The ASA at it again!!

[chaggle]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-16871116

A Christian group has been banned from claiming that God can heal illnesses on its website and in leaflets.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said it had concluded that the adverts by Healing on the Streets (HOTS) - Bath, were misleading.

It said a leaflet available to download from the group's website said: "Need Healing? God can heal today!"

They seem to me to be the only official body prepared to do anything at all about this woo nonsense.

[bindeweede]

They have posted a response and are going to appeal.


http://www.hotsbath.org/

[chaggle]

They have posted a response and are going to appeal.


http://www.hotsbath.org/

Yes I saw that.

I wonder if they were to say "We as Christians believe that God can heal" that would be OK?

They would not be saying "God can heal" - which they would have to have evidence for, they are saying "We believe God can heal" which is obviously indisputable.

[Tony Williams]

I am reminded of a novel (actually, more of a novella), 'City of Truth' by James Morrow, which is set in a place where everyone is conditioned from an early age to tell only the truth. It's a good read, and very funny. My favourite bit: the large, illuminated sign on a church saying:

"Assuming God exists, Jesus may have been his son."

[chaggle]

The appeal has apparently been successful according to the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-18425029

The ASA originally said in February that the group could not make the claim in leaflets or on its website.

But in the new adjudication, which follows an independent review, it says the Hots Bath website is outside its jurisdiction.

The BBC article links to this as the New Adjudication

http://www.asa.org.uk/ASA-action/Adjudi ... 58433.aspx

Which includes this:

THIS ADJUDICATION REPLACES THAT PUBLISHED ON 1 FEBRUARY 2012. ONE POINT OF COMPLAINT, IN RELATION TO WEBSITE CONTENT OUTSIDE THE REMIT OF THE ASA, HAS BEEN REMOVED. THE WORDING OF THE REMAINING POINTS HAS BEEN CHANGED BUT THE DECISIONS TO UPHOLD REMAIN.

I can't see from the adjudication which complaint exactly was 'outside the remit of the ASA' but it seems that the remainder is still upheld.

So it's rather difficult to see why the HOTS people should be saying

Hots Bath said the amended ruling was "great news" and "sets a clear precedent for Christian websites".

Or maybe I'm reading it wrong...

[Zep]

To get truth in advertising, first define your truth...