Channel 4 'embroiled in Pope doc row'

Channel 4 has reportedly angered leading Catholics by commissioning equality campaigner and outspoken critic of the Vatican Peter Tatchell to front a new documentary about the Pope.

The broadcaster has selected Tatchell, who is one of the founding members of the Protest The Pope campaign group, to present a 60-minute programme on the Holy Father.

The programme is scheduled to air on Channel 4 in September to coincide with Pope Benedict XVI's planned visit to the UK.

Tatchell has previously been a vocal critic of the Pope's stance on homosexuality and contraception. He has also claimed that the religious leader is "an unsuitable guest of the UK government".

Channel 4 said that the programme will consider the Pope's impact on the developing and Western worlds, with a wide range of views being covered, reports The Daily Telegraph.

However, Toy politician Ann Widdecombe, who famously converted to Catholicism, said that the programme will demonstrate the anti-Catholic bias in Britain.

"I think this will confirm the view that there probably already is in the Vatican that this is a profoundly anti-Catholic country," she said.

"I wouldn't call this the right thing for any serious broadcaster to do, but they're doing it for the publicity, they're doing it to stir up controversy. Mr Tatchell certainly won't be sympathetic to his subject, so what’s the point of doing it? It won't be sceptical, it will be hostile."

Catholic writer Christina Odone added: "Peter himself would be the first to admit that he is no authority on the subject.

"And perhaps it would be good, rather than have some polemical, knee-jerk reaction to the Pope if Channel 4 would be interested in actually shedding light on a figure who is so important, and so often misinterpreted and misunderstood - and of whom more needs to be known.

"I don't think the founding father of [gay rights pressure group] Outrage! is the right person for this."

In response, Tatchell defended his right to present the "robustly factual" programme, which will explore the Pope's "personal, religious and political journey since the 1930s, as well as the motives and effects of his controversial policies".

Channel 4 head of specialist factual Ralph Lee added: "The Papal visit in September provides an ideal opportunity to examine the impact of Benedict XVI after five years in office.

"In keeping with Channel 4's remit to provide a platform for diverse and alternative perspectives, equality campaigner Peter Tatchell will assess the effect of the current Pope's teachings throughout the world and the conflict between some of his values and those held by modern Britain."