The cinema giants finally backed down and reversed their cowardly ban on the prayer advert. We exposed their blatant hypocrisy for the world to see and proved they cannot silence us just because they are afraid of the truth. Stay alert because we proved today that when we push back …
January 4, 2016
Final supporters
#justpray
PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AGAINST THE UNBELIEVABLE RECENT DECISION THESE CINEMA CHAINS HAVE TAKEN.
The ban will heighten fears that Christianity is being pushed to the margins of society by political correctness
Lets investigate the possibility of legal proceedings under the Equality Act, which 'outlaws commercial organisations from refusing services on the grounds of religion'.
The UK’s three leading cinema chains have refused to show an advert by the Church of England that features the Lord’s Prayer, citing fears that it could offend people.
The 60-second advert was due to be shown before 'Star Wars - The Force Awakens' released on 18 December.
It was cleared by the Cinema Advertising Authority and the British Board of Film Classification, but apparently the Odeon, Cineworld and Vue chains – (who control 80% of screens around the country) – have refused to show the advert because they believe it “carries the risk of upsetting, or offending, audiences”.
The church warned that the move could have a “chilling effect on free speech” and said it was at a loss to understand the logic behind the decision.
Director of communications for the Church of England (Arun Arora) said: “The prospect of a multi-generational cultural event offered by the release of Star Wars: the Force Awakens on 18 December – a week before Christmas Day – was too good an opportunity to miss and we are bewildered by the decision of the cinemas"
The film shows Christians saying one line of the Lord’s Prayer, including weightlifters, a police officer, a commuter, refugees in a support centre, schoolchildren, a mourner at a graveside, a festival goer and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Digital Cinema Media, which handles most cinema advertising in the UK states “we have a policy not to run advertising connected to personal beliefs, specifically those related to politics or religion. Our members have found that showing such advertisements carries the risk of upsetting, or offending, audiences.”
The advert is to promote a new Church of England website, JustPray.uk, encouraging people to pray.
PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN.
YOU CAN SEE THE PRAYER ADVERTISMENT HERE:
Updates
November 27, 2015
We just hit 250 signatures and it is clear that people are fed up with these cinema chains censoring the Church. Odeon, Cineworld, and Vue need to stop hiding behind their pathetic policies and listen to the public. We are just getting started.
Reached 250 supporters
November 24, 2015
November 24, 2015
One hundred people have already sent a message to these cinema chains that their cowardice will not go unnoticed. Odeon and the others think they can silence the Church to satisfy some misguided sense of political correctness but they are dead wrong.
Reached 100 supporters
November 22, 2015
146 Comments
The whole point of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Christ and God's love for humanity. Has anyone thought that banning this may be offensive to Christians, those who are usually the silent minority.
Christmas it's in the name. CHRISTMAS a celebration of the birth of Christ which has been at the heart of this country for hundreds of years. Accepted by atheists and people of many faiths. Why has this suddenly changed. Why are you marginalizing Christians? Why are you taking Christ out of Christmas?
I was deeply saddened & disturbed by the decision made by these cinema chains not to screen the Lord's Prayer, especially in the run up to Christmas - what hypocrisy! I will not be going to any of these cinemas unless this shameful decision is reversed.
Only extremist secularists would oppose its showing. Most films contain offensive parts to some person, so the logic of refusing to show the ad very would also prevent the screening of most films
Our country and indeed Europe wide and beyond have been encouraged to pray for Paris. How can one line of the Lord's prayer - probably used at the majority of funeral services in UK be offensive.
We should be able to have a night at the Cinama if we choose and watch what we want, sick of most of the rubbish that's around today thank you keep the good work up God bless you will continue to pray.
We are a Christian country, so why should we not show it. If it offends people of other religions so be it.
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The cinema giants finally backed down and reversed their cowardly ban on the prayer advert. We exposed their blatant hypocrisy for the world to see and proved they cannot silence us just because they are afraid of the truth. Stay alert because we proved today that when we push back …
January 4, 2016
Final supporters
#justpray
PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AGAINST THE UNBELIEVABLE RECENT DECISION THESE CINEMA CHAINS HAVE TAKEN.
The ban will heighten fears that Christianity is being pushed to the margins of society by political correctness
Lets investigate the possibility of legal proceedings under the Equality Act, which 'outlaws commercial organisations from refusing services on the grounds of religion'.
The UK’s three leading cinema chains have refused to show an advert by the Church of England that features the Lord’s Prayer, citing fears that it could offend people.
The 60-second advert was due to be shown before 'Star Wars - The Force Awakens' released on 18 December.
It was cleared by the Cinema Advertising Authority and the British Board of Film Classification, but apparently the Odeon, Cineworld and Vue chains – (who control 80% of screens around the country) – have refused to show the advert because they believe it “carries the risk of upsetting, or offending, audiences”.
The church warned that the move could have a “chilling effect on free speech” and said it was at a loss to understand the logic behind the decision.
Director of communications for the Church of England (Arun Arora) said: “The prospect of a multi-generational cultural event offered by the release of Star Wars: the Force Awakens on 18 December – a week before Christmas Day – was too good an opportunity to miss and we are bewildered by the decision of the cinemas"
The film shows Christians saying one line of the Lord’s Prayer, including weightlifters, a police officer, a commuter, refugees in a support centre, schoolchildren, a mourner at a graveside, a festival goer and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Digital Cinema Media, which handles most cinema advertising in the UK states “we have a policy not to run advertising connected to personal beliefs, specifically those related to politics or religion. Our members have found that showing such advertisements carries the risk of upsetting, or offending, audiences.”
The advert is to promote a new Church of England website, JustPray.uk, encouraging people to pray.
PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN.
YOU CAN SEE THE PRAYER ADVERTISMENT HERE:
Updates
November 27, 2015
We just hit 250 signatures and it is clear that people are fed up with these cinema chains censoring the Church. Odeon, Cineworld, and Vue need to stop hiding behind their pathetic policies and listen to the public. We are just getting started.
Reached 250 supporters
November 24, 2015
November 24, 2015
One hundred people have already sent a message to these cinema chains that their cowardice will not go unnoticed. Odeon and the others think they can silence the Church to satisfy some misguided sense of political correctness but they are dead wrong.
Reached 100 supporters
November 22, 2015
146 Comments
Ridiculous - this is a free country with freedom of speech. I wouldn't be offended to see an advert for any other faith in our free society and to be patronised by cinema organisations sanitising what they think 'may offend' me is offensive in itself!
The whole point of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Christ and God's love for humanity. Has anyone thought that banning this may be offensive to Christians, those who are usually the silent minority.
Christmas it's in the name. CHRISTMAS a celebration of the birth of Christ which has been at the heart of this country for hundreds of years. Accepted by atheists and people of many faiths. Why has this suddenly changed. Why are you marginalizing Christians? Why are you taking Christ out of Christmas?
I was deeply saddened & disturbed by the decision made by these cinema chains not to screen the Lord's Prayer, especially in the run up to Christmas - what hypocrisy! I will not be going to any of these cinemas unless this shameful decision is reversed.
Only extremist secularists would oppose its showing. Most films contain offensive parts to some person, so the logic of refusing to show the ad very would also prevent the screening of most films
Our country and indeed Europe wide and beyond have been encouraged to pray for Paris. How can one line of the Lord's prayer - probably used at the majority of funeral services in UK be offensive.
We should be able to have a night at the Cinama if we choose and watch what we want, sick of most of the rubbish that's around today thank you keep the good work up God bless you will continue to pray.
We are a Christian country, so why should we not show it. If it offends people of other religions so be it.
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Ridiculous - this is a free country with freedom of speech. I wouldn't be offended to see an advert for any other faith in our free society and to be patronised by cinema organisations sanitising what they think 'may offend' me is offensive in itself!