Friday, December 31, 2010

Boycott Pepsi: Blasphemous Superbowl ad

So... after my prolonged absence from blogging, it would be nice to ease back in with some heartfelt sentiments about the miracle of Christmas or perhaps reflecting on the joy of celebrating the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God tomorrow on 1.1.11.

However it looks like 2010 will instead end with a protest. Pepsi's Superbowl ad offerings are apparently the subject of some sort of contest, and sadly the frontrunner is this blasphemous offering.

Really, Pepsi? The Superbowl is the Holy Grail of advertising. Your marketing department, with its vast budget and oodles of employees, judged this to be among the very best reflections of the values and sentiments of Pepsico?

Pepsico has a vast empire, with brands that include but are not limited to Quaker foods, Frito Lay snacks, Hostess foods, Stacy's Pita Chips, Sobe drinks , Tropicana juices ,Gatorade drinks, Sierra Mist, Mug Root Beer, Tazo drinks, AMP energy drinks. A complete list of brands can be found here.

In case you were unable to find objections to this advertisement from any of your 285,000 employees, please let me explain that this commercial is deeply offensive to Catholics. To imply that the most sacred element of our faith is essentially a snack is disgusting.

Please join me in encouraging Catholics everywhere to:

1) boycott Pepsi and all affiliated brands
2) spread the word of this appalling slap in the face of Catholicism
3)contact the board of directors of Pepsico, their respective employers and boards of directors.

I honestly cannot envision Pepsi offering an advertisement that mocked the Jewish faith, Islam, or Hinduism. I wouldn't find it funny if they did.

It is clear that Pepsi does not want Catholics consuming their products.

Now I pray our brothers and sisters among other faiths will stand with us in this fight.

Although there is nothing funny in this ad, someone is laughing.

Blasphemy in any form is always the work of the enemy.