Telly: Suppression of Inclusive Religion

The following post can be found at www.sozadee.com. My response is below it.

My Church Is Being Suppressed by Agencies of the Federal Government: CBS & NBC

CBS, NBC have refused to air the United Church of Christ's television advertisement highlighting Jesus' inclusive and universal welcome to service because they deem the ad as 'too controversial'. The advertisement is set to begin airing nationwide on Dec. 1, states that -- like Jesus -- the United Church of Christ (UCC) seeks to welcome all people, regardless of ability, age, race, economic circumstance or sexual orientation. See the UCC ad for yourself at StillSpeaking.

The CBS and NBC television networks are refusing to run the 30-second television ad from the UCC because its all-inclusive welcome has been deemed "too controversial." In a written statement, CBS explains the ad is being denied "Because this commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples and other minority groups by other individuals and organizations, and the fact the Executive Branch has recently proposed a Constitutional Amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, this spot is unacceptable for broadcast on the [CBS and UPN] networks."

A similar statement of rejection from NBC labeled the spot as "too controversial."
Rev. Robert Chase, director of the UCC's communication ministry pointed out inescapable ironies:
We find it disturbing that the networks in question seem to have no problem exploiting gay persons through mindless comedies or titillating dramas, but when it comes to a church's loving welcome of committed gay couples, that's where they draw the line.
Former FCC Commissioner Gloria Tristani, currently managing director of the UCC's Office of Communication addressed the source of the problem: The consolidation of TV network ownership into the hands of a few executives today puts freedom of speech and freedom of religious affirmation in jeopardy. By refusing to air the United Church of Christ's paid commercial, CBS and NBC are stifling religious worship. They are denying the communities they serve a suitable access to differing ideas and culture.

Is this what life in the Theocratically United States of America will be like?


Wow. This is shocking. And yet not surprising. Here in the United States we have a very adolescent approach to issues of sexuality. Young girls can be hypersexualized for our viewing pleasure (Olsen twins, Britney about 6 years ago, anyone?), promiscuous sex and disrespect/degradation can be seen on just about ANY reality TV show except for maybe The Amazing Race, female athletes have to get their tits out for FHM or Maxim in order to be noticed by the culture at all, and yet we can't have condom commercials, we can't talk intelligently about contraception in any televised forum, and now a church can't say "welcome everyone!"???

It drives home the truth: that conservatives want prayer in schools only if it's THEIR prayer. They want greater attention given to religion, only if its THEIR religion. And now the media is so cowed by the conservatives that they won't even take money to air a religious message? Insane. Because they definitely won't turn down Bud Light's money to show half naked women mud wrestling over a beer.

As my dad says, "These are the antics of a dying nation." Heaven help us.