PBS has created a new tenet for itself: a ban on new religious or sectarian broadcasting on PBS stations. Members could lose their affiliations if they don’t comply. This new ruling is actually a compromise reached by a 27-member board; an initial proposal would have seen any “sectarian” programming unplugged and the member station stripped of its affiliation.

The ruling comes in the wake of a review and reinterpretation of 1985 bylaws — bylaws that required programming to be noncommercial, nonpartisan, and nonsectarian, which PBS says, they have loosely interpreted ever since. The first attempt at a strict interpretation is being tried in the nonsectarian department. 

(If PBS had to hold to a strict interpretation of noncommercial and nonpartisan, they might disappear all together, so don’t look for this to go any further than being applied to nonsectarian programming.)

Jennifer Lawson who chaired the committee panel of station managers that helped reach the conclusion said, “The intent is for [PBS Stations] to show editorial independence,” which is confusing given the ruling that PBS is now determining that “religious services of faith-based groups” are inappropriate.

As long as content is considered as news or discussion programs, such as the recent documentary “Jerusalem: Center of the world,” or the infamous “Hand of God,” they will be unaffected. Journalistic programs — and they’re probably willing to use that term loosely — that don’t favor a particular religious point of view, (or that slam or attack religion?) will also be unaffected.

What will be affected are affiliates who may have wished to add new prayer, devotional, or religious service broadcasts, or anything of a sectarian nature.

Some public television stations tailor their shows to have a local appeal, because they own and operate the stations. One of these is KBYU in Provo, Utah, which is operated by Brigham Young University. They broadcast a devotional series two hours every day which includes lectures by leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Currently, they can continue broadcasting that devotional hour, but must not add anything new.

Another station owned and operated by the local Catholic Diocese of Brownsville in Harlingen, Texas, is KMBH, which offers some religious programs. WLAE in New Orleans, which is operated by a Catholic lay organization has offered broadcasts of morning Mass since 1984, without complaint.

While this is not at all earthshaking, or celestial-shaking, it does indicate the path PBS has set itself upon.

The only surprising thing about this is that it took 29 years for PBS to strictly enforce their policy, one that is moving toward what is most probably the end of all religious content whatsoever.

The right thing would be for the federal government to stop funding any content and let consumers in a free market determine what they want to view — or not.

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Pat Henry said:

trajectory This decision to clamp down on religious programming leaves one end, incredible as it may now seem: Islamic programs via state force. It was Biblical Christianity that provided a free society that opened to Jews, Muslims, even atheists. No other ideology is as open. All others are insecure at core. And Islam uses both statism and has an organizing principle and ideology. (So does communism, but it must remain secret to advance.) Indeed, only in Christ's law of love, with its restraint of government from the People is there any hope of continuing freedom in this age. But this Christianity will have to once again protect life and love children, for failure here has opened the door to the rising barbarian judgments we suffer.

report abuse vote down vote up

June 19, 2009
Votes: +5

D. Whitehead said:

	Fools will always be fools These people really think they're getting away with something. Wait 'til they find out what fools they truly are.
	report abuse vote down vote up

June 20, 2009
Votes: +1