Church of England ad featured Lord's Prayer barred from movie theaters in England
November 23, 2015
Movie theaters in England will not allow the showing of a short public-service announcement promoting prayer, because of fears that the advertisement might offend some filmgoers.
The one-minute ad, featuring the Lord’s Prayer, was scheduled to be shown at many theaters before the new Star Wars film, The Force Awakens, which opens in December. But the Digital Cinema Media agency, which handles ads for the nation’s largest theater chains, declined to show the announcement, citing a policy that bans ads which ‘could cause offence to those of differing political persuasions, as well as to those of differing faiths and indeed of no faith.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Justin Welby, called the decision “extraordinary;” Prime Minister David Cameron termed it “ridiculous.”
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Posted by: chady -
Nov. 24, 2015 7:15 AM ET USA
It appears the DCM agreed to accept the advert back in the summer. Even offering a discount to the promoter COE. It seems that in September 15 DCM attempted to back track claiming they had this policy about accepting adverts of a political or religious nature. A rep for COE say this is nonsense as they raised no issue over the advert in the summer. This is clearly a case of double standards as cinema goers might take offence at existing product adverts placed by DCM by right or choice?
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Posted by: unum -
Nov. 23, 2015 6:31 PM ET USA
British businesses are clearly worried about offending non-christian immigrants. Maybe they don't belong to the "religion of peace" the U.S. government is dealing with!
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Posted by: JimKcda -
Nov. 23, 2015 6:00 PM ET USA
Will they allow porn, blasphemy, other filth and anti-Christianity to be shown? Hummn...
