Christian Voice Loses Blasphemy Appeal Against BBC Over "Jerry Springer--The Opera"

After reserving its decision on the question, the British High Court has blocked a Christian group's bid to pursue BBC Director General Mark Thompson for blasphemy over the broadcast of the production Jerry Springer--The Opera. The justices told Christian Voice that the Theatres Act, 1968 protects the public production of plays and that the Broadcasting Act, 1990 regulates the circumstances under which prosecutions may be brought against such productions as Jerry Springer--The Opera. Under neither statute could the production be said to be blasphemous because it is aimed at parodying the U.S. talk show, and not at religion.