Church of England threatens Sony with lawsuit
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Jun 9th 2007 at 10:23AM }
The church that Henry VIII created is thinking about suing Sony for featuring Manchester Cathedral in Resistance: Fall of Man. The Church of England is offended, six months after the game's release, that there is a shoot-out in the cathedral's nave (fancy way of saying "in the middle" of the church). Sony says they got permissions where it was required for the game. The Church says Sony didn't ask permission and they want an apology and the removal of the game from store shelves ... or they're gonna sue Sony, sucka!
The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch says it was "highly irresponsible" for Sony to feature the cathedral in the game because Manchester is known to have a gun problem. But, he does say that they did "re-create one of our great cathedrals with photo-realistic quality." So, all in all, it's almost a back-handed compliment. Then the Very Revd Rogers Govender says, "We are shocked to see a place of learning, prayer and heritage being presented to the youth market as a location where guns can be fired." Oh mercy.
Sony told The Times newspaper that Resistance uses "game-created footage, it is not video or photography." And they go on to say that it is entertainment and not based in reality, they "sought permission where necessary." Well, this oughta help sell a few copies of the game and a couple PS3s. Maybe it'll even get a few people to check out the church. Good show Church of England, good show.
[Thanks to all who sent this in]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
sheppy @ Jun 9th 2007 10:36AM
yeeeeeeesssssssss....
A bleak, destroyed Europe crawling will aliens (we can only assume, they never confirmed the source), giant walking tanks, and super advanced weaponry IN THE PAST is completely indicative of the present day Manchester Church... good show, Church Of England.
You guys aren't acting like Scientologists on this at all.
I BlankZ I @ Jun 9th 2007 10:37AM
Lmao! There going to sue Sony just because there church was in a video game where aliens where killing humans!? How pathetic. That's just stupid if you ask me. Especially 6 months after the games release.
mor @ Jun 9th 2007 10:40AM
oh god, i hate sony and PS3 but cmon, its not like a present day story, the idea of the fallen church being used for a gunfight is artistic if anything
sheppy @ Jun 9th 2007 10:48AM
Actually, I think it was more like....
"If we can only reach the church for shelter..."
And then bammo!
"There be no shelter her, the front line is everywhere. There be no shelter her, the front line is everywhere. Chimeran eyes, chimaeran eyes, view the world with chimeran eyes. Harvest the dead, put coolers inside, and leave nothing behind."
Dan @ Jun 9th 2007 10:53AM
Yes manchester does have a gun problem, it's had a gun problem for years, since before I was born. And this game isn't going to make the situation any worse, because I don't think that would be possible.
Glad I moved away when I left for university.
Max @ Jun 9th 2007 10:54AM
It's not like anyones going to play it. It's a PS3 game.
I'm joking. Please dont hate me.
wildweasel @ Jun 9th 2007 10:56AM
And what about all those World War 2 games that featured churches?
Slaziman @ Jun 9th 2007 10:59AM
thats really retarded
Kratos @ Jun 9th 2007 11:08AM
In England nobody goes to church except a handful of old coffin-dodgers. Their influence and revenue stream is drying up big time with every pensioner what carks it. Everyone knows that their kids are MUCH safer playing videogames than being involved in church activities -what with the very dodgy types the church seems to attract.hmm This is pure BS from an irrelevant and archaic institution struggling to survive in a country that massively ignores them to the point where they are utterly meaningless. To say that no buildings from the real world can be used in videogames is devious lawyer speak for we just want to graft some cash. So every building that has been used in a film or a TV show are they going to sue them as well PFFF its just graphics you dusty old freaks!! I saved the world from the chimera invasion and I KICKED SOME ALIEN/ INSECT BUTT in that building Its only round the corner from me, and thats the only time I have ever found it of any use- TO KICK CHIMERA BUTT IN!! The CoE want to have RESISTANCE removed from shops ?? How very EVIL of them that would only leave us MOTORSTORM!!! Leave games alone you god bothering dodgy old buggers Or you will feel the wrath of KRATOS GOD OF WAR
Geo @ Jun 9th 2007 11:08AM
This is so estupid.......
Corbo @ Jun 9th 2007 11:08AM
They might have reason to complain through a press statement or ask Sony to say something, but I think they're going a bit overboard by suing. And that would be at launch. Even considering it's only been three months since the European launch, that's still pretty slow to catch on to something that they're treating as so important.
Luigi193 @ Jun 9th 2007 11:08AM
LOL @ MAX...(#6)
Got a good morning chuckle out of that story...GO church ofth englanth
Markusdragon @ Jun 9th 2007 11:09AM
"It is entertainment, like Doctor Who or any other science fiction."
-David Wilson
Er, I seem to recall that Doctor Who got the permission to use that cathedral in 'The Lazarus Experiment'...
Slaziman @ Jun 9th 2007 11:10AM
Kratos = lol
Geo @ Jun 9th 2007 11:13AM
Hmm i neved thot aboat it.......
ph03n1x @ Jun 9th 2007 11:17AM
Sheppy, I'm hoping that's a creative rewrite on those lyrics. If not they are quite wrong as a simple Google search can show:
There'll be no shelter here,
The front line is everywhere.
The front line is everywhere.
The front line is everywhere.
The front line is everywhere.
American eyes, American eyes,
View the world from American eyes,
Bury the past, rob us blind,
leave nothing behind.
leave nothing behind.
Geo @ Jun 9th 2007 11:20AM
Resistance Fall of Cathedral......
sheppy @ Jun 9th 2007 11:21AM
"I saved the world from the chimera invasion and I KICKED SOME ALIEN/ INSECT BUTT in that building "
Because I'm dork like that...
Technically, you never saved the world, merely severed the foothol the Chimera had in Europe, pushing them back into Russia.... where they had control for YEARS (seriously, can't WAIT to see Russia in Resistance 2). Also, they have never been confirmed as alien although I can tell you they are definately not insects. Even the crawlers were hairless deformities (and where were their coolers?) but still made of flesh. I recall several bug like creatures but none had an exoskeleton....
Yes, I pay attention to stuff like that.
Michael the Randy @ Jun 9th 2007 11:25AM
Good thing this was not a mosque, or there would be hell!
Jon @ Jun 9th 2007 11:23AM
The UK (and much of Western Europe) are now mainly atheist. The CoE and the Vatican are just old relics from the past trying to hang on.
sheppy @ Jun 9th 2007 11:27AM
"Sheppy, I'm hoping that's a creative rewrite on those lyrics. If not they are quite wrong as a simple Google search can show:"
*slaps head*
Yes, it was a rewrite. The major aspect they keep going on and on about with Harris is that he's infected with the Chimeran Virus because his EYES have a golden tint to them. The Chimeran Virus is a death sentence to people as they are in the throes of their first death, harvesters claim the bodies and the virus changes the molecular structure of the hosts. While it grants the host incredible speed and a huge healing factor, it also speeds up their metabolism to the point of "burning up" the host. So at a conversion center, chimeran troopers are fitted with a cooling system to prevent their deaths.
I can't believe I had to explain Rage Against The Machine lyric rewrites that took me all of one minute.
sheppy @ Jun 9th 2007 11:28AM
Damnit... Harris = Hale
GodisaMyth @ Jun 9th 2007 11:30AM
You go Kratos,
I wish and hope that someday soon organized religion and it's archaic, ignorant, closed-minded, and evil agenda will be in the same position that the Church is in most of Europe. It is time for the fairy/horror tail to end and to let reason and logic permeate across this planet so that we can become one people and start to really discover who we are and to expand our knowledge of everything around us and to really start exploring our celestial neighborhood.
As long as ignorance reins supreme in most of the human race we will never stop killing each other and committing horrible acts of cruelty against one another.
All because my God (can beat up, is better than, I am right and you are wrong),your God.
This nonsense is a perfect example of the true nature of ALL organized religion...Control of the weak, containment of the minds of the free.
They know it is game over for them in Europe...this is a pathetic grab for some attention before they become completely irrelevant and finally take their place with the rest of Mythology.
Kudos to you England, kudos to you most of Western Europe.
Geo @ Jun 9th 2007 11:40AM
@ 20 Randy
Good thing this was not a mosque, or there would be hell!
Ha,ha,ha,.........
sheppy @ Jun 9th 2007 11:43AM
@GodisaMyth,
Ignoring most of your rant, for a reason, I can only come up with one conclusion. You're every bit as zealous as those you condemn. Do you really think, should religion go away, the world will be a peaceful and happy place? People hate, people need a reason to hate, religion just happens to be a convenient excuse. And if this was suddenly lost, we'd be back to race wars or fighting over territory.
Logic and reason indeed. Human beings are fucking animals. Majority of the crowd IS an easily lead crowd and they would find a reason for violence regardless of mythology.
jay @ Jun 9th 2007 11:43AM
Okay Kratos. Is this why Manchester Cathedral, even the tiny churches like the hidden gem (aka St. Mary's) is packed out on a Sunday. Religion might seem like a vast minority, but it isn't. Maybe in small towns in England but cities are packed.
Sorry for breaking what you said :(
Before I get shot down for potentially having any beliefs - I'm not religious. I just live in Manchester.
Although I partially disagree with the gun problem in Manchester (Nottingham is the worst gun city now, apparently), I do like hearing Sony in more trouble and hope the church destroys them. You can find allies in such strange places.
Ted @ Jun 9th 2007 11:53AM
Manchester has gun problems? Does it also have an alien infestation?
Marlos Hill @ Jun 9th 2007 11:53AM
i swear sheppy makes joystiq entertaining. 90% of the time i read through comments just to see if he said something funny (and often damn true) That dude should have his OWN freakin site.
On the topic tho... jeeeez is nothing safe from complaint anymore? Viva La Resistance!
Geo @ Jun 9th 2007 11:55AM
Yeah babe yeah.......
Geo @ Jun 9th 2007 11:59AM
it should be call "the sheppy fun and true site"....
GodisaMyth @ Jun 9th 2007 12:00PM
No Sheppy I do not think that everything will be hunkydori if organized religion goes away. I do think that humans will start to look at themselves allittle more objectively and not be so quick to hate.
Let me ask you this, is not most of ethnicism (there is no such thing as racism...there is only 1 hominid species left on this planet) taught in the churches, sinigogs, and mosques?
I am a military brat so I got to see alot of other cultures and how the local religions interacted with the local govenments and people.
"You're every bit as zealous as those you condemn."
Who have I condemed? When have I gone door to door trying to "save" people? When have I said that I am right and people who beleive in God(s) are wrong?
I trust tangible evidence, I ask questions about things I do not understand, and I am open to new ideas as long as it is a credible idea that has some evidence and/or proof to back it up.
I will say this again, I do not know for sure that there is no God(s), I am 99.99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999% sure that there is no God(s) but I hold open the possibility that Christians, or Muslim's or Jews or the Greek Gods or the Roman Gods or the countless thousands of other religions in human history.
Those who are religious cannot do the same. To them, they are 100% right and everybody else is wrong. That is the difference between me and (other Atheists like me) and a fundy beleiver.
Read Richard Dawkins "The God Dilusion" that book can explain what I am trying to say so much better than I ever could.
Religion is an organized system of ignorance.
The Earth is flat.
The Sun and all the other planets revolve arount the Earth.
The Earth is stationary.
These are but some of the musings and explanations of ignorant cavemen 2000 years ago that asked the question why.
Ian Von Porter @ Jun 9th 2007 12:02PM
The only people who go to church anymore are old conkers and pedophile priests... ie, their cash cow has long been gone, they are doing this for monie.
Good luck to them.
Noshino @ Jun 9th 2007 12:06PM
"Viva La Resistance!"
rofl, that made my day.
and just like sheppy said, religion is the only obstacle stopping all of our governments from destroying each other.
btw, how did this turn into a Sony hating news, dude, you gotta stop it.
"I do like hearing Sony in more trouble and hope the church destroys them. You can find allies in such strange places."
did they kill one of your relatives? make you starve? make you lose your job? lose your girlfriend/wife? did they run over you with an ice-cream truck? what is it that angers people so much about Sony when they are just like any other company (that includes all their dumbasses PR's so yah)...
GodisaMyth @ Jun 9th 2007 12:06PM
@Ian Von Porter...
Oh, how I wish this were true in Fundyville USA.
Maybe by the time my kids have kids...we will be were most of Western Europe is now, putting the Church in it's true place...in the dustbin of history.
The reign of King Dubya is almost at an end.
Geo @ Jun 9th 2007 12:10PM
@ 31 GodisaMyth
I will say this again, I do not know for sure that there is no God(s), I am 99.99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999% sure that there is no God(s) but I hold open the possibility that Christians, or Muslim's or Jews or the Greek Gods or the Roman Gods or the countless
thousands of other religions in human history.
I know it europe its atheist............
Geo @ Jun 9th 2007 12:13PM
Viva la resistance for Sony forever..........
Koopaknight29 @ Jun 9th 2007 12:14PM
I was afraid this would happen.
I'm talking about this thread of course, the Church of England suing Sony is just silly and probably won't go anywhere.
But whenever the topic of religion is brought up anywhere it seems that the idiots of both sides appear and the whole thing goes South very quickly. I understand that the Church(s) has problems that must be adressed, but in heart they are there to bond the community together and to give a sense of peace to this world (however thin it is).
Athiesm and Agnostic-ism have become more popular in recent years, and I respect that, its how they percieve the world and there's nothing wrong in that. But I would think that being freed of dogmatic beliefs would allow them to be more "open-minded" and "less ignorant", even to those stuck in the past...
*Sigh* Looks like its the bible-thumper's turn at the stake.
Noshino @ Jun 9th 2007 12:15PM
GodisaMyth,
"I trust tangible evidence, I ask questions about things I do not understand, and I am open to new ideas as long as it is a credible idea that has some evidence and/or proof to back it up."
Religion is based on ideas, there MIGHT be a few facts, but there are also many assumptions, but there are many things that science can't explain either, all we can do is just make assumptions.
Religion, well, most religious people think that there is no God (me included) but sometimes believing there is just gives you a bit more hope that some out of this world power will help you out and just make you feel a little better.
Believe it or not, there are many on the church that are open to new ideas, but look where all the new ideas have taken us, weapons of mass destruction? corruption? isn't it right?
Dude, as technology advances, sadly, it goes for the most part on the wrong part, the fastest growing technology is mostly on the armed forces.
So what, life is all about killing lately, most news are about who died and bla bla bla, and all most religions try to do is calm there people (sorry, but I see that way o_O)
sheppy @ Jun 9th 2007 12:25PM
@GodisaMyth
Actually, where did you condemn religion? I don't know....
"This nonsense is a perfect example of the true nature of ALL organized religion...Control of the weak, containment of the minds of the free."
That seems pretty condemning to me. And for your info, I do read Richard Dawkins. I read alot, actually. Thanks to my parents forcing me to read at a young age, can't sleep unless I've read for about an hour. So as you can imagine, I read a lot of books and sometimes I do got for the nonfics. And honestly? Richard Dawkins is everybit as dogmatic as Ann Coulter but from the other direction. Which brings me to my next point...
Why do atheists like yourself have to ruin any chance at peaceful coexistance between the various religions. Atheism is a religion. It's a stance on religious beliefs. But everytime there is something based on religion there is one of these militaristic atheists jumping in and thinking that "God is dead" Niche quotes are going to somehow convert people who, despite being Christian/Buddhist/Stone Slab Followers their entire life was just waiting for someone like yourself to say "the only correct answer is no answer" before they finally saw the light and converted. It's annoying and in the immortal words of Cosgrove from Freakzoid, "Hey, stop that!"
As for me, I'll continue to worship a polydeist lifestyle. I worship the Florescent Fairies that sacrifice their fleeting lives to bring light to those glass orbs I buy at stores and the 300 foot stone hamster churning his existance away to power the grid of Midgard. All hail the hamster!
Mr Khan @ Jun 9th 2007 12:25PM
Sony's going to fight this one, especially since the settlement entails removing the game from store shelves
asking them to remove Resistance is like asking Nintendo to remove Twilight Princess or MS to remove Gears
t_m @ Jun 9th 2007 12:34PM
sorry to buck the "anyone who ever blames a game for anything must be stupid" trend, but on the surface it seems like they have a reasonably valid complaint.
Its a privately owned building.. if you want to feature the inside of a privately owned building it seems to be, at the very least, polite to ask the owners.
If someone used, or recreated a likeness of one of us, or our possesions, without premission then I suspect we'd be up in arms.
I know we all get fed up of games being blamed for everything, but lets try not to get unreasonably defensive about EVERYTHING...
ssuk @ Jun 9th 2007 12:37PM
@2: Only 3 months, you forget us silly Europeans had to wait until March to get the PS3.
GodisaMyth @ Jun 9th 2007 12:40PM
"btw, how did this turn into a Sony hating news, dude, you gotta stop it."
Because most people don't like a consistent winner. (Yankees) It is easy to hate the one who is on top, and to root for the underdog. (Red Sox)
Nintendo used to be the one on top, they got cocky and look what happened.
Sony got cocky also, in my opinion not nearly as much, they still put out a wonderful entertainment device and other than haptic force feedback technology, (not rumble...that IS last gen) there is nothing different that I would want in an entertainment device.
Unlike Nintendo, I think Sony has realized that they need to show that they are not overly confident and cocky.
Come E3, Sony will really show what the PS3 can do and their bad start will be a memory come E32008.
Until then, let the Sony bashing continue...it will only make Sony listen even more and we will all benefit from it.
Luigi193 @ Jun 9th 2007 12:57PM
OK, lets turn this away from religion bashing, to sony bashing, that would be more fun for all! (Not really, kidding all sony fans everyone has a right to liek whatever company they like, lets just get along for ONCE!)
Hey, religion isn't all bad. Even if it isn't true (which being a Chirstian i believe it is) I wouldn't want to live like some people. You could call it a way of living. You don't have to believe it, but bashing for no reason is just showing you more imature. What do you gain by putting down someone elses faith? Does it make you feel better? Does is make your beliefs more beliveable? It really doesn't make sence. I don't as a Chirstian, make fun of Jews cause they don't belive what i believe. It doesn't make sence. Your talking about making the world abetter place, and your doing the opposite.
SO i say to joystiq, DONT POST THINGS ABOUT RELIGION OR YOU WILL GET AN OUT OF CONTROL COMMENT SECTION! Or do you like to get everyone all rilled up?
Grey Acumen @ Jun 9th 2007 12:59PM
Sorry guys, but as far as it comes to faith and religion, you're completely misunderstanding the source of the problems. Every single bad thing I've ever heard anyone come up with about religion is either HUMAN or POLITICAL in nature, not religious.
You talk about how it stops people from learning new ideas. It doesn't. This is just a basic political and human misconception about what type of questions religion and science are supposed to answer.
Science can answer how things have happened, or where, or what, or when. Science has never been able to answer the big question though, and that question is WHY.
"God created the universe and everything in it"
"No, god didn't create it. It came from a giant explosion and is expanding from that point. Therefor God doesn't exist."
Except you haven't proved that God doesn't exist, merely proved how he created the universe.
To think that religion is the source of these problems that you have, such as racism and bigotry and ignorance, this just shows how absolutely essential religion is to humanity as a whole. When it comes down to it, humanity is naturally racist and ignorant and bigoted.
It's honestly part of nature. Have you ever had a wild sparrow willing to just fly up to you and see if you have any seed? Unless there have been constant reinforcement throughout its life that this is safe to do, you'll never get within 10 feet of a sparrow, because it is bigoted against you. This is part of nature and it keeps that sparrow alive.
Humanity does the same thing. We compete for territory and for resources. It is natural for us to view anyone different than us as the competition, and therefor someone we should be working against and not with. Tolerance and Acceptance? These don't come from SCIENCE, they come from moral values that ultimately stem from religious teachings.
Look at the basic 10 commandments. 3 or 4 or them basically state that if you're gonna be part of that religion, you have to believe in the fundamental principals, no other god, no graven image, etc. The rest go roughly along the lines of "thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not kill, though shalt not commit adultery, though shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor, etc"
You're saying these rules are bad? Sorry guys, but I have trouble believing this. Now if you were to say religion isn't the problem, but how people ABUSE religion is the problem, then I might agree, but do you honestly think they aren't already doing that with Science and Aetheism?
Just look at the Theory of Evolution. It IS a theory. We have yet to actually COMFIRM any true transitional species. We have evidence of a few possible examples in history, and pretty much absolutely nothing at all in modern times. We have evidence of evolution WITHIN a species. Where a species can change and adapt to fit the requirements of its environment, but we have yet to show any examples of a species evolving to the point that it becomes a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SPECIES INCAPABLE OF BREEDING WITH THE ORIGINAL STRAIN. Yet the Theory of Evolution is being touted as fact and completely true.
Sorry, you're running into the exact same type of zealous ignorance that people have said was coming from religion.
Anyway, to actually try to keep things on topic. I think that this does sound a bit like an attempt to get either funds, publicity, or both, for the church there. While it may be a little disrespectful to show the church as a big shootout gallery, we need to keep in mind that this is not set in modern times in a post apocalyptic type setting(at least I think, I've never played the game, so I'm not sure) The fact that it even still exists and hasn't been demolished should be viewed as a compliment.
mor @ Jun 9th 2007 1:03PM
religion is good, organized religion is bad
its that simple, religion and science are the same thing, they both try to seek answers to the great questions, but religion unlike science is willing to accept that there are some things out side our understanding, science is based on the idea that it is possible for us to understand everything
neither one is the wrong approach, and neither one will ever produce an accurate answer
mor @ Jun 9th 2007 1:07PM
@45
i like you
"when you explain all in the world to me and how everything has transpired i will say ahhhh thats how god did it"
- i forget who wrote it... damn it
GodisaMyth @ Jun 9th 2007 1:19PM
"Theory of Evolution. It IS a theory. We have yet to actually COMFIRM any true transitional species"
Yes, it is a theory, the most tested, and re-tested theory ever. As for the trasitional species...here you go, http://tiktaalik.uchicago.edu/
Back on topic...
keep dissing Sony, it will make them better.
zwarrior @ Jun 9th 2007 1:35PM
PR plan to advertise PS# and the game, that's all it is
miles foreman @ Jun 9th 2007 1:39PM
sheppy:
Atheism cannot be a religion as it is the denial of all things spiritual. I guess you could call it a creed or an ethos but religion it is most definitely not.