The management of Public French Radio decided to accept Christian advertisements under the Conservative media pressure.

It turns out a few articles portraying notorious censorship in the public realm as discrimination of a religious minority are the best weapon against the left-imposed rules of political correctness.

Such an approach was successful for the L’Œuvre d’Orient, the biggest and the oldest Christian organisation in Europe, providing humanitarian help to at least twenty-three countries in the East.

On December 7, 2020, France Inter broadcaster rejected the advertising of L’Œuvre d’Orient, explaining that it contained the word "Christian".  This objection would not be strange if the radio had already broadcasted five paid campaigns for the organisation in the past. But the management invoked the argument of "neutrality" of public service for Christmas 2020.

The L'Œuvre d’Orient, after it has exhausted all the resources for the debate with the public service station, published a statement  December entitled "Advertisement of the campaign for the Eastern Christians prohibited by Radio France".

Radio France defended its opposition arguing, that the L’Oeuvre d’Orient ad does not meet the requirement that the advertising messages must not contain any element that could offend the religious, philosophical or political beliefs of listeners ".

But the L'Œuvre d’Orient could not see how the mention of Eastern Christians and their humanitarian mission, at the service of all, can shock the beliefs of listeners.
It further specifies this Catholic work, widely recognized in France as in the whole Middle East, as it is "firmly attached to republican secularism, to respect for all religions and also to freedom of expression".

Radio France management issued a long-winded and complex explanation of its position on advertising emphasising, that focused on the neutrality towards believers rejected  the paid advertisement.

In terms of advertising, Radio France applies the framework established by the texts in force and by its specifications and duties, one of the principles of which is to tend towards neutral advertising on religious issues, moral issues, or public service policies. In this context, Radio France does not broadcast advertising referring to religious, philosophical, or political communities, whatever it may be, the author of the statement of Radio France said.

However, the friendly Le Figaro daily newspaper challenged that position accusing the public broadcaster of discrimination of the Christian minority.

Following day after the article hit the press, the managers changed their mind.

L'Œuvre d’Orient won the case against the French public radio station informed the author of the statement issued by the organisation.

Radio France officials decided today, December 8, to accept the spot that asks for donations for Eastern Christians and their mission at the service of all, the statement said.

COMMENTARY

Reflecting on the debate between the L’Œuvre d’Orient Christian organisation, and the French public broadcaster, one has learned that in the age of hostility toward the Judeo-Christian worldview defending its own rights, one must be able to divide secularism of coexistence, which is inclusive, and secularism of exclusion that is always hostile.
Christians, who are effectively minority in the public realm, need to learn how to utilise their rights stemming from the secularism of coexistence.

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