Let’s all take a deep breath here and stop these knee jerk reactions. All of you know that in the United States it is perfectly acceptable to attack, satirize, and insult the rich and the powerful. However, it is taboo to attack, satirize or insult the poor and the weak.
Don Imus was fired from his job for calling some girls basketball players “nappy headed hos.” However, every day I read vicious attacks on politicians in government offices in all branches, executive, legislative and judicial, that make the designation “nappy headed hos” sound mild, indeed.
In a famous case, in the 1960’s the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Bull Connors and in favor of the New York Times that Connors, and other public figures, could not sue the Times for libel unless he could prove actual malice. Since then, persons in power have been fair game for anybody.
The church is rich and powerful and is an inviting target for many. It is constantly involved in political action - as evidenced by Catholic periodicals that routinely discuss legislative efforts -and has made itself a public figure, if there was ever any doubt.
Now, Williams would never have levelled his ridicule at a person perceived to be poor, such as Mother Theresa. That would have violated the taboo and he would have been punished accordingly.
Who really cares what Robin Williams thinks anyway?