Beeb tells Catholics that Popetown is 'essentially

funny' and the bishops' conference agrees
BY CHRISTINA FARRELL
THE CHIEF PRESS oil-it:Cr ul thc Catholic Church in England and Wales has defended the BBC's decision to press ahead with a controversial cartoon about the Vatican — in spite of mounting anger from British churchgoers.
Mark Morley, director of the Catholic Conanunications Service (CCS), confirmed his office had been in close contact with the corporation over Popetown, a cartoon scheduled to be shown on the digital channel BBC Three early next year.
He said the corporation was not "anti-Catholic".
"People are talking about an anti-Catholic cabal at the BBC but that's nonsense." he said. "At every turn the BBC has been helpful, co-operative and open with me and I have been extremely impressed with their professionalism.
"On the other hand there is deep unease within the Catholic community and it is our job to channel that concern constructively without over-emoting on the subject, at all times protecting the interests of the bishops and wider Catholic conununity."
Popetown follows the trials and tribulations of a Catholic priest battling with Vatican bureaucracy. According to publicity reports, the Pope is depicted as infantile and doddery and cardinals as sinister
and mysteriously wealthy. The Pontiff's voice is provided by Ruby Wax, the American comedienne.
Mr Morley said he had Sect) storyboards for the programme, which he "did not consider to he offensive". The BBC has agreed to screen a preview of the programme at the bishops' conference prior to its national broadcast.
"We need to make our point without becoming too personal — our interests are also to keep the dialogue open," Mr Morley said.
But hundreds of Catholics have written to the corporation to protest at the programme's reputed portrayal of the Pope and the Church.
Andy O'Brien, a Catholic Herald reader, wrote to Greg Dyke, Director General of the BBC, accusing the corporation of cowardice.
"Not only will this he offensive to Catholics but to Christians of all denominations and also of other faiths," Mr O'Brien wrote. "You wouldn't dare to do this to the leaders of other flourishing non-Christian faiths in this country because you know what the very real backlash would be."
Mr O'Brien said the response he received from the BBC did "not address the point raised". He was told there was "no intention to offend the Catholic community" and that the Pope in the series is "entirely a fictional creation and is not based on Pope John Paul II".
The letter defended the programme stating that it "fulfils BBC Three's commitment to original animation, and providing distinctive and innovative programming for its audience".
It said: "Popetown is essentially a very funny programme."
Mr Morley said he believed Popetown to he at worst "an over enthusiastic and rather insensitive attempt to try something never done before rather than antiCatholicism".
He added: "I do believe that the BBC has a potentially serious issue on their hands with the understandable hurt and discomfort caused to some within the Catholic community, they are however keen to continue talking to us and it is our job to ensure that the channels of communication remain open and friendly to ensure that on this, and other projects, the Catholic voice is heard, loud and clear."
A national petition against Popetown has collected more than 25,000 signatures.
I.ast month Alan Bookbinder, BBC head of religion and ethics, brushed off complaints from Catholics who complained about a Christmas documentary The Virgin Mary, saying they had a "fragile faith".