http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertain...io/4289915.stm
Quote:
Row over Springer opera donation
A cancer charity has refused a donation from Jerry Springer - The Opera after a religious group threatened to protest.
Maggie's Centres said Christian Voice's contact prompted it to reject £3,000.
Christian Voice said it had warned the charity that accepting cash from a show full of "filth and blasphemy" would be a public relations disaster.
The show's star, David Soul, accused the religious group of "strong-arm tactics" and blackmail - adding cancer was not just a Christian problem.
Religious groups have criticised the opera for its frequent use of expletives and the appearance of Jesus and God as guests on Springer's TV show.
A statement from Maggie's confirmed they would not accept the donation.
It read: "As a result of contact from Christian Voice, Maggie's has taken the decision not to accept the proceeds from a special performance of Jerry Springer - The Opera."
Stephen Green, from Christian Voice, said the charity had made a decision to "honour the Christian faith", describing it as a "beacon of excellence".
"They were in grave risk of alienating Christian donors, their staff and cancer patients," he told Radio 4's Today programme.
He admitted his group threatened to protest outside the cancer charities' offices had they accepted the donation.
The opera's cast had agreed to waive their wages for a one-off charity special on 18 February.
"It was an act of good will to a charity which is doing great work around the UK," said Mr Soul, who plays the title role in the opera.
He said it was "no secret" what Christian Voice feels about the opera and he admitted they have "every right in the world" to protest against the opera.
But he said he resented "mob-type tactics" being used against a cancer charity.
"Cancer is a problem that pervades and is alive in people across the board," he added.
BBC Two broadcast a television version of the opera in January.
The corporation received 47,000 complaints before the musical was broadcast, and protesters demonstrated outside BBC buildings across the UK.
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I have to say that I find this to be incredibly disturbing and disgusting behaviour on the part of 'Christian Voice'. I think that it is a shame that Maggie's Centres deemed it necessary to listen to such repulsive creatures. It certainly calls into question the motivations behind Christian Voice's work. It certainly doesn't appear to be motivated by a genuine concern for the ill.
I will add, that Jerry Springer: The Opera was one of the funniest shows I have seen in a long time. Very well made, with surprisingly high quality music and singing, and with great biting satire.
I would also like to make a point which is not entirely clear from the article.
Maggie's Centres, the cancer chairity in question is not a religious society.