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Digital Cinema Media
UK News

Government urges "cinema to look again" at Lord's Prayer ban

Speaking in the House of Lords the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Baroness Williams of Trafford, urged the cinemas to "look again".

On Sunday the Church announced that Digital Cinema Media had refused an advert it wanted to show before the new Star Wars film because it might offend.

The Conservative peer told the chamber "freedom of expression including freedom of the media is fundamental to democratic society".

Open discussions of faith issues, she added, had the benefit of bringing communities together "thereby giving rise to greater understanding amongst faith groups".

She said: "In this case the decision not to accept the advertisement was by an independent media organisation.

"The Government has made it clear that it does not agree with that decision and has urged the cinema to look again."

She was responding to the Bishop of Chelmsford who raised the issue during Lords oral questions.

Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell welcomed the support from Number 10, and "indeed, from Richard Dawkins and Stephen Fry, not usually people who are supporting of the Church of England".

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford said banning the advertisement had "narrowed the opportunities for beliefs and values to be spoken about".

He said: "Would the minister agree with me that advertisements are about beliefs, they are about lifestyles and then they sell the product and therefore others should be free to also speak about ideas in the market place of ideas.

"Digital Cinema Media, by banning this advertisement, have narrowed the opportunities for beliefs and values to be spoken about in the public square and also risk undermining some of the values and freedoms that most of us spend the rest of our time seeking to promote - not least the freedom to be offended."

Baroness Williams said the Government wholeheartedly supported faith institutions in this country.

She added: "The Government greatly values the vital role religious individuals and organisations have in our society and the part they play in national life and public service.

"We also value the vital role of the Church of England, indeed many Christian organisations and individual Christians have in our society and the part that they play national life inspiring a great number of people to get involved in public service and providing help to those in need."

In a statement, DCM said: "DCM has a policy of not accepting 'political or religious advertising' content for use in its cinemas.

"Some advertisements - unintentionally or otherwise - could cause offence to those of differing political persuasions, as well as to those of differing faiths and indeed of no faith.

"In this regard, DCM treats all political or religious beliefs equally."

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