As cutting the scenes would remove approximately half of the film's content, the BBFC decided to refuse certification altogether. The board felt that any release of the film could be liable for prosecution under the common law offence of
blasphemous libel, In the end the court found that the UK's blasphemy laws were consistent with the Convention, effectively upholding the BBFC's decision to refuse certification.
Sale during ban A secondary school science teacher was arrested for selling Wingrove's
Visions of Ecstasy in February 1992 in
Birmingham. Michael Newman, an atheist, then repeated the act of selling the video in public near to
Canterbury Cathedral. This led to a debate with the Bishop of Rochester on
BBC Radio Kent. Newman later resigned as a teacher following a suspension pending a disciplinary after lobbying from a group of Christian Army parents. Newman also made an appearance on
Channel Four’s
Comment in August 1992.
Eventual release In 2008 the
blasphemy laws in the UK were repealed. In January 2012 the BBFC gave the film an
18 certificate with no cuts or alterations to the original film's content. ==See also==