Posted on 12/02/2004 6:23:14 AM PST by OESY
The United Church of Christ, one of the nation's most liberal Christian denominations, accused CBS and NBC yesterday of rejecting a commercial it had produced about religious tolerance, which included an implication that other denominations did not welcome gays, because the networks feared hostile reactions from conservative political and religious groups.
The networks said they turned down the commercial for the same reason they had rejected numerous issue-oriented commercials in the past: they do not allow advocacy advertising.
Network executives also said that the church might have been more interested in gaining publicity. Both networks said they had accepted a different commercial from the church on the same subject.
Still, some consumer and media watchdog groups excoriated CBS and NBC for hypocrisy and giving in to the political agenda of the White House.
"What they are doing here is rank hypocrisy," said Andrew Jay Schwartzman, the president of the Media Access Project, a liberal media watchdog agency.
The commercial began running yesterday on several channels, all but one on cable television. The Fox broadcast network also accepted the commercial. ABC was not included in the protests because church executives said they accepted the network's position that it did not accept any religious advertising.
In the commercial, two actors portray what looks like bouncers in front of a church. They admit only a few people, all white. They turn away a young black woman, a Hispanic-looking man and two men whom some may interpret as gay.
The commercial offers the message, "Jesus didn't turn away people and neither do we." It concludes with a panorama of people, including two young women, one of whom has her arm around the other. It never mentions the word "gay."
"This is a quite wholesome message that is being censored out," said the Rev. John H. Thomas, the church's general minister and president.
Mr. Thomas said the advertisement had been broadcast in several parts of the country, like Oklahoma City, central Pennsylvania and Florida, without generating a negative response.
But Edward J. Murray, the chief executive of Faith and Values, a television production company, said that the commercial was shown at a spring meeting of Christian and Jewish representatives organized by Faith and Values and that some evangelical Christian leaders there were offended because it implied that their churches excluded people.The leader of one conservative group who had seen the commercial said he was puzzled by the networks' resistance.
"The ad isn't indecent and doesn't violate F.C.C. standards," said the leader, Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association. "I'm stunned they're not running it. They might not want the grief."
Mr. Thomas said, "I'm suspicious that the networks are anxious and nervous that by airing this they are going to evoke the wrath of the conservative movement."
"The election created a context where everyone in the media is a little more conscious of moral and religious groups," he added.
Network executives pointed out, however, that the decision to reject the commercial was made last February, long before the presidential election.
"Our policy is we do not do advocacy ads," said Alan Wurtzel, who heads NBC's program standards division. " 'Jesus didn't turn people away, neither do we.' That message clearly implies that other people do."
At CBS the rejection was directly tied to the implied exclusion of gays, said a network executive who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The executive confirmed the contents of a CBS staff report that mentioned the Bush administration's backing of proposed federal constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.
That report was written last March.
They better take whatever $$ they can get. They just released their earnings 20min ago. Not good. Way below estimates and their forcasting way below analyst estimates. Ha ha.
The UCC are lower than dirt. Especially their vile representative Barry Lynn.
Let the church say what-ever it wants. Frankly every church I've ever had any knowledge of would be very open to any black, white, or gay that came in the door. People would welcome them, shake their hand, and give them one of the best seats way up in front.
On the other hand, gays would not be given voting rights {membership} or be allowed to teach children or teen-agers.
If that's what the United Church of Christ means, then "anathema".
And it that's NOT what the UCC means, then they're just lying.
This is no more than a coordinated effort between the MSM and the anti-Christian churches.
The MSM gets to say "See, we are protecting Christianity" and the anti-Christ churches get their message out even further with the publicity.
The advertisement is despicable; I have seen it many times. Nevertheless, I am stunned it was rejected by the networks. How non-Christian is the UC of C? Note their response to ABC: "You're not discriminating against us because we attack other denominations, but because you discriminate against ALL Christian ads? OK, nevermind."
>>"What they are doing here is rank hypocrisy," said Andrew Jay Schwartzman, the president of the Media Access Project, a liberal media watchdog agency...The commercial began running yesterday on several channels, all but one on cable television. The Fox broadcast network also accepted the commercial.<<
Any Kudos for Fox's lack of "bias." No? Didn't think so.
Harrrummmmpphhhh.
Jesus also, as I recall, had some pretty harsh words for those who preen their "moral superiority" before others.
I am a member of one of those "other" denominations that the UCC is apparently targeting as having "bouncers".
My denomination is pretty clear on what Jesus expects.
But, at my church at least, no one -- NO ONE -- who is seeking a relationship with the Lord of the Universe is turned away.
ALL ARE WELCOMED, for we all -- every one of us -- have fallen short of the glory of God.
What my denomination does, that apparently the UCC fails to do, is to point people towards repentance and restoration of the life God intended.
HEADS UP FOLKS!!!!!!!
The HISTORY CHANEL is showing this homosexual commercial with two lesbians PROMINENTLY featured!
Finally saw this commercial.
Goebles would be VERY proud, this is as racist hate filled promotion for a church as you can imagine.
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