PBS eyeing end of religious broadcasts

Ron Yager, general manager of New Orleans' WLAE TV station, said if the PBS board votes in June to clamp down on sectarian programs, he would be forced to choose between continuing to show local church services or losing PBS programming, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

"We don't want to lose our association with PBS, because they provide a lot of fine programs," Yager said "But at the same time, we need to serve our community. We've built an identity around this. People know us for this."
Susan Gibbs, a spokeswoman for the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, said the proposed ban was surprising given how important masses can be in certain communities.

"It's kind of a shock to us," Gibbs, whose diocese produces "Mass for Shut-Ins," told the Post. "They've been great partners of ours for a long time … . The 'Mass' is a very local programming that provides a community service. You'd think public television would be about engaging the community."
Since 1985, PBS stations have been required to carry only non-sectarian programs but the rule has never been strictly enforced. Only a small portion of the 356 PBS member stations carry broadcasts of religious services.

The issue cropped up in recent months as membership rules were reviewed in advance of the switch to digital television, the Post said.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.