A 60-second advert by the Church of England, featuring the Lord's Prayer, has allegedly been refused to be shown by the UK's three leading cinema chains, Cineworld, Odeon and Vue, due to fears that it could offend people.
The advert was to be shown before the film, Star Wars: the Force Awakens, which is to release on 18th December 2015. The advert was made to promote a new Church of England website, JustPray.uk, which encourages people to pray.
The Cinema Advertising Authority, as well as the British Board of Film Classification has cleared the advert; however, the three cinema chains allegedly refused to show it as they believe it “carries the risk of upsetting, or offending, audience”.
Cineworld, Odeon and Vue control 80% of screens around the country.
Director of communications for the Church of England, Arun Arora said, “The prospect of a multigenerational cultural event offered by the release of Star Wars: the Force Awakens on 18 December – a week before Christmas Day – was too good an opportunity to miss and we are bewildered by the decision of the cinemas. The Lord’s Prayer is prayed by billions of people across the globe every day and in this country has been part of everyday life for centuries. Prayer permeates every aspect of our culture from pop songs and requiems to daily assemblies and national commemorations. For millions of people in the United Kingdom, prayer is a constant part of their lives whether as part thanksgiving and praise, or as a companion through their darkest hours.”
He further stated, “In one way the decision of the cinemas is just plain silly but the fact that they have insisted upon it makes it rather chilling in terms of limiting free speech. There is still time for the cinemas to change their mind and we would certainly welcome that... People should visit the site, see the film themselves and make their own minds as to whether they are upset or offended by it.”
