Is the BBC anti-Catholic?

No doubt, the British Broadcasting Corporation is generally held in high esteem. For many the BBC is synonymous with efficiency, objectivity and impartiality. Indeed the BBC has always proudly proclaimed, and justifiably so, that it is completely independent of government, no matter who is at the country's helm. It is therefore strange to read in the UK Catholic press, week after week, allegations of anti-Catholic bias by the corporation.

A report in The Catholic Herald (September 19) claims: "BBC plans an autumn offensive against Catholic Church." The writer even alleges that the attacks are designed to coincide with the Pope's silver jubilee. To prove her point the reporter mentions, among other things, that on October 16, the Pope's anniversary, the corporation is scheduled to show a documentary called Sex and the Holy City.

Also during October the UK public service broadcaster will return to the abuse of children by Catholic priests in England and Wales. The report, quoting Catholic sources, said that the programme could only be dealing with "old cases which have already been dealt with by both civil and canonical authorities."

A meeting which took place between the producers of the programme and Church representatives was described as "stormy" by a representative of the Catholic Communications Service (CCS).

The representative alleged, among other things, that in tackling Church abuse cases it is difficult not to conclude that "the BBC doesn't have an agenda here... the BBC keeps revisiting this on the basis that they have the best interests of children at heart. They are turning over old cases, some of which are done and dusted - some of the guys are in prison."

The Herald reporter mentions other cases to prove her allegation of anti-Catholic bias. Last December the BBC broadcast a controversial Christmas documentary about the Virgin Mary. The programme suggested that Mary conceived after she was raped by a Roman soldier.

Another controversial programme (a cartoon this time), Popetown, scheduled for this winter, is about an infuriatingly childish 77-year-old Pope "whose every whim must be indulged". In reply to complaints, the corporation stated that the cartoon was "essentially very funny".

Not having seen the programmes makes it difficult to judge whether the criticisms levelled at the BBC in the report (and in other quarters) were justified or not. However in one case at least the BBC itself has admitted bias and manipulation.

Last April a Radio 4 programme featured Cardinal Murphy O'Connor, the Archbishop of Westminster. After the broadcast it transpired that comments in favour of the Cardinal by the BBC reporter were edited out. The BBC later apologised to the journalist for leaving out his comments.

Catholics in the UK have been saying that had the same anti-Church bias been shown against Islam, for example, there would probably be mayhem. Indeed they say, the corporation would not even dream of using the same tactics when dealing with Muslims.

Perhaps Catholics in Britain are over-sensitive and perhaps not. In any case, it will be very hard to convince Catholics that the BBC is a model of objectivity and impartiality at least insofar as matters dealing with the Catholic Church are concerned.