05241
May 6, 2005

UCC says ABC ad practices unfair

Network nixed its ‘inclusive’ spot,
accepted one from ‘religious right’ group

by Kevin Eckstrom
Religion News Service

WASHINGTON — The United Church of Christ (UCC) has accused the ABC television network of having a double standard for advertisers because it accepted an ad from the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family after rejecting one from the UCC.

     The Rev. Robert Chase, head of the denomination’s communication office, accused the network of bowing to the “narrow agenda of the religious right” after an ad from Focus ran during Monday’s showing of “Supernanny.”

     The spot directed viewers to the group’s Web site, where they could access its extensive list of conservative‑minded parenting resources and publications.

     “Here’s yet another illustration of how a particular narrow agenda makes up the rules as they go along, while another religious viewpoint cannot even purchase time on the people’s airwaves to proclaim an all‑inclusive message,” Chase said.

      Twice in the past five months, ABC, NBC and CBS have refused to broadcast ads that are part of the UCC’s national campaign. NBC and CBS said the ads were “too controversial” because they featured a gay couple; ABC said it had a policy against religious advertising.

     Chase said “network elites” were accommodating the “narrow agenda of the religious right” while rejecting what he called the UCC’s message of "inclusion."

     Susan Sewell, an ABC spokeswoman, declined to discuss the specifics of the ad, but said: “The network doesn’t take advertising from religious groups. It’s a long‑standing policy.”

     One of the rejected UCC ads featured a pair of muscle-bound bouncers standing in front of a church, permitting some people to enter and turning others away. It ended with the tag line, "No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here."