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- guardian.co.uk, Monday January 22 2001 08.37 GMT
The government is considering relaxing the ban preventing religious organisations from owning television broadcast licences. Ministers have indicated they are open to suggestions on how the restrictions could be eased.
Cult-watchers, such as the Cult Information Network, oppose any move that would allow evangelical sects to extend their influence among vulnerable people.
The proposal is contained in a little-noticed section of the communications reform white paper, published late last year. The white paper noted that the rules had been strict until now because of the relatively small number of television licences available. But with the proliferation of satellite and digital channels extending viewers' choice, the rules could be changed.
It conceded that such a move would be controversial. "There is a strong demand by some for religious content. But religious content has a particular capacity to offend those with different views and opinions, or, sometimes, to exploit the susceptibilities of the vulnerable. Religious issues may also shade into matters of political controversy."
But it says there may be a case for reform: "We nevertheless welcome views on whether we could relax the prohibition when choice increases in the digital future, or whether it will remain a necessary safeguard."
At present religious organisations may not run TV channels but can hold local radio licences. There are strict rules on what religious content can be broadcast. It is forbidden, for example, to try to convert listeners or solicit donations.
The largest religious broadcaster is Premier, which holds a radio licence in London and the south-east and broadcasts on the internet.
Organisations such as the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God have extensive media interests abroad. The church, to which the eight-year-old Anna Climbie was taken just before she died after suffering horrific abuse at the hands of her guardians, owns about 20 television and 50 radio stations in Brazil.
There are also concerns about exploitation. In the US the TV evangelist Jim Bakker publicly admitted using $265,000 from his Praise the Lord group in an unsuccessful bid to buy the silence of a church secretary who claimed he had sex with her.
Ian Howarth, spokesman for the Cult Information Network, said he did not object to mainstream churches starting digital TV stations, but cults should be firmly banned.
"Cults, by definition, remove personal freedom," he said. "The definitions in any new legislation would have to be very tight.
"It is interesting that in the UK we allow cults to register as charitable institutions in the same way as religious or therapeutic organisations."
