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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| BBC accused over religious shows | BBC accused over religious shows |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Church of England's Synod is to discuss a claim by some of its members that the BBC has reduced broadcasting about religion. | The Church of England's Synod is to discuss a claim by some of its members that the BBC has reduced broadcasting about religion. |
| The broadcaster is also accused of marginalising the remaining programmes. | The broadcaster is also accused of marginalising the remaining programmes. |
| The BBC denies the accusation, but religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said the motion has already gathered support. | The BBC denies the accusation, but religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said the motion has already gathered support. |
| The Synod will also hear a plea to recognise fellow Anglicans who have set up their own church in North America. | The Synod will also hear a plea to recognise fellow Anglicans who have set up their own church in North America. |
| Some Anglicans are said to be frustrated about what they see as the part played by the media in eroding Christian influence in UK national life. | Some Anglicans are said to be frustrated about what they see as the part played by the media in eroding Christian influence in UK national life. |
| Some members of the synod believe that despite the presence of long-running programmes such as Songs of Praise on BBC1, there has been a reduction in the scope of broadcasting about religion. | Some members of the synod believe that despite the presence of long-running programmes such as Songs of Praise on BBC1, there has been a reduction in the scope of broadcasting about religion. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The BBC should exist to educate and entertain, not to indoctrinate Olly, London Send your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The BBC should exist to educate and entertain, not to indoctrinate Olly, London Send your comments |
| The BBC insists that religious broadcasting has actually increased in recent years, to an annual total of 164 hours. | |
| A spokeswoman said hours and programming "change from year to year" but there was "no trend direction downward". | A spokeswoman said hours and programming "change from year to year" but there was "no trend direction downward". |
| "For the last five years the BBC's total religion and ethics hours broadcast across all its television portfolio have remained constantly above the 2004-05 figure of 155 hours", she said. | "For the last five years the BBC's total religion and ethics hours broadcast across all its television portfolio have remained constantly above the 2004-05 figure of 155 hours", she said. |
| In 2008-09, 138 of the 164 hours were transmitted on BBC1 and BBC2, she added. | In 2008-09, 138 of the 164 hours were transmitted on BBC1 and BBC2, she added. |
| The National Secular Society (NSS) said research suggested religious programmes were not popular or valued. | The National Secular Society (NSS) said research suggested religious programmes were not popular or valued. |
| "It is important the BBC is not bullied into becoming an evangelical tool for the Church of England while ignoring the clearly expressed wishes of the licence-payer," said NSS president Terry Sanderson. | "It is important the BBC is not bullied into becoming an evangelical tool for the Church of England while ignoring the clearly expressed wishes of the licence-payer," said NSS president Terry Sanderson. |
| Meanwhile, another motion is calling on the Synod to support traditionalist Anglicans who have set up their own church in North America. | Meanwhile, another motion is calling on the Synod to support traditionalist Anglicans who have set up their own church in North America. |
| It was established in opposition to the ordination of a gay bishop and the blessing of same-sex relationships by the Anglican Churches in the United States and Canada. | It was established in opposition to the ordination of a gay bishop and the blessing of same-sex relationships by the Anglican Churches in the United States and Canada. |
| Recognising the breakaway church would not bring it into the Anglican Communion, but it would represent a significant snub to the official Anglican churches in the United States and Canada, our correspondent added. | Recognising the breakaway church would not bring it into the Anglican Communion, but it would represent a significant snub to the official Anglican churches in the United States and Canada, our correspondent added. |