TV advertisements of the “Popetown” series, already bitterly contested in Great Britain, but now transmitted on the MTV television channel in Germany, have caused strong reactions of condemnation on the part of the German Bishops’ Conference, which, through its secretary Father Hans Langendörfer, has issued a press release on the matter on 10 April. “The advertisements transmitted by the MTV channel”, says the communiqué, “a few days before Good Friday and the feast of Easter represent a provocation to Christians in Germany. The way in which Jesus Christ on the cross is represented in these advertisements ridicules the fundamental principles of the Christian faith. The German Bishops’ Conference bitterly condemns this advertising campaign and will present an official complaint to the German Advertising Council. We have not yet lost hope – continues the press release – that, through talks with the MTV management, it may be possible to postpone the transmission of the series and respect the religious feelings of Christians in our country. We will also request the competent regulatory body for communication of the Länder (“Landesmedienanstalt”) and the Commission for the Protection of Minors in the Media (“Kommission für Jugendmedienschutz der Landesmedienanstalten”) (KJM) to ascertain whether this transmission is compatible with the existing law”.
