ABC Blames Fear of Conservatives for Blocking Pro-Inclusion Ad

The left-wing United Church of Christ (UCC) put out a press release complaining about how their ad denigrating other churches, which showed bouncers, in front of a church, turning away a gay couple, a Hispanic man, a black woman and a guy in a wheelchair, was rejected by the three biggest broadcast networks, and ABC jumped to the church's defense without, of course, mentioning the church's ideology while repeatedly referring to "Christian conservatives." Peter Jennings seem befuddled by why anyone would oppose the ad: "Why do the major networks refuse to run an ad by a church that welcomes gays and lesbians?" Jennings described the UCC in the most benign terms: "It affirms the belief that Christians did not always have to agree in order to live together in communion. And the church very publicly yesterday asked why the major television networks won't run an ad in which the church makes the point that everyone is welcome."

Dean Harris asserted that "both church leaders and First Amendment lawyers say they suspect what's motivating the networks here is fear of Christian conservatives." A professor then ominously warned about "the power of the right in America to chill and deter free speech."

In the morning on Thursday, Good Morning America's Diane Sawyer cued up a UCC representative to explain the ad's purpose while an exasperated Sawyer challenged an opponent's position: "A lot of people have argued that Jesus himself included women in a shocking way, he associated with prostitutes at the time -- it was a shocking idea. What's wrong with this ad?"

Some cable shows on Thursday picked up on the controversy, including MSNBC's Hardball and FNC's Hannity & Colmes. A Thursday Washington Post story spun in favor of the UCC: "CBS, NBC Turn Down United Church of Christ's Ad Touting Its Inclusiveness." For the December 2 Post story: www.washingtonpost.com

ABC won't air it either, but will run it on its ABC Family cable channel, and Fox and a bunch of cable channels have accepted it.

The networks regularly reject ads they deem "too controversial," and many conservatives would agree that they should carry the UCC ad as well as others ads on public policy matters, but the bias from ABC News comes in considering the rejection of this anti-conservative ad to be so newsworthy and blaming "Christian conservatives," not the networks, for suppressing free speech.

The TV ad opens with a scene of bouncers, white men with buzz cuts and wearing black T-shirts, standing in front of church steps with a rope line as they say, "No, step aside please" to two apparently gay white men, allow a white family to pass, say "no way, not you" to a Hispanic man, say "I don't think so" to Hispanic woman and "no" to guy in wheelchair as they hold up their hands in front of him. Then, over upbeat music, this text on screen: "Jesus didn't turn people away," followed by "Neither do we." An announcer over happy shots of people of various races and sexual orientations: "The United Church of Christ. No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you're welcome here."

As taken down by the MRC's Brad Wilmouth, Jennings introduced the December 2 World News Tonight story:

"We're going to take 'A Closer Look' this evening at what appears to be another battle in the culture wars. The United Church of Christ was founded in 1957 as the union of several different Christian traditions. It affirms the belief that Christians did not always have to agree in order to live together in communion. And the church very publicly yesterday asked why the major television networks won't run an ad in which the church makes the point that everyone is welcome. We asked ABC's Dan Harris to look further."

Bouncer in ad: "No. Step aside, please." Dan Harris: "In the ad, bouncers man a velvet rope outside an unnamed church."

Clip of ad: "The United Church of Christ, no matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you're welcome here."

Harris: "The President of the church says he's just trying to extend an extravagant welcome to those who feel excluded elsewhere."

Professor John Thomas, President of the United Church of Christ: "We're simply offering a basic message: Jesus never turned anyone away. Neither do we."

Harris: "But all three major networks are refusing to run the ad. ABC, as a matter of policy, doesn't air religious ads. NBC, in a letter to the church, called the ad 'too controversial.' And CBS told the church, 'Because the commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples' and because the President recently came out in support of a constitutional ban on gay marriage, 'this spot is unacceptable for broadcast on the networks.' The head of the church points out that the spot makes no mention of gay marriage. Both church leaders and First Amendment lawyers say they suspect what's motivating the networks here is fear of Christian conservatives."

Professor Peter Rubin, Georgetown University Law Center: "I think that the power of the right in America to chill and deter free speech is as effective as governmental censorship."

Harris: "It is true that many Christian conservatives find the ad offensive. They say it falsely implies that they turn people away from their churches. Further, they say it sends a message that homosexuality, which they consider a sin, should be accepted."

Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: "The church is made up by sinners saved by grace, not sinners who obstinately say I'm going to continue in my sin because I love it."

Harris concluded with another warning: "There is some debate among Christian conservatives about whether the networks should ban the ad. As one leading evangelical said, 'If they restrict them today, they'll restrict us tomorrow.' Dan Harris, ABC News, New York."

In the morning, the MRC's Jessica Anderson noticed, GMA devoted a 7:30am half hour segment to the subject. Diane Sawyer announced: "Let's tackle now a commercial that is sparking major controversy. It's for the United Church of Christ, and the television networks are refusing to run it. The ad briefly shows a gay couple -- and you're going to take a close look at this at the top and you'll see it there -- and NBC and CBS say they've rejected the ad because of a long-standing policy of not running commercials that take sides on controversial issues. ABC has a policy of not running religious ads, so it's a bit different. But right now, we'll begin by taking a look at the ad."

After running the entire ad, Sawyer continued: "Now, the ad, by the way, has been accepted for broadcast by a number of cable channels. Joining us now from Washington, the Reverend Robert Chase, director of communications for the United Church of Christ, which put the ad on the air, and from Louisville, Kentucky, the Reverend R. Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, who does object to this ad big time. Let's begin with you, if I can, Reverend Chase. What's the point of doing this ad? What are you trying to get done?"

Rev. Chase: "Well, this ad grows out of a two-year effort, Diane, within our church...and what we're trying to say is you're welcome here, no matter who you are or where you are on life's journey."

Sawyer: "So you're trying to recruit the people who have not been coming to church. Let's go to you Doctor Mohler, because what is wrong with that? A lot of people have argued that Jesus himself included women in a shocking way, he associated with prostitutes at the time -- it was a shocking idea. What's wrong with this ad?"

Dr. Albert Mohler: "Well, in the first place, it's a piece of masterful propaganda, but it's a diabolical misrepresentation of Christianity, and Jesus Christ did indeed come to seek and to save the lost, but as he said to the woman caught in adultery, 'go and sin no more.' He did not invite persons to stay in a sinful lifestyle. Rather, he came to save us from our sins and to make us what we otherwise could not be, and that is victorious over all the sins that entrap us. Homosexuality is just one of those, but certainly the one addressed in this commercial."

Sawyer: "Well, first of all, let me just say this, are you saying that you don't want gays in your church?"

Dr. Mohler: "No, our church is made up, like every true church, of sinners saved by grace, but we are not to be left in our sin, but are to come out of what the Scripture clearly identifies as sin. The apostle Paul spoke to the church at Corinth listing things, including homosexuality, and said 'such were some of you.' We're all sinners, but we cannot remain in our sin and we can't just bless a lifestyle by saying 'we accept it' when the Scripture clearly condemns it as sin."

Sawyer: "Doctor Mohler, didn't Jesus reserve his worst anger for the money-changers? Are money-changers also not welcome in the church?"

Dr. Mohler: "Well, they would not be welcome to remain as money-changers any more than Jesus would just bless any kind of sin...." Homosexuals welcome, but to hear word of God.

Sawyer: "Reverend Chase, surprised that the networks turned this down? That is to say, NBC and CBS, and ABC, I believe, is going to run the ad on the family channel."

"the power of the right in America to chill and deter free speech."

It seems professors have become incredibly stupid over the years.

"United Church of Christ"

Ah yes.......good to see you're not bearing false witness with these commercials.

Oh wait.......you are........never mind.......

"Why do the major networks refuse to run an ad by a church that welcomes gays and lesbians?"

Because the basis is a demonstrable lie, perhaps?

A professor then ominously warned about "the power of the right in America to chill and deter free speech."

What utter bulls**t. I've been on the receiving end of far more liberals chilling free speech than anything else... The Left has been, for the past several decades, the number one perptrator of civil rights violations in this nation, and no "professor" can make me believe otherwise.

The UCC would probably allow anyone to enter their hallowed halls except those churchgoing people with whom they disagree. Rather than showing their own church in a loving light they chose to show other churches in a negative light. Ah, the true sense of brotherhood. Of course with the emphasis on hood rather than brother.

"The left-wing United Church of Christ (UCC) put out a press release complaining about how their ad denigrating other churches, which showed bouncers, in front of a church, turning away a gay couple, a Hispanic man, a black woman and a guy in a wheelchair,"

I can't imagine any true church, left-wing or not, turning away any of these people, especially based on race or handicap. That is a blatant straw man.As for the gay man, he's welcome but he'll probably feel uncomfortable after awhile, seeing how homosexuality is viewed as a sin and all...The church is nothing withhout the Bible. How then can it be viewed as bigoted if the Bible is taught in church. Arrrgh.

This whole scenario sounds scripted from the DNC, to create a false controversy and further divide the red and blue camps.

In my church, I always duck in the back door to avoid the bouncers out front trying to keep out gays, handicapped, blacks and hispanics. (/sarcasm)

I saw the ad the other night and wondered what the message was as all churches are open to all. I figured UCC was saying practicing witches/child molesters and gays were the targeted audience.

The only thing controversial about this ad is the fact that UCC is explicitly slamming Christians who have different views on sin.

The issue should be why the UCC needs demean other Christian bodies. Nobody cares that the UCC is okay with sexual sins - that's been their stance for decades.

Yep. This was very much planned. It's not going to work. It's not going to work because the people themselves do not want to go to a gay church. That's just the way it is. Gay people are incredibly annoying. Every last one of them.

The UUC also sponsors Christ Church Hospital in Oak Lawn IL. This is where "live birth abortions" are practiced (see Federal Register for testimony on Live Birth Children's Protection Act). Because of the Gay Marriage ruling in Massachusetts the Left is going to coerce the government into making "Good Church, Bad Church" destinctions.

Net-net, the ad should not have been banned. By banning such a passive ad that simply states that a church is open (even though I think it is deceptive as the church is more than just open), is a travesty of censorship by the networks.

I agree with your points, however you forget that the bible contains hate speech and the left's real goal is to ban the bible. Effectively killing christianity.

Why doesn't this arrogant and leftist United Church of Christ get over itself? My church is one of the most conservative in the nation and NO ONE IS EVER TURNED AWAY. Indeed, it is against the church's scriptural teachings to do so. Nor do I know of any other church doing such. This is typical of liberals. They accuse the right of thinking we have a "monopoly on morals." Yet they themselves think they have a monopoly on compassion and tolerance. Time to get over yourselves and to break free of the intellectually-stunted world of stereotypes which tells you more conservative Christian denominations turn away people they don't approve of from their congregations. That world exists only in your warped, narrow little minds.

This ad should not have been banned, even though the message is demonic. Lucifer doesn't hang around in pool halls, bars and strip joints. He doesn't bother with the riff-raff. He goes to the top, to leadership, and corrupts them. What better way to destroy the church than to corrupt it's leadership and it's message? Satan does not deny God, he corrupts God's message. Satan is not a being with horns and a pitchfork. He wears a suit or robes, stands in front of a congregation and denies his own existance. He is the king of lies.

Show the ad. For those in the UCC church that have ears to hear it may wake them up to the ugly reality of their leadership's message and teaching.

It is NOT simply stating that they are open to all. It is simply stating that all other churches are open only to white families! When was the last time you were in a church that had NO Blacks or Hispanics because "they were turned away at the door by a bouncer"????

Maybe we should all attend a UCC service in our wicken apparel, or our terrorist burkas and suicide bomber belts, or wear hunting camos and carry a sign claiming homosexuals deviants!

If the UCC is open to everyone...

I'm trying to figure out how the "Christian Right" is the villain in this story when it was the three networks that denied the free speech.

I know the ad is a bunch of lies, but no one influenced the networks because the ads never ran.

This "controversy" seems all too convenient.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.