Mental illness is no laughing matter.

Apparently, though, the hosts of ABC’s “The View” don’t see it that way — especially unfunny woman Joy Behar, who used her daytime TV platform to ridicule Vice President Mike Pence’s Christian faith yesterday — the day before the beginning of Lent, as recognized by Catholics worldwide.

Pence, who was raised Catholic, has described himself as a born-again evangelical Catholic.

“It’s one thing to talk to Jesus,” said Behar. “It’s another thing when Jesus talks to you.”

Hearing voices is a “mental illness,” added Behar, as many outlets reported.

Tone deaf? For sure.

Behar’s dig at the vice president goes way beyond the pale of acceptable behavior even for a comedian. But what it really shows is her utter ignorance toward prayer and the role it plays in people’s lives.

Prayer is a gift and much more.

According to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s website, “Prayer is doxology, praise, thanksgiving, confession, supplication and intercession to God. ‘When I prayed I was new,’ wrote a great theologian of Christian antiquity, ‘but when I stopped praying I became old.'”

“Prayer is the way to renewal and spiritual life. Prayer is aliveness to God. Prayer is strength, refreshment, and joy. Through the grace of God and our disciplined efforts, prayer lifts us up from our isolation to a conscious, loving communion with God in which everything is experienced in a new light. Prayer becomes a personal dialogue with God, a spiritual breathing of the soul, a foretaste of the bliss of God’s kingdom.”

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What Behar and company fail to realize in their two-dimensional existence is that prayer is an opportunity to communicate with our Divine Creator. It is not merely asking for a better grade or a better work opportunity. For scores of believers, prayer is a way of life as evidenced by these words in the Lord’s Prayer: “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.”

Still, it’s troubling that someone’s Christian faith is now fair game as a subject to be mocked or scoffed at. Imagine the dire consequences if a conservative host criticized a Muslim politician. In all likelihood, that would result in someone’s career being terminated — at the very least.

That’s not to say that Behar has gotten off scot-free for the “mental illness” remark.

Social media was abuzz with criticism, and rightfully so — as many viewers were outraged.

“There appears to be a double standard. If they were mocking either Muslims, Jews, or Buddhists, I would expect Joy Behar and Sunny Hostin to be fired.”

“Can’t expect anything better from Behar and the others on ‘The View.’ This show needs to be canceled,” said one viewer.

“Joy Behar doesn’t know the meaning of Christian faith. This is a mean and bitter woman. And oh, BTW, not funny,” wrote another.

“There appears to be a double standard. If they were mocking either Muslims, Jews, or Buddhists, I would expect Joy Behar and Sunny Hostin to be fired. I would expect no less for bashing or mocking Christians. ABC allows bashing or mocking of Christians on a morning talk show by their talk-show hosts, [is] pretty disgraceful and unacceptable,” wrote yet another.

Elizabeth Economou is a former CNBC staff writer and adjunct professor. Follow her on Twitter.