Protect Christian programming and coverage at the BBC

We call on Her Majesty’s Government , and in particular Karen Bradley, Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, to exercise due oversight of the BBC and to reject any attempt to downgrade Christian programming in favour of increased coverage for Muslim, Hindu, and Sikh faiths.

The Director-General of the BBC, Lord Hall of Birkenhead, has said he will increase the coverage of other faiths and could broadcast Friday prayers from a mosque along the lines of Songs of Praise. He says he will do this because there have been complaints that the Corporation was ‘too Christian’. We entirely reject any idea of Christian bias at the BBC. In 2011 a survey conducted by the BBC itself found that of the 4,500 people approached, the overwhelming feeling was that the BBC was anti-Christian, and that the Christian faith was consistently misrepresented. In 2012, the then Director-General, Mark Thompson, himself admitted that Christianity was treated ‘less-sensitively’ than other religions. Since that time there have been numerous similar complaints of clear bias against Christianity, some coming from employees at the BBC themselves.

In 2009 Aaqil Ahmed was appointed Head of Religion and Ethics. Under his tenure there have been a series of documentaries on, and relating to, Islam. All have been highly supportive of it and, as Mr Ahmed has himself admitted, have been designed to overcome prejudice and distrust of Muslims in this country. By contrast, programmes commissioned relating to Christianity have been consistently designed to undermine Christian belief, calling into question fundamental tenets and doctrines of the faith.

For example, the main Christmas Programme of 2010 provoked outrage after suggesting the Virgin Mary was a prostitute; the 2016 Easter programme, examining the role and character of Judas, suggested the Bible portrayal was not just inaccurate, but totally wrong, thereby calling into question the validity of the Bible. More recently, in 2015 the BBC was accused of “enforced politically correct blindness” and “diminishing religion” after they scheduled fewer than four hours of original Christian programming in more than 300 hours of shows over Christmas. In fact Christian themed television over the Christmas period last year made up less than three per cent of the total, four hours of which were also repeats.

This is unacceptable. The UK is a Christian country, established as such by statute. In marked contrast to the traditions and values of all other belief systems, our society – founded on the idea of respect for the individual as made in the image of God – is based upon Christian values. These values and beliefs have shaped our laws since before Magna Carta, and over time have become the foundation for Western democracy worldwide. It is entirely right therefore that Christianity be given more airtime than the beliefs of minority groups, and that it should at all times be treated with respect.

Lord Hall has said that he will increase coverage for the Muslim, Hindu and Sikh faiths – but that this will not be at the expense of Christian programming, which remains the cornerstone of BBC output. This is specious, because Christian programming has already been severely downgraded, but we would further point out that there is no mention of the Jewish faith in these plans. In these days of increasing anti-Semitism, surely the Jewish faith and plight of Jews worldwide should receive increased coverage – so why this omission?

The BBC say they have received complaints that their programming is too Christian. One would ask from where these complaints have come – if indeed they have come from anyone apart from Mr Ahmed – because the more general and common complaint is that the BBC displays clear bias towards Islam and contempt for Christianity.

We therefore call for an urgent review of policy making at the BBC, and that in particular protections be put in place to protect and reflect the UK’s Christian heritage and character in any future programming. As the BBC is funded by tax payer money, we further call, in light of the current proposals, for immediate review of the BBC Charter, and licence fee.

Sign the petition here
Like us on Facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/voiceforjusticeuk

AM Comment:

This is the dedication that appears in the entrance hall of Broadcasting House@

DEO OMNIPOTENTI TEMPLUM HOC ARTIUM ET MUSARUM ANNO DOMINI MCMXXXI RECTORE JOHANNI REITH PRIMI DEDICANT GUBERNATORES PRECANTES UT MESSEM BONAM BONA PROFERAT SEMENTIS UT IMMUNDA OMNIA ET INIMICA PACI EXPELLANTUR UT QUAECUNQUE PULCHRA SUNT ET SINCERA QUACUNQUE BONAE FAMAE AD HAEC AVREM INCLINANS POPULUS VIRTUTIS ET SAPIENTIAE SEMITAM INSISTAT

which translates as

This Temple of the Arts and Muses is dedicated to Almighty God by the first Governors of Broadcasting House in the year 1931, Sir John Reith being Director-General. It is their prayer that good seed sown may bring forth a good harvest, that all things hostile to peace or purity may be banished from this house, and that the people, inclining their ear to whatsoever things are beautiful and honest and of good report, may tread the path of wisdom and uprightness.