Sept. 15, 2010
The tagline on the ad for Antonio Federici ice cream’s says “Immaculately conceived.” But the image—of a pregnant nun—has the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority playing God.
The authority banned the ad because it mocks Roman Catholic beliefs, according to the BBC.
It’s not the first time the government banned this company’s ads; a July 2009 ad showing a nun and priest about to kiss also drew a ban. The company said the ad celebrated “forbidden Italian temptations,” while the agency said the ad’s implication was enough to ban it.
The company says the ads were meant to be funny, but also to “comment on and question, using satire and gentle humour, the relevance and hypocrisy of religion and the attitudes of the church to social issues.”
But the government agency said the ad was “likely to be seen as a distortion and mockery of the beliefs of Roman Catholics.”
The latest ban comes a few days before Pope Benedict XVI’s scheduled trip to Westminster Abbey. The company says it plans to have new ads—a continuation on the theme—near the abbey.
Questions:
* Would you ban the ad?
* Should the government have the right to bad ads because they might offend a certain group? If you think so, then where do you draw the lines? What about other types of speech that might be offensive?
* Are there comparisons between the ad bans and the U.S. controversy involving the church that wanted to burn the Koran? Why or why not?
* What ethical obligation, if any, does the advertiser have to not offend people?
* Is it ethical to make ads in hopes they will be banned, since it will draw attention?
* What if were a different product?