Bigotry row as BBC is accused of airing anti-Catholic video
BBC Scotland was at the centre of a bigotry row yesterday after it was accused of airing an antiCatholic video.
The Bishop of Paisley spoke out after the widely shared online film said Holy Communion ‘tastes like cardboard and smells like hate’.
It was posted on the Facebook page of The Social, a project aimed at young adults and managed by BBC Scotland, under the title: This is How Homophobia Feels in 2018.
At one point it depicts a priest holding a Mini Cheddar and giving it to a woman who makes the Sign of the Cross. The narrator says Jesus ‘saved a lot of time when he died for our crimes, that he would’ve wasted teaching small minds that love is no sin’.
Looking at a street preacher, he says: ‘See him, he thinks it’s faith.’ The video then cuts back to the women who received Communion and continues: ‘But under all that din, it tastes like cardboard and smells like hate.’
The video has been viewed more than seven million times and shared by more than 100,000 Facebook users.
Last night, Bishop of Paisley John Keenan said on Facebook: ‘All this in a week when a Sunday Times poll found 20 per cent of Catholics reported personally experiencing abuse or prejudice towards their faith.
‘Recent Government figures on religiously aggravated crime
‘Some people will find it challenging’
showed 57 per cent is now directed at Catholics, an increase of 14 per cent... and we all wonder why!’
The Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh criticised the video’s suggestion that orthodox Christianity, including Catholi- cism, encourages public hatred of gay people.
It said: ‘The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “They [homosexual persons] must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided”.’
The Social describes itself as ‘a new digital content stream featuring content for and created by young people in Scotland’.
BBC Scotland publishes and distributes the content through its extensive social media channels.
The video, created by filmmaker and poet Sean Lìonadh, 20, triggered a Facebook backlash, with Fhiona Monkhouse saying: ‘They [the BBC] walk on eggshells around other religions, scared of the repercussions, and yet antiCatholic hatred is fair game?!
‘The BBC reach billions of people and influence everyone who watches, listens and reads their reports and yet they still get away with this and we’re told we are too sensitive?’
Some users said they would complain to the BBC and the Ofcom watchdog. Ofcom said it had not received any complaints and that anyone with concerns should direct them to the BBC in the first instance.
The BBC declined to comment on the number of complaints, but it is understood a ‘handful’ have been received so far.
Last night, BBC Scotland said The Social ‘is a platform for a wide range of opinions and viewpoints’.
A spokesman said: ‘It showcases fresh, up-and-coming talent in Scotland and gives young people a place to talk about the subjects they are passionate about.’
Of the video, he added: ‘This is an artistic piece which the BBC appreciates some people will find challenging as it tackles some very difficult themes. Nevertheless, we believe it important that the BBC should provide platforms for artistic freedom of speech.’