«Breaking News» John Major supported the banning of the only film ever censored in the UK for blasphemy

Former prime minister John Major (pictured in London in February) described the state of affairs as 'wholly unacceptable'

John Major supported the banning of the only film ever to be censored in the UK under blasphemy laws, newly-released government files show.

The then prime minister felt 'sufficiently strongly' about the case of Visions of Ecstasy, a controversial erotic art-house movie about Christ, he inquired about the possibility of Britain being exempted under the European Convention on Human Rights if that proved necessary.

The 18-minute video depicted Carmelite nun St Teresa's sexual fantasies about Jesus on the cross. It was judged unfit for distribution by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) because of its treatment of a 'sacred' subject.

When director Nigel Wingrove applied to take the case before the European Court of Human Rights, arguing it breached his freedom of expression, Mr Major described the state of affairs as 'wholly unacceptable'.

Visions of Ecstasy was a controversial erotic art-house movie from 1989 about Jesus Christ

The video depicted Carmelite nun St Teresa's sexual fantasies about Jesus on the cross 

In a document dated August 1994 sent to senior government figures including the Foreign Secretary and Lord Chancellor, Mr Major writes: 'I must make it clear that I would not tolerate a position which required the Government or the BBFC to grant a certificate to this film or to others of a similar type.

'This is a matter on which I feel sufficiently strongly to be prepared to consider a derogation from the European Convention on Human Rights if that were to be necessary in the final analysis.

How Mr Major praised Mary Whitehouse for morality campaigns 

 

Also in the papers released was an admiring letter from John Major to the moralist and clean-up campaigner Mary Whitehouse (pictured) as she retired as president of the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association.

It read: 'Your campaign has played a crucial part in highlighting the widespread concern that we should not lower our standards of what is acceptable viewing on film, television and video; and you have been instrumental in warning of the perils if these standards fall.

'You yourself are one of the best examples of how it is possible in a free country like Britain for a private citizen with energy, initiative and commitment to carve out a distinctive and valued niche in our national life.'

Whitehouse, who crusaded against violence and explicit sex on TV from the 1960s to the 80s, died in 2001.

'I must say I find the position in which we find ourselves wholly unacceptable.'

In a reply, then Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd warned about doing anything 'likely to weaken the fabric of the convention', adding that 'we cannot, in practice, derogate from it except in cases of war or threats to the life of the nation'.

It states: 'We certainly do not want to find ourselves in a situation in which Government intervention on moral issues in Britain is dictated by international organisations.

'At the same time, the European Convention on Human Rights is one of the core agreements enshrining western standards of behaviour.

'It is particularly important as the countries of eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union undertake the task of adapting to our standards.'

However, in a surprise ruling, Britain's blasphemy laws were backed by the European Court of Human Rights when it threw out the claim two years later.

The 1989 film, the only video ever be banned on grounds of blasphemy in the UK, was finally given an 18-rated certificate in 2012 after the common law offence of blasphemous libel was abolished in England and Wales in 2008.

The documents are part of the annual release of Cabinet Office files at the National Archives in Kew, West London.

Link hienalouca.com

https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/28/john-major-supported-the-banning-of-the-only-film-ever-censored-in-the-uk-for-blasphemy/
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Former prime minister John Major (pictured in London in February) described the state of affairs as ‘wholly unacceptable’

John Major supported the banning of the only film ever to be censored in the UK under blasphemy laws, newly-released government files show.
The then prime...

It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.

Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.

Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca





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