UCC ad being turned down by the networks

[Pacifist Patriot]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/nation/10316231.htm?1c

CHICAGO - (KRT) - As church bells chime in the background, a burly bouncer guards the velvet ropes at the church entrance.

"No, step aside, please," he tells two men holding hands. "I don't think so," he says to a young black girl, blocking her entrance. A Hispanic man and a person in a wheelchair are also denied entry.

<snip>

But two major networks have declined to air the ad, deeming it "too controversial" because it champions one side of the public debate on gay relationships. Spokespersons for both CBS and NBC cited longstanding policies against accepting what is known as issue advertising.

A written explanation the church received from CBS said the network found the spot unacceptable because it challenges the exclusion of minorities by other institutions and because "the Executive Branch has recently proposed a constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman."

<snip>

_____________________________________

WTF? They'll air those god awful 527 ads but can't handle the message that Jesus never turned people away? This is beyond ridiculous.

My apologies if this is a repeat post. I did do a search, but I'm not having much luck with that feature lately. And I'm such a champion googler too. *sigh*

[il_lilac]

1. I'm so proud

of my denomination. The UCC has been at the forefront of every human rights issue. Time to boycott CBS and NBC! :thumbsdown:

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. I don't watch any of the networks.

Thank goodness for DVD. Any television show worth watching comes out on DVD eventually. Added bonus, no ads whatsoever.

I'm proud of your denomination too. I wish the UUA would go in with the UCC on that ad.

[newyawker99]

16. Hi il_lilac!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[rooboy]

3. Whoever does the UCC marketing should get an award.

Look at how much FREE advertising the UCC has received as a result of this incident.

:bounce: :bounce:

[Pacifist Patriot]

5. LOL! That occurred to me too. Probably the best thing the networks

could have done was decline to run the ad. Now all the news programs are airing it for free.

[thinkingwoman]

4. this is ridiculous!

And its discrimination, pure and simple. As a newspaper publisher I can tell you that we accept every ad that pays and isn't libelous. Period. Couldn't care less what message it advocates. Honestly, I've published ads I find morally repugnant (fundie xtian ad proclaiming everyone was going to hell unless they repented kind of crap).

Having seen the ad in question this morning, I cannot think of one reason why it should be rejected. I'd much rather see it than yet another male enhancement or tampon ad.

[Pacifist Patriot]

6. I was stunned when I saw the ad.

Stunned because I already knew it had been rejected so I expected to see something controversial. Imagine hearing that Jesus didn't turn people away. Shocking, truly shocking!

[thinkingwoman]

17. it really makes me wonder

what stake the national media has in keeping the gay hating alive.

How does it benefit them to silence a church that points out that Jesus loved everyone and didn't discriminate?

It's sad.

[keith the dem]

7. This must remain at the top!

This may be a sign of what is to come. Anything that does not agree with the * administration or the Southern Baptists will not be heard. The Theocracy is here. Don't be suprised when they get control of the "internets" and shut this site down.

I sent CBS this message:
I am outraged at your refusal to air the UCC ads. My UCC church, located within blocks of where the Constitution was written in the old city of Philadelphia, has a history of 277 years. Perhaps the last time our church was so denied its voice for religious liberty, was when the British took over the building and used it as a stable because the pastor was also too controversial. He tried to persuade the Hessians to leave the British and join the Colonists. Are you so beholden to the new King George that you would deny one of the oldest churches in the USA its voice.

[Pacifist Patriot]

8. I find it alarming as well. Particularly the statement in the article

about the Executive branch sponsoring a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman. What difference should that make to a television network when selling advertising? Curtailing religious liberty is beyond appalling. Thank you for sending your letter.

[keith the dem]

12. ABC had a segment about this this morning

It was interesting to me that on the opposing side was a representative from the Southern Babtist conference. One of The original denominations of the UCC (Congregational)was instrumental in the fight aainst slavery, and you know where the Southern Babtist stood. 150 years and nothing has changed.

[Pacifist Patriot]

14. I liked this rebuttal

John Herman, pastor of the Desert Palm United Church of Christ in Tempe, said the United Church of Christ has a strong theo- logical position when it comes to welcoming all people through its doors.

"Jesus included everybody in his circle and he got into trouble for that," Herman said.

"If we’re getting into trouble for that, then we’re in good company," he said.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=32472

I find it interesting that two ads were submitted and one was accepted while the other was rejected. Bizarre.

[ihaveaquestion]

9. Local forum repcons are labeling the ad "Divisive"

I posted something about this on the tampabay/stpete forum and the local freepers keep going on about the ad itself being divisive. I'm continually at a loss to explain repcon thought processes!

http://forums.sptimes.com/Forums/ubb/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=15&t=012393

[Divernan]

10. Because of an amendment "proposed by the Executive Branch"!!!

First of all, the Executive Branch doesn't PROPOSE amendments! Amendments are proposed to their respective chambers (House or Senate) by elected members of the House or Senate. This network response tells us that the Administration is drafting and will be pushing for such a constitutional amendment. Secondly, this means the networks have been given some ultimatum by the administration about what ads they should run. So much for the "public" airwaves.

This is as arrogant as those ridiculous pharmacists who will sell viagra, but not birth control pills. Has anyone checked to see if those pharmacists are still selling condoms?

[Pacifist Patriot]

11. There are so many things about this decision that bother me

I scarcely know where to begin. The implications are chilling.

[Pacifist Patriot]

13. Adding some links because I noticed this one requires login

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041202/NEWS08/412020385/1001&lead=1

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=32472

For some reason my google search took me right to the story, but clicking on the link in the OP requires a registration. Hopefully one or both of these does not do that.

[sangh0]

15. And people ask "When will the good Christians speak out?"

They have been speaking out and now that they're raising their voices, they're meeting resistance.

But the media, supposedly averse to controversy, has no problem conveying the words and ideas of people like Rev. Falwell, Ralph Reed, Dobson, etc