Advertising standards criticised over 'whitewash' decision

A LOCAL politician and community leader have criticised the Advertising Standards Authority's failure to do more to censure the Free Presbyterian Church and a local newspaper after an ad was placed branding the Pope, Benedict XVI, 'the man of sin and the anti-christ'.

An ASA investigation into the publication of the church notice on the eve of the Pope's visit to the UK criticised the Tyrone Courier for the 'blunt and unqualified' language of the ad, and the offence it caused to Catholic readers.

However, it stopped short of saying the newspaper had breached advertising codes.

Gerry McGeough, the President of Tyrone's Ancient Order of Hibernians, said the authority had not went far enough. 

It was Mr McGeough who initially lodged the complaint with the ASA after he was outraged by the ad.

In the past, the advertising watchdog has ruled that a newspaper advertisement by a Free Presbyterian church did breach advertising codes. However, in that case, the ad carried negative references to homosexuality.

He accused the watchdog of double standards and not doing enough to protect the Catholic religion from assaults.

"Although the language was based on 16th and 17th century extracts, it is no less offensive to Catholic sensibilities in the modern era", he said.

"If, for example, someone were to place an advert in a newspaper asserting that the English queen was a Heretic and an anti-christ based on a 16th century counter-reformationary text, I'm quite sure that there would be an uproar on both sides of the Irish Sea. That is, assuming that an "error in production" allowed the ad to be published in the first place.

Clear

"It seems clear to me that there is little point in referring serious complaints of this nature to the authority."

Mr McGeough continued: "In future, I shall recommend that the A.O.H. respond to such assaults against our Faith and culture . The moral persuasion of this time honoured, peaceful tradition is sure to guarantee an apology."

SDLP Councillor Anthony McGonnell, who raised the controversy at a Dungannon Council meeting, accused the authority of 'dodging the issue' and delivering 'a whitewash'.

Authority

"I condemn the authority's lack of rigour in pursuing this case, and am appalled that an ad which caused deep offence to a large section of the local population has not been banned from publication.

"To justify such offensive descriptions on the grounds that they are quoted from 16th Century religious doctrines is a shocking defence.

"That was a barbaric age, and just because it was acceptable in those days, does not mean it is still acceptable.

"We now have a culture of political correctness which we all have to abide with and very different sensibilities.

"In my opinion, this organisation has copped out from its remit. It is a toothless authority and should have condemned the ad in the strongest possible terms."

SOURCE