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MTV 's Christian-Bashing Draws Criticism

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A German conservative leader said Tuesday he has filed a complaint with prosecutors accusing music channel MTV of disparaging Christianity in an ad for its Vatican parody cartoon "Popetown," which depicts the pope as a pogo-stick riding brat.

Joachim Herrmann, a senior official with the Christian Social Union party, said it was inappropriate for MTV to have run magazine ads such as one before Easter that depicted a smiling Christ sitting in an armchair in front of an empty cross, with the slogan "Laugh instead of hanging around."

"Ten days before Easter, it was a particular provocation," Herrmann said.

Michael Grunwald, a spokesman for Berlin prosecutors, said Herrmann's complaint would be evaluated to determine whether there is enough evidence to proceed with an investigation against MTV.

An MTV spokesman was not immediately available for comment, but the station has previously it stands by its decision to air the program in Germany starting May 3, saying though it doesn't appeal to everyone, it "neither disparages nor insults faiths."

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  The British Broadcasting Corp. originally commissioned the program but decided in 2004 not to show it after protests from church leaders. It was screened last year in New Zealand, despite a church-led campaign against the broadcaster.

"Popetown" has also attracted controversy in Germany ahead of its airing, especially in the heavily Roman Catholic state of Bavaria, where Hermann's party is dominant. The Bavaria-only CSU is part of Germany's governing coalition.

The show features corrupt cardinals, a buxom nun and an infantile pope who bounces around the Vatican on a pogo stick.

By filing his complaint about the ad for the show, Herrmann indicated he wanted to "send a signal" that there would be a fight once the program hits the air.

Catholic bishops in Germany, the homeland of Pope Benedict XVI, have also joined the fray. They have said that they hope that MTV changes its mind about broadcasting the show and that "the religious feelings of Christians in our country will be respected."

© 2006 Associated Press.

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