Channel 5 drama criticised for blasphemy

A TV critic has decried the ‘distasteful blasphemy’ portrayed in a new Channel 5 television drama.

In its first episode, TV show Penance features a character kneeling in a church saying the Lord’s Prayer while having lustful thoughts about her daughter’s boyfriend.

Writing for the Daily Mail, Christopher Stevens said “not so long ago, the sheer blasphemy would have been unthinkable”.

‘Distasteful’

Stevens said “maliciously provocative” directors like Roman Polanski might once have used such “distasteful” scenes in order “to stir up outrage with such deliberate contempt for religion”.

“Now it’s the stuff of primetime TV.”

He added: “It’s only possible with Christianity, though. You won’t see any channel defame Islam or Hinduism this way”.

Netflix

In December, Netflix faced a petition signed by over two million people calling for the removal of a blasphemous film.

The First Temptation of Christ showed ‘God’ lusting after ‘Mary’ and insinuates that ‘Jesus’ has engaged in homosexual sex.

Ciarán Kelly, Deputy Director at The Christian Institute, said: “It shows very poor judgement on the part of Netflix. To depict the central figures of the Christian faith in this blasphemous, derogatory way is deeply saddening.”