While most of the media attention focused on Pope Benedict XVI’s trip to the U.S. was overwhelmingly positive, one TV show host’s choice words for the pope and the Catholic Church landed him in hot water.

Maher, host of Real Time on HBO, spouted off a rant on his April 11 live show that had many calling for his resignation. Bill went off on the pope and Catholics everywhere, stating among other things that:

• The Catholic Church “a child-abusing religious cult.”
• Pope Benedict “used to be a Nazi.”
• The Catholic Church is “the Bear Stearns of organized pedophilia.”
• Pope Benedict “wrote a letter instructing every Catholic bishop to keep the sex abuse of minors secret until the statute of limitations ran out.”
• The Catholic Church’s attitude is, “We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it.”

This is a shame, because in the past, Maher has often made lucid points and said things few others will. But he’s crossed the line. Any legitimate criticism is overshadowed by offensive, over-the-top rants like this.

A non-apologetic apology from Bill Maher only stoked the fire. After the backlash, the host” offered an apology on his April 18 show:

“So, on that score, you know what, my Catholic friends, I will never make the ‘pope is a Nazi’ joke again. Because, you’re technically right, OK, and also because it distracts from the main point. And the main point I was making was that if the pope, instead of a religious figure, was the CEO of a chain of nationwide day care centers who had thousands of employees who had been caught molesting children and then covering it up, he would have been in jail.”

Riiight. Very sincere as you can tell. What might have been a commentary on the church’s corruption and hypocrisy has now devolved into an offensive name-calling binge. As a result, a pro-life Roman Catholic group, the American Life League, has launched a new website calling for Bill Maher’s ouster.

Since its launch, Fire Bill Maher has received many hits. Time will tell if Maher’s political incorrectness means he hits the road - for good.

What do you think? Should HBO fire Bill Maher?