The C of E has produced quite a good little video in which the Lord’s Prayer is recited by a variety of people, mostly ordinary but starting with the Archbishop of Canterbury. This quite clever piece was designed to go out on cinema screens across the country as an ad prior to the big feature, but agencies and cinema chains have refused to handle it. The reason given is that in a multi cultural society of many religious threads and beliefs, to promote one would bring a clamour to promote all, or if not, cause offence to the majority who do not follow this faith.
The authorities of the C of E claim to be bewildered by the decision. That comes as no surprise since it has been enveloped in a fog of bewilderment about itself for a very long time. Fewer, very many fewer, nowadays believe that its interpretation of faith is either helpful or valid. In a population over over sixty million fewer than one million attend C of E church on Sunday, even occasionally. Once it was one of the four pillars of the nation, but no longer. A very nasty attitude towards women, gays, abortion, divorce and other social developments although gradually accepted by those who believe themselves in touch with God, only after long and acrimonious arguments.
There was a time when the C of E was a broad church which allowed its members to believe in whatever they felt was right; it offered a spiritual home that left the detail to the individual. Now it is prescriptive, doctrinaire and judgemental. Too often its adherents appear on chat shoes quoting contentious passages from the Bible to justify outrageous and unkind injunctions.
So it’s advert is banned from the cinemas. Never mind. In the modern world it will do far better on YouTube.