Jerry Springer blasphemy rejected

Horseferry Road Magistrates rejected the criminal action brought by Christian Voice over the BBC’s airing of the controversial show two years ago.

Campaigner Stephen Green was trying to level blasphemy charges against the corporation’s director-general, Mark Thompson, and producer Jon Thoday at Avalon. The show’s creators, comedian Stewart Lee and composer Richard Thomas, were not involved in the action.

Before the case, Mr Green said: ‘If artistic people do not where or how to stop as they push against the boundaries of decency, then the law must step in and tell them.

'In this present case, it appears prime facie that a most odious and wicked blasphemy was perpetrated against Almighty God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Clearly, justice must be done. No one, be they ever so influential or wealthy, can be above the law.’

However, the group is not so keen on laws it disagrees with. When the Lords last week voted in favour of legislation to stop businesses discriminating against people because of their sexual orientation, Green said: ‘Christians cannot be forced to act against their conscience by providing services to those whose activities they find perverted… We can not and will not do that.’

At the height of the campaign against the opera, senior BBC executives required police protection after activists published their home addresses on the internet.

Christian Voice have not yet responded to a request for comment.

Published: 16 Jan 2007