The FCC has denied the United Church of Christ challenge to the licenses of WFOR and WTVJ who refused to run ads for the church in 2004.
The ad in question depicted would-be worshippers at the entrance of a church guarded by bouncers who refuse entrance to a gay couple, young Hispanic man, man in a wheelchair and African-American woman with the tag line ‘Jesus didn’t turn people away … Neither do we. No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here’. CBS and NBC took issue with the content and banned the ad
The FCC says their decision was based on the fact that it was CBS and NBC who refused to run the advertising and not the stations themselves and that UCC could have gone directly to WFOR and WTVJ and ask for reconsideration.
The United Church of Christ issued a statement saying they are “appaled that a few network executives can decide
that it is ‘too controversial’ for a church to publicly welcome every
member of society.”
Broadcasting and Cable – FCC Denies United Church Of Christ Miami License Challenges
United Church Of Christ statement on the FCC dismissal
