Fire and brimstone sells better than love

As 28th Avenue notes, things get interesting when religious groups want to be on television. The United Church of Christ tried to air a commercial about its inclusiveness and it was rejected by all five networks (NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, and WB). Too controversial? You be the judge.

This ad follows on a previous spot that was also rejected by major networks. The CBS explanation for rejecting the ad was as follows:

"Because this commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples and other minority groups by other individuals and organizations...and the fact the Executive Branch has recently proposed a Constitutional Amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, this spot is unacceptable for broadcast on the [CBS and UPN] networks."

It's easy to respond that the UCC ad is being barred because TV networks favor the religious right, who seem to be on TV all the time. But one network, ABC, rejected the ad because it refuses to air any religious advertisement, period. And there's a distinct difference between the mediated talk show time and advertising.

But even in talk shows, the religious right seems to be favored. Focusing on ABC's This Week, a "news" talk show, the UCC notes that:

Over last eight years, individuals like Jerry Falwell, Richard Neuhaus, James Dobson, Gary Bauer and Pat Robertson have appeared on the program. In fact, James Dobson and Gary Bauer have appeared three times each and Pat Robertson has appeared seven times.

In the same time period, ZERO leaders have appeared from some of eight largest mainline protestant churches, representing more than 23 million parishoners.

Can't really blame the UCC for wanted to advertise...