THE Bishop of Manchester will complain fiercely to the BBC after watching the highly-controversial production of Jerry Springer - the Opera.
The Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch found the BBC2 version of the hit West End show "gratuitously offensive" and said it "went beyond the boundary of taste and decency."
His sentiments were shared by protesters, who camped outside the corporation's Manchester headquarters, in Oxford Road, during the broadcast on Saturday night.
As well as similar protests up and down the country, about 45,000 protesters contacted the BBC before the show was screened.
An estimated 300 phoned the BBC immediately after it was screened, with half the callers ringing in with positive comments about the opera, which attracted 1.8 million viewers - 20 per cent more than is usually expected for that time of night.
The Bishop, who last week saw his request to see the programme before it was aired rejected by the BBC, watched the opera, starring former Starsky and Hutch actor David Soul.
He said: "Following the transmission of Jerry Springer - the Opera last night, my previously expressed concerns about some of its content being shown uncut on television - rather than in the theatre - especially by a public service broadcaster, are, if anything, stronger.
Gratuitously offensive
"In particular, the brief scene in which Eve clearly attempts to masturbate Jesus - shown more closely by the television camera than would be the case for the theatre audience - was gratuitously offensive and went beyond the boundary of taste and decency.
"Other words, especially those spoken to Jesus, together with audience reaction, crossed for me, as a television viewer, the boundary between satire and ridicule. I will be taking up these matters with the BBC and others this week."
A spokesman for the BBC said: "We are pleased with the audience figures and we had a lot of appreciative calls from people who wanted to make a point."
The script includes hundreds of expletives and one scene in which a Jesus figure is ridiculed has been described as "blasphemy".
The protests follow quickly on the heels of violent action by protesting Sikhs in Birmingham that closed a play they considered offensive to their religion.
Among Saturday's protesters was the UK Asian Christian Fellowship who had announced their determination to press the BBC to cancel the showing. Yaqub Masih, general secretary of the UK Asian Christian Fellowship, said: "Asian Christians feel very strongly about this insult to our Saviour and our faith and we shall support prayer and protest against this blasphemy.
"Our parents thought they were coming to a Christian country, and to find the Christian faith itself deliberately insulted and the BBC going out of its way to offend us is distressing."
Christian Voice, a national prayer group, said they would mount a private prosecution against the BBC for alleged blasphemy.
Should the BBC have shown Jerry Springer - The Opera? Have your say.
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derek quinn, glasgow (10/01/2005 at 09:38)
Don Wyatt, Manchester (10/01/2005 at 09:44)
Dominic, London (10/01/2005 at 09:53)
Christianity is crumbling, they should start reading some science books and bring themselves up to date.
For the reord, I saw the Opera and got bored after 5 minutes.
Carole Ellefsen-Jones, London (10/01/2005 at 09:55)
The subjects touched on in the first half are vitally important issues - ones that the church as a whole usually ignores and sidelines as 'untouchable'. Ironically, Jesus was the first to venture into all manner of 'untouchable' areas and would, I believe have been there way in advance of Jerry Springer!
As a Christian minister I would recommend all Christians who can stomach the langauge level to go and see this production. The second half is full of theological challenges and issues - enough to keep the average church discussion group going for years! Mind you, few 'average church groups' wopuld be able to handle this. A pity. It might explain why there was so much controversy in the first place and why so many congregations are losing credibility and as a result - members,
Alan M White, Herne Bay Kent (10/01/2005 at 09:58)
But the main faith of the Country is not protected.
But if you 'insult' a minority religion,the whole weight of the law and the unelected do gooder's will be thrown against you...
bernie, stretford (10/01/2005 at 10:16)
Rachel, Crumpsall, Manchester (10/01/2005 at 10:35)
However what has happened to a sense of proportion? More people probablyl watched at least part of this rubbish because of the publicity. And then there are BBC men in hiding with death threats hanging over them! I remember a commandment about though shalt not kill. Are these people sure they are Chrisitans or is this the new football hooliganism?
Martin Stanmore, Salford (10/01/2005 at 10:51)
You don't have the right not to be offended, people. The Bishop of Manchester is within his rights to complain, but the church has no place in dictating the TV schedules!
There will always be puritans, prudes, and mary whitehouse clones. Similarly, there will always be free thinking, open minded people who have the presence of mind to make informed choices over their viewing. The sunday morning religous programs on telly annoy me, so I choose not to watch. Why waste my energy complaining about what other people watch ?
terry veenendaal, alberta canada (10/01/2005 at 10:55)
Tim J, Winsford, Cheshire (10/01/2005 at 11:01)
I challenge anyone reading this to go a month without watching the garbage that gets pumped into their living rooms. It's amazing what a change it will bring - there are better things to do with your time!
Eric, Manchester (10/01/2005 at 11:05)
Matt, Manchester (10/01/2005 at 11:08)
I find their attempts to control what I can and can't watch on my television offensive. The BBC is a public service broadcaster, and should therefore provide programming to cater to all areas of the public. Myself, I want entertaining, offensive programming full of sex and bad language. If they don't provide me with that, I'll sue 'em.
Evangelie, London (10/01/2005 at 12:28)
Peace Out JESUS ROCKS!
Nigel, Prestwich (10/01/2005 at 12:39)
Or is that some other Christianity I'm thinking about?
Loz, London (10/01/2005 at 12:42)
I'm a serious Christian and have never been in the least bit offended- its not ABOUt religion its about society, It depicts religious characters because it is using the greatest conflict of interests of all time- that of God and Satan. It shows how all the pointless arguing we do benefits no one. We'll never agree on anything. A little compromise now and then is very necessary.
I think this is shown quite brillaintly by the arguments that have gone one in the lead up to the shows broadcast. The fundamentalist religious bigots wouldn't listen to a word anyone was saying even though people were only trying to cure thier ignorance of the show- as nearly all those who complained had never even seen one song. If they'd have listened they would have seen its not half as bad as they think, and isn't actually blasphemous at all. Ridiculous, these people.
The Beeb did a good thing by showing it, the cast deserve to have thier talents showcased over the land.
The day I'm told what I can and can't watch on TV by these ignorant religious prudes is the day this country stops being the free-minded place it claims to be.
And Christians sending violent threatening phone calls to the Beeb producers?
Well well well.... how very Christian of you. I'm sure that's what Jesus would have done. I bet God is so proud of you and your violent pathetic dictatorship.
Rik, Folkestone (10/01/2005 at 12:51)
I didnt see any of the religious stuff,but then religion is only a form of social control and made up to control the weak minded. Christians should teach tolerance or keep their bloody noses out! And I agree what good is a law suit when there is so much suffering in the world. Plus a law suit would only put up the already too high tv license.
I enjoyed what I saw,the singing was excellent. Well done BBC.
Dave, West (10/01/2005 at 13:28)
While free speech is vital, there have to be limits to it in a civilised society. Would you be happy for ethnic minorities, disadvantaged groups such as the disabled or your family and friends to be insulted on the BBC?
While you may not follow their faith, Christians hold a deeply held belief about God and Jesus and have a right not to be insulted in this way by a TV channel funded by public money.
Alan Parker, Aberdeen, Scotland (10/01/2005 at 13:40)
R. Davari, Nottingham (10/01/2005 at 13:53)
Has it EVER thought of raising standards to be decent, moral and upbuilding so that we might see something good and beautiful in people and our society? Why do programmes have to be so base and debasing?
vaughan, stockport (10/01/2005 at 13:53)
On the subject this is the modern world we are living in the sooner we all grow up the better and you might get more people in your churches on sun
Linda Finch, Yorkshire (10/01/2005 at 15:02)
T J, Cheshire (10/01/2005 at 15:56)
It is good that people desire the "freedom" to do as they please, but what we fail to realise is that the moral benefits outweigh the momentary pleasure of watching these types of things. Boundaries exist for our benefit!
I agree with the comment below - put away your TV...most living rooms are set out around the blessed thing. The God of Britain seems to be the television!
Darren Hudson, Bristol (10/01/2005 at 16:05)
S sutton, Salford. (10/01/2005 at 16:33)
Elliott, Surrey/Hampshire borders (10/01/2005 at 16:57)
The idea of mixing the opera, the highest of cultural forms, with Jerry Springer., the lowest of cultural forms, was a brilliant one. But the actual delivery.. hmm.. how can you satirise something that is already self-parody? The joke wore thing after 30 minutes and I turned over to Clint Eastwood. So I missed all the religious stuff - so I have no idea whether it was really blaphemous or not.
If it was, the Beeb shouldn't be breaking the law. But, on past record, I'm willing to bet it wasn't.