Von Hagens at it again; from Ruth Gledhill’s blog:

The story, which came in from a freelance, is that campaigners are protesting against a new crucifixion documentary featuring a real human corpse hung on a cross and anatomised by the controversial German scientist Gunther von Hagens. Channel 4 is in the "early stages” of researching a new programme, Crucifixion, in which it is intended to use a “plastinated” cadaver. Plastination is the process that halts decomposition and that Von Hagens invented. It became famous in his notorious BodyWorld exhibition, featuring real human corpses.

In the 90-minute film for the More4 channel, Von Hagens will demonstrate precisely how an agonising death occurs during one of the most cruel execution methods ever invented. Predictably, it has already attracted controversy and Stephen Green, arrested recently for distributing anti-gay literature during a Mardi Gras march in Cardiff, is among the Christian protestors who are expected to campaign against the programme in an attempt to halt the broadcast.

Channel 4 insists the programme is about crucifixion generally. But in an internal memo from the production company, Firefly Film & TV Productions, that was passed to the Evening Standard , Crucifixion is described as "a 90-minute film for More4 in which Gunther plastinates ‘Jesus’ ." Channel 4 insisted to me: "We are in the early stages of researching a documentary on the history and anatomy of crucifixion. This film is very much in the tradition of Gunther’s other acclaimed programmes, which aim to promote a broad public understanding of anatomy. It will not be a specific representation of Christ".

Nevertheless, the potential for offence is clear.

Church of England spokesman Steve Jenkins said : “This will upset and offend a lot of Christians as it seems he is using the crucifixion simply to grab attention.” Media Watch UK, the clean-up TV group founded by the late Mary Whitehouse, called for Channel 4 to reconsider. Spokesman David Turtle said: “They have a tradition at Channel 4 of continually trying to push the boundaries. They recently showed a programme in which a man attempted suicide and he had to be cut down live on air. I feel they should not broadcast this documentary. They should be more respectful towards faith groups. In many ways this is quite offensive.”