'Life' Star Fired for Religious Beliefs?

By PopEater Staff Posted Sep 8th 2009 11:17AM

'One Life to Live' actress Patricia Mauceri says she was let go from the soap opera not because of plot points or poor performance, but because of her religious beliefs.

Mauceri, who was on 'OLTl' for 14 years, claims that she was let go from 'Life' because she objected to a gay storyline that had been written for her character. She tells FOX News that when she brought up her questions towards the storyline due to her devout Christian beliefs which helped sculpt her Carlotta Vega character, she was replaced.

The 59-year-old Mauceri says that she "did not object to being in a gay storyline. I objected to speaking the truth of what that person, how that person would live and breathe and act in that storyline ... And this goes against everything I am, my belief system, and what I know the character's belief system is aligned to."

The scene at the center of the issue was one involving what FOX calls "gay-friendly dialogue."

Mauceri tells FOX that she's considering legal options regarding her termination.

An ABC spokesperson told FOX that they weren't aware of any claims of firing due to religious beliefs. Should such claims surface, however, the spokesperson said they "would be frivolous."

Comments

(689)

Wednesday 09 September

By binki

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You are an actress. You plays roles that are you you or what you believe. THAT IS WHAT AN ACTOR DOES. A woman who plays Lizzie Borden does not, and we understand this as an audience, have the same beliefs or peronsality traits as the character she plays. If she did, it would be type casting and that is cheesy acting.

By butcherbaby

a agree with you as well, binki. an actor does the role assigned whether it clashes with their personal beliefs or not. and i find it very VERY hard to accept the notion that after 14 years on a SOAP OPERA, a "gay storyline" is the first thing she has found objectionable to her "christian beliefs". what, none of the infidelity, double crossing, and murderous intrigues bothered her at all? why would such a hardcore christian even be acting in a soap opera in the first place?

By Richard

As a liberal Christian I can be sympathetic to her, if that really happened. I can see how some of the arts business is maybe too much into the gay scene, and think the average American is, when we are mostly more conservative in tastes. This does not excuse the terrible bashing that you see on the nutty Fox Channel, etc. either.

But isn't it laughable that a so-called soap star would object to practically anything? These shows, thankfully what little I've seen, are dripping with steamy and often immoral scenes. Or over the 14 years did she miss that part?

By Ang

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It's real unfortunate. However, as a Christian, one ought to know that the soaps are not the greatest promoters of virtue. Even when I was a young girl, one could turn on the soaps and see seduction scenes, adulterous affairs, whatnot. It's sad, but Mauceri should have seen the writing on the wall. Soaps are scandalous by nature.

By Professor Wright

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A christian who turns out to be homosexual is a very plausible scenario. We see it in the news every couple of months. Both from cruising preachers, to cruising "promise keeper" republican politicians.

Why wouldn't OLTL follow a similar arc to boost ratings? This is a case of art immitating life.

Thursday 10 September

By Tommy

Peggy....There is a device added to all tv's now and some cable companies have it built into their cable boxes. If you would take the time to learn how to properly use your equipment you could avoid these problems. You simply program it so your tv will not show programming over whatever rating you choose. I however think your exaggerating your claim, 10 men in a group kiss? Yeah right. I haven't even seen that on Logo, the gay channel. I am well over 21 and if I want to see a 10 man group kiss thats my business, but why should my life be censored because you can't properly work your TV or simply too lazy to learn?

As for the actress, if she was that much of a christian why did she take a job on a soap opera. Has she lived under a rock for the last 50 years and never seen or heard of one?

By denny

Hey, it comes down to the fact that she is the 'employee' and ABC is the 'employer'. In her profession of drama, she has to be open to different life stories reflecting people and life.
Nevertheless, she should present her case in a court of law and see if she is a victim of prejudice, persecution or rights violation.
Let's not be so naive in this politically correct generation to think that has not, or could not happen.

Saturday 12 September

By ken

it just goes to show you how low , morally things are getting in so called entertainment. there used to be SODOMY laws enforced. why do you think they were called sodomy laws anyway ?

By Violet

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to all who say gays should keep their lives in the closet, gay or not, others have a right to express what they feel, children are already exposed to all this, if your own child was gay, would you go all "I have no child" on them ? if someone is gay, they SHOULD have a right to hold their partner's hand out in public, there are some people who have to use aliases because others threaten their lives JUST because their gay. Who are we to come between true love ? you don't see gays going all "oh, being straight is wrong", or do you ? Maybe your against gays because your to close minded to see they're not that different from us, or maybe your afraid of them because they share different beliefs so you turn all your fear into hate. GET OVER IT PEOPLE! as long as life goes on, there will always be someone who is gay.

By Laura

Sorry, I don't believe that there should be gay storylines in a soap or anywhere else. I was brought up to believe in a man-woman relationship, not a woman-woman relationship or a man-man relationship. I'm sure there are many others out there like me. I don't think Patricia Mauceri (OLTL's Carlotta Vega) should have been let go. OLTL's BIG loss. She is a good supporting actress.

By Sally

I totally agree with you!

By evelyn27

I can't speak for anyone else but I know I agree with you.

By Deannie

I agree wholeheartedly with you, Laura. This country was founded on Christianity. We need to go back to the old ways of censorship. There's just too much immoral behavior and sex on television.

By Russ

I was born and raised a Christian, never have I felt that I was getting unfair treatment over anything because of it. Maybe she was fired over refusing to fulfill her concract, like saying the lines they write for her.

By Fred

Just a few ? Russ how were YOU born a Christian when everyone else who becomes a Christian me included must ask Christ to come in to there hearts ie: free will.Second growing up in a Christian house does not automatically make you a Christian your parents relationship with Christs is not yours.
again you asking Christ to come into your life.

By Daniel Milks

Russ, You may have been born and raised a Christian, but that does not make you one. If you hang around McDonalds a long time, you will probably not become a hamburger. Noone is born a Christian. In Jesus words, you must be born again. If you don't know how, write me and I will help you. Daniel

Monday 14 September

By Mary Jackson

No one was born christian, everyone born of a woman (with the exception of Jesus) was born a sinner. Because of God's love for us, He sent his son to save us from sin

By George Alvarez

Russ just because you have never been discriminated against doesn't mean she wasn't!! I am guessing you are of the Liberal faction of Christians. You guys are bigots.You think because someone is say White they can never be discriminated against,if someone is a man of course they can never be discrimianted against..You guys make assumptions based on biases and bigotry towards others everyday. This lady was fired right after she brought up her concerns,this happens a lot in the real world that apparently you liberals do not live in.Probably you are one of those Rich Entitled ones that have no experience of what the common man goes through. Most of us have been attacked or retaliated at work by higher ups when you question something you feel is not right. They do and will Fire you or spread lies against you or keep you from getting raises(all discrimination) if you do not tow the line to their way of thinking...Usually these are Hypocritical Liberas that do this to others in my experiences and many others and those same liberals seem to hate everyone incuding white,hispanic,asian and so forth. JUST SAYING they have a acted ike you in my experiences and i woud hope one of them wi change but i have never seen it yet.HATE MONGERING works for them i guess and our MEDIA wil never challenge one of their own. Nothing will ever be done about it either.

By Roberta

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Russ,

You can't be born a Christian. We are all born into sin - remember Adam & Eve? You have to invite Christ into your life and be born-again. Repent of your sins, confess with your mouth that Christ is the Son of God, and believe in your heart that He was raised from the dead by God the Father. It is then up to each Christian to live a holy, godly life with the daily cleansing and direction of the Holy spirit.

The actress being fired is not unusual. Christ stated that persecution would happen. She is being tested by Christ to see if the world means more to her than her relationship with Him - no matter the cost. God will deal with the prejudice of those who fired her. As a Chrsitian, she doesn't need to be in that ever increasing lustful environment anyway. God has something better for her, so, sometimes He has to take us through tribulation to show us His will.

Homosexuality is a sin, an abomination to God. But it's not the ONLY sin! Everyone has sinned and fallen short of God's glory! Homosexuals, just like every other human being, is loved by God. But God is Holy and Just and DOES NOT and WILL NOT tolerate sin! This is a fact - not an opinion or theory! EVERY living soul needs to repent and ask God for forgiveness before they die or the will be condemned to a place called Hell (this IS NOT what God wants but He gives us free will - with consequences).

Those who are born-again - in Chist - will live in Heaven with Him for eternal!

BearBaitPA, I will pray for you and for anyone who may be struggling inside with any type of practicing sin that is not pleasing to God.

By Lisa

Funny thing, Americans are supposed to accept and embrace homosexuality and differing opinions. Yet when a person with a Christian opinion, stands up for their beliefs, they are treated like a villain. I bet if she was a Muslim voicing her opinion, she would never have been fired. There is reverse discrimination, everything is ok - as long as it isn't Christianity.
I see this actress wining a BIG lawsuit.

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