This week, 'The View' ladies focus "their view" on Pope Benedict XVI's beliefs regarding gay marriage. While they admit the Pope is an "intelligent man," the hosts attack his stance that gay unions weaken the family and "threaten human dignity and the future of humanity itself."
The hosts begin by chuckling over the Pope's position that marriage's objective is children. Barbara Walters chimes in, "if the purpose of marriage is procreation-" while another host argues, "then let the priests get married!" Joy Behar finishes sarcastically, "that's why I got married, Barbara: to procreate."
Elisabeth Hasselbeck, raised Catholic, stresses the Pope's "inhumanity" on the topic. Hasselbeck believes, "saying that something works against humanity... seems quite inhumane." According to Hasselbeck, it is also "inhumane" to suggest that "gay marriage is harming marriage and the idea of marriage." Hasselbeck reasons that gay marriage holds no influence on her personal marriage - rather, divorce does.
Such reasoning becomes lost though, as the ladies demonstrate limited knowledge concerning the Pope and Catholicism. Referencing presidential candidate Rick Santorum and the Catholic Church's beliefs, Walters states, "homosexuality is a sin, and you don't go to heaven." Yet, in public statements, both Santorum and Catholicism demand homosexuals be treated with love and respect. Sherri Shepherd continues the downward spiral, saying the Pope fails to practice what he preaches. She begins, "we had the big scandal about a lot of these popes-," and later corrects herself, "priests! I'm not Catholic."
Throughout the show, no host provides an explanation or argument in the Pope's defense. Instead, the ladies appear to prefer laughing over the fact that the Pope could not attend Elton John's wedding. One could argue ignorance is bliss, but, as Thomas Jefferson states, "then why aren't more people happy?" 'The View' ladies indeed see "a" view, but is it "the" view?