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BBC accused over religious shows | BBC accused over religious shows |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The Church of England's general 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 had 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. |
Good Friday 'ignored' | |
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. | |
Nigel Holmes, the lay member of the synod who put the motion forward, told the BBC's Today programme he was particularly concerned about the BBC's coverage on television. | |
"The controllers in radio have been very supportive of religion, in television less so, over the past 10 years. | |
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 |
"What triggered my proposal was last Good Friday when BBC seemed to ignore the Christian significance of that," he said. | |
The BBC insists that religious broadcasting has actually increased in recent years, to an annual total of 164 hours. | The BBC insists that religious broadcasting has actually increased in recent years, to an annual total of 164 hours. |
The BBC's head of religion and ethics, Aaqil Ahmed, admitted last year's television programmes on Good Friday could have been done better but said the BBC was committed to religious broadcasting. | |
"The Charter says that we should be doing 110 hours. We're doing 164 this year. | |
"If you look at the broader broadcasting ecology, if you look at what's happening at ITV, channel Five, Channel 4, everybody is turning their back on religion, but we live in a time when the BBC isn't doing that," he said. | |
Extra funding for Christian worship and festivals programming had been secured in the past couple of months, he added. | |
'Evangelical tool' | |
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. | |
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 there, our correspondent added. |