Catholic bishops will be pursued for at least $8000 in costs after they lost a legal challenge stemming from broadcaster C4's decision to screen the controversial South Park "Bloody Mary" episode.In a decision at the High Court at Wellington yesterday, Justice John Wild said he was awarding costs - though the bishops might see this as adding insult to deep injury.
Brent Impey, chief executive of C4 owner MediaWorks, said the broadcaster was pleased with the ruling: "It's a victory for freedom of speech and we'll be claiming against the Catholic Church for costs."
C4's decision to screen the Bloody Mary episode sparked howls of protest from the church, including a candlelight vigil outside MediaWorks' Auckland office.
The debate even reached the top of the Government, with Prime Minister Helen Clark decrying the programme's content as offensive.
The cartoon, which showed a statue of the Virgin Mary squirting menstrual blood on the Pope and a cardinal, screened on C4 in February last year.
The Catholic Bishops Conference went to the High Court to appeal when the Broadcasting Standards Authority rejected a complaint against the episode.
When the debate began, MediaWorks moved the broadcast date forward by three months, saying it would allow the programme to be seen in context.
Justice Wild said he suspected the move was also, if not largely, driven by ratings.
C4 does not plan to screen the episode again.
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