BBC clashes with Catholics over Gibson Passion spoof

BY CHRISTINA FARRELL
THE BBC is preparing for another showdown with Catholics after it emerged that its autumn schedules are to include a screening of a “spoof” of Mel Gibson’s film, The Passion of the Christ.
The sketch will appear in the comedy show French and Saunders in a new six-part series to be shown on British television from October 15.
A spokesman for the Catholic Communications Service confirmed that it would be asking the BBC to provide a preview copy of the controversial sketch and would reserve judgment until seeing the programme.
“It very much depends on how they choose to do it and whether they choose to take the rise out of the film, rather than the subject matter,” he explained. “If they are making fun of the director Mel Gibson that would be very different from making fun of the Passion. It is something that we will look at very carefully.
“If this is offensive to Christians then yes, we will make appropriate representations.” Mel Gibson was accused of anti-Semitism for his graphic and brutal portrayal of Our Lord’s suffering. But the film also won many plaudits. It was described as a “positive and faithful account of the gospels” and a “wrenchingly powerful film”.
This is the latest incident to highlight growing mistrust between the Church and the national broadcaster. Many Catholics in Britain have been deeply unhappy with the BBC's approach to Catholic affairs, accusing it of misrepresentation and bias in reporting.
It remains unclear whether or not the long-awaited Popetown, a cartoon comedy of life in the Vatican, will ever be shown at all. Popetown, scheduled to be screened on the digital channel BBC 3, has been the focus of much Catholic dissatisfaction and a campaign was launched to prevent it being broadcast.
Catholics objected to the depiction of the Pope as “childish” and cardinals as “scheming and mysteriously wealthy”. News reports earlier this year suggested that Popetown was to be “quietly shelved”.
Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Birmingham is understood to have held talks with senior members of the corporation, including the new Director General, Mark Thompson, a practising Catholic who succeeded Greg Dyke this year. Mr Thompson, formerly head of Channel 4, is keen to improve dialogue and dispel any concerns that the BBC has an agenda against the Church.
Comediennes Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders specialise in spoofs of Hollywood blockbusters. Previous targets have included the multiOscar winner The Lord of the Rings and Jane Campion’s The Piano. French and Saunders have a number of films in their sights for the new series, including Cold Mountain, based on the Charles Frazier novel, and Girl with a Pearl Earring, the film adaptation of Tracy Chevalier’s best-selling book.
A spokeswoman for the BBC denied that the sketch could be construed as blasphemous. “It’s not a spoof of The Passion of the Christ,” she said. “It’s one of their ‘extras’ sketches where two actors are shown waiting for their moment of fame as part of the chorus of extras on a film. It’s more likely to be them talking about bumping into Mel Gibson than any direct reference to the Passion.”