Lord's Prayer cinema ad snub 'bewilders' Church of England

[Angilion]

In a statement, DCM said it had a policy of not accepting political or religious advertising content in its cinemas

Good for them!

Freedom of speech does not include the right to force other people or organisations to provide a platform for promoting your ideology. I very much doubt that the clerics who are objecting on "free speech" grounds would, for example, welcome the "free speech" of forcing their churches to promote atheism.

 

[Tefal]

Good for them!

Freedom of speech does not include the right to force other people or organisations to provide a platform for promoting your ideology. I very much doubt that the clerics who are objecting on "free speech" grounds would, for example, welcome the "free speech" of forcing their churches to promote atheism.

indeed didnt they demand some pretty strong protection about not having to perform gay marriges in thier churches?

 

[sand_dune]

I'm offended by every religion. So it's good they took it out.

 

[Lunatic Dreyfus]

Give it up, CofE. With a bit of luck you'll be all but gone in 25 years.

Why do they think an audience wants to be preached at before watching Star Wars? I'm sure the normal adverts are going to be bad enough. This is the trouble with most religious types, they just can't keep it to themselves.

 

[Hitman_Leon]

very likely yes they do act as a kind of subsidy.

as movie attendance drops expect more ads.

I do remember just the same situation before VCR's were widespread, I surmise it helps keep them running through matinees and keeps them able to show niche and total flops.

I agree with the attendance issues though, the adds may increase if attendance drops.

 

[No1newts]

so they're basically just sticking to their policy

+1

 

[Gilly]

As with most others it wouldn't offend me but equally it's not the right place for it; and that goes for as long as the policy is held to for all other such groups.

They should not single out any one religion. They all should be banned and I support that.

 

[clockwork.satan]

I'm personally pleased with their decision to ban it, as I destest any form of religion being shoved down my throat - and would find it particularly vomit-inducing in an advertisement.

 

[The Geezer]

Not offended but would draw the line at advertising on top of the ticket price. DCM have the right policy in that they do not support religious or political adverts.

If I want to watch a political or religious movie then that is my choice, I have no choice over the adverts they feed me.

 

[cheesyboy]

I have no problem with the no religious or political advert policy. It's just the claim that it offends people I think is daft.

The no-religion-or-politics policy is in place because of the potential that such adverts could offend. And they potentially could. It's not been suggested, other than in the insinuation you get from the reporting style of the story, that this particular advert it especially likely to cause offence.

It seems to me a perfectly sane policy from the cinemas. I can well imagine the sorts of problems that could arise if it were not in place.

 

[Tosno]

So to some up page 3, someone that calls their self a luntatic hoping for the national Church to be gone and someone else that calls their self satan finds religious vomit adverts inducing.

 

[Chris Wilson]

The ban is obviously based on a perceived offence to none Christians, probably based on current sensitivities. Whilst I, as a Christian, and a capitalist, uphold the C of E's right to advertise I would rather they spent some of their formidable assets rather than generate yet more. Their profit on their various investments exceeded that of many national, and probably multi national companies last year. I find their moralising somewhat disingenuous most of the time. Yet they are happy to pass the collection plate at churches in poor hamlets for repairs and wages.

Not to make singular the C of E, one might look at the Catholic churches current Vatican finances scandal. From multi national motor manufacturers to the Vatican, they all seem to be at it

 

[cheesyboy]

The ban is obviously based on a perceived offence to none Christians, probably based on current sensitivities.

To be honest, if there's any specific problem they're trying to head off, I think the ban on religion and politics is more about the potential ruckus or customer-distaste if they started carrying pro-islam or perhaps pro-Israel adverts.

 

[Avenged7Fold]

These religions are run no differently to any other lucrative business or powerful political party.

I have seen some of the poorest villages in the Phillipines (where people cannot feed their own family) have wealthy local churches because everyone is essentially 'encouraged' (guilted/manipulated) into donating. It sounds silly but the more desperate your life, the more you feel the need to donate to this almighty presence. After seeing the amounts collected and seeing the sheer vastness of wealth in the Vatican as a kid, i realised that religion=business.

So does it have the right to advertise? Yes it does but theatres are well in their right to refuse. It is a business for the cinemas too and advertising costs just supplement the business made from the films. If they wish to avoid alienating customers who are simply not interested in the CoE or they think the advert will have an undesirable effect on the mood of the crowd, then it is in their best business to refuse the CoE. If they have to give an excuse then their policy of not allowing adverts with religious or political connotations, then that is fine. People seem to be more offended by their refusal because they think its some crazy plan to appease minorities, when in reality, its just bad business.

I think CoE reaction is in poor taste and is further proof that all of this is just business. Raving on about the refusal has given their advert tons of publicity for free, at the same time putting negative connotations on the cinemas refusal.

From a cinema point of view, if they accepted CoE but refused to show Islam/Mormon/Etc adverts then it would seem like they have some affiliation with them, where as they want to appear neutral. If they accepted all adverts, then it will eventually hit a nerve with the crowd and business goes bad. With that view in mind, it as about not wanting to offend Christians as well as Non-Christians.

If I went to the cinema and say a 1 minute advert of Nigel Farage pretending to be my pubs local while shouting about taking the country back, i would be pretty put off my film.

 

[Gilly]

If I went to the cinema and say a 1 minute advert of Nigel Farage pretending to be my pubs local while shouting about taking the country back, i would be pretty put off my film.

That's true actually. I would be offended at having his giant smug smashable xenophobic toxic face leering at me, so given that the stance covers religion and politics it is a good thing.

 

[jamief]

What I find offensive is paying 12 quid for a cinema ticket to then be subjected to 15 minutes of the same adverts that I get on free to air television. I get the point on free-to-air television, it pays for the tv.

But I don't want to pay 12 quid to watch adverts for the latest Lynx fragrance.

A really simple idea - why not arrive 15 minutes later?

 

[Puzzled]

A really simple idea - why not arrive 15 minutes later?

It's dark and I'll fall over

Saying that I was amazed last time I went to the cinema, barely 5 mins of adverts before the film. It was an iMax showing so I was kinda disappointed

Back to the topic, good call by the cinema not budging on policy but the COE is seriously cashing in on this press.

 

[The Dread Pirate]

I don't see why it's so bewildering people go to the cinema to enjoy themselves not be preached to that's what <insert preference of Place of worship here> are there for!

 

[Avenged7Fold]

I genuinely like the adverts and trailers. It is like a settle in and relax period for me prior to the film, as well as a time buffer in case I am running late.

I would be disgruntled at any advert in the cinema with connotations to religion or politics regardless of who it stands for. I just think it is not the time or the place for it as it is shown to everyone in the crowd, made up of a variety of ages and faiths. Sure you don't have to buy what their selling but sadly, some people just don't know better.

Take that Farage advert example i made up earlier:

I would be pretty angry if my kid came home from the cinema and asked me why there are 'too many' immigrants(legal and illegal) in the country, it may not be what the advert was saying but its certainly how the advert could be taken.

Cinema is for entertainment. If they need adverts to pay the bills then fair enough but don't MAKE them accept every advert offered. Freedom of speech lets you say whatever you want but does not let you say it wherever you want.

 

[Mr Jack]

I enjoy pre-movie trailers, and the ads are okay when they make a bit of effort - e.g. the ads shot in Lego before the Lego Movie - but otherwise annoying.

Back on topic, I do wonder how cynical the CoE are being here. Did they really not know about the policy? It seems like a great way to get much more prominent coverage of them and their advert to have it refused and then throw a big fuss over it.