be participating in the 'open topic' dialogues that get publicized on this site.
A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw, 1944
She knows nothing of the
February 19, 2008 - 15:45 ET by rbosqueShe knows nothing of the Catholic Church, why does she keep making a fool of herself? I'm so fed up with idiots who claim to know more than the Church on matters of faith and morals.
Some may argue that Behar
February 19, 2008 - 20:10 ET by QueenMumSome may argue that Behar is just a comedian and trying to be funny. But to anyone familiar with the teachings of the Catholic Church, she comes off as mocking the faith - primarily because she has stated on more than one occasion that she was raised in a Catholic home.
The whole discussion was so filled with errors, mistatements, and misinterpretations that someone from the show should come forward with some sort of disclaimer or apology. Even Hasselbeck wasn't able to cogently defend the CC's teachings about sainthood. She may as well have just kept her mouth shut.
P.S. Commentary from America: The National Catholic Weekly.
Power to the people!
Joy is a living example of
February 19, 2008 - 21:55 ET by motherbeltJoy is a living example of the adage "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
What also comes to mind is the quote attributed to Lincoln that "it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt."
how come in every pic of joyless bahar
February 19, 2008 - 19:23 ET by lunaticcringeradiowhoopie, as much as i despise her, is looking at her like, "can you believe this dumb jew broad here".
i don't even think whoopie can believe some of the stuff that just must accidentally fall out of that noise hole in the front of her head.
you just know her husband has just got to relish the time she is away from the house.
lunaticcringeradio
lunatic: Just curious
February 19, 2008 - 19:50 ET by QueenMumWhy do you refer to Behar as "jew broad"? If it's her general appearance, she comes from an Italian family. (Her birth name was Josephina Victoria Occhiuto) She was raised Roman Catholic. If you have knowledge that she has converted to Judaism, could you please provide documentation? Otherwise, even though I agree in general with your opinion, your apparent stereotyping of Behar seriously taints your commentary.
Power to the people!
Joyless
February 20, 2008 - 03:14 ET by Xango AnnieShe's not married.now.she has been living with "Steve" for about 20 years or so..
I would love to know what Whoppie really thinks about her..and as much as I like Elizabeth..she is just outmatched in the verbal dept. on this show...
Patron Saint
February 19, 2008 - 23:09 ET by WesenIsn't Saint Leonhard the Patron Saint of Psychosis? I see that the 80 ounce pendant hangs from a graceful 18 inch neck chain. The three inch oval has an azure border framing a pale man on a scarlet backround. In his hand is a pitch fork. Joy needs two of them.
Oh WISE and INSIGHTFUL, Joy -
February 19, 2008 - 21:25 ET by drillanwrPlease! Oh, PLEASE!
Explain the grand military successes of Saint Jeanne d'Arc (THAT'S Saint Joan of Arc, you mindless twit !), the most notable of "voice-hearers" (and MY chosen Patron Saint) ...
Her insanity must have had focus, purpose, and guidance from someplace unearthly.
When you men get home and face an anti-war protestor, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend because she knows she’s dating a pussy… ~ Attributed to General Tommy Franks
drill, I actually read in a
February 19, 2008 - 22:03 ET by motherbeltdrill, I actually read in a newpaper or magazine, years ago, an article expounding the theory that the "voices" that Joan heard may actually have been hallucinations caused either by fasting, or food poisoning.
I don't know why people refuse to accept thepossibility that God might, at some point, choose to communicate with one of His creatures. Were He to send down fire from heaven to defeat the English, that they could believe. But that He would choose to accomplish His work through a young girl, to them, is just ridiculous.
mb -
February 19, 2008 - 22:18 ET by drillanwrMOST religions do believe to fast is to cleanse and free yourself to be open to "The Spirit" ... So that would be understandable. However, even if it were some form of food-poisoning, THAT still doesn't explain her military abilities without even a moment's experience, let alone maturity.
For nay-sayers to completely discount the power that reached down and guided her under all these conditions is nothing short of scientifically asinine ... She wasn't simply born a brilliant military tactician. THEY would just as soon credit reincarnation than attribute it to the active voices and intervention of G-d and his chosen saints.
The fact that G-d chose a very young girl, especially in a time when females were not given much credence in anything outside provinding a container for the man's sons, and that an entire country's army followed her into battle over and over again, listened to her instruction and command, IS an amazing miracle.
When you men get home and face an anti-war protestor, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend because she knows she’s dating a pussy… ~ Attributed to General Tommy Franks
You're absolutely right,
February 19, 2008 - 22:56 ET by motherbeltYou're absolutely right, drill. That the soldiers actually believed in her and followed her is truly miraculous. God had to change a lot of hearts there.
On the first Pentecost, when the apostles spoke to people from every land, and they all understood them, the apostles weren't speaking in different tongues. The miracle was all the people hearing them in their own various languages!
mb -
February 19, 2008 - 23:05 ET by drillanwrThat's a hell of a lot of "food poisoning" ...
When you men get home and face an anti-war protestor, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend because she knows she’s dating a pussy… ~ Attributed to General Tommy Franks
Why even talk about the wench?
February 20, 2008 - 17:31 ET by CTDRULESAnyone on the view is useless and pathetic. Why bother running any stories about any of the useless, pathetic losers that inhabit that cesspool?
Her comments are perfect proof of a subzero IQ.