Broken "Vows"

I'm really bummed about this:

Jesuits Break Ties With “Vows”

By Steven Assom

Jesuit seminarians at Fordham University have been asked by their superiors to cease from offering their support to the planned new television series “Vows” on cable channel AMCT. The seminarians reportedly had been meeting with one of the producers of the new series without having sought permission from their formation superior. “I think being involved in a such a project could really distract from their studies and threaten their vocation,” said Fr. Frank Sullivan, who directs the Bronx seminary program.

The U.S. Jesuit Convention, which directs the work of the religious order throughout the United States, also expressed concern in a press release issued on Friday. It reads: “The USJC is very concerned with the negative fallout that could result from such a show, especially if it were to be considered something of an ‘insider’s view’ into the workings of the Society, and its formation process.” The show was said to be modeled on the Fordham program.

In light of the recent PETA charges against the Trappist monastery in Monks Corner, SC, there was also some concerned expressed about an episode that was rumored to depict a Jesuit seminarian hunting squirrels. “We’ve already got a bad enough reputation when it comes to other things. Everyone has a conspiracy theory about us. We just don’t need the added publicity that being portrayed as ‘squirrel killers’ would bring,” said Jesuit Convention President Thomas Sorich.

Meanwhile, the Fordham seminarians are not sure what to make of all this. “I feel as if they’ve taken my Irish Tin Whistle away and broke it in two,” said seminarian Ron Done, “I really thought this show would bring us positive attention. I’m not sure what the powers-that-be are so worried about. We told Karen (the producer) no episodes about Crazy Cajuns, and to absolutely stay away from anything having to do with V-Day.” Yet, the Jesuits are wary of trusting Hollywood insiders. “We’ve been burnt before,” said Sorich.

Meanwhile, Done hopes to devote his extra time to some of his own projects. His Irish music tutorial is already a huge hit on YouTube. And now that ties have been broken with “Vows,” he hopes to devote more time to animated features. He has contracted with the creators of “Charlie the Unicorn” to develop two sequels, which will be produced simultaneously to reduce production costs, “I Second That Emo-Shun” and “Escape From Candy Mountain.” “It’s much easier working with unicorns,” says Done, “since they don’t really exist, they’re not so worried about their reputation.”

Producer Karen Hell, when finally reached for comment said, “I can’t believe this. It’s like one big April Fool’s Joke.” This reporter agrees.