Ruth Gledhill’s July 2007 article, “Manchester Cathedral says Sony apology not enough and issues new digital rules” discusses how the game Resistance: Fall of Man offended the Manchester Cathedral by using the Cathedral’s interior for this “violent” video game. Gledhill begins by informing the reader that due to Sony offending Manchester Cathedral, the Cathedral is calling for a set of “sacred digital guidelines” that will prevent videogames from offending religious buildings. She also states that Sony issued an apology to the clergy and congregation of Manchester Cathedral. They vowed to never use the Cathedral in another game. Although the apology was deserved and accepted, the Cathedral believed that the apology wasn’t enough, and called for the withdrawal of the video game Resistance: Fall of Man. The clergy also requested a donation from Sony to their work with gun crime and young people.
According to Gledhill the whole issue stems from Sony not receiving permission to use Manchester Cathedral’s nave for a gun battle in the game. Manchester Cathedral was appalled by the use of the interior for obvious reasons, but also because one of the Cathedral’s missions is to support the struggle against gun crime. Gledhill states that the Cathedral holds a service for relatives and friends of victims of gun crime.
According to Dean of Manchester, the Very Rev Rogers Govender, the Cathedral Chapter has drawn up “Sacred Digital Guidelines” which are believed to be the first of it’s kind, to prevent the desecration of religious buildings. Dean Govender explains that since his congregation is Christian they look down on all forms of violence, and urge game makers to make non-violent video games. Govender wants all game manufacturers to sign on to the new guidelines to prevent future desecration of religious buildings. The President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, David Reeves, stated that while Sony apologizes for offending those in the Christian community, it was never their intention to offend anyone with the videogame.
Gledhill ends the article with the Digital Guidelines code of Conduct:
Digital Guidelines code of conduct
1. Respect our sacred spaces as places of prayer, worship, peace, learning and heritage.
2. Do not assume that sacred space interiors are copyright free.
3. Get permission from the faith leaders who are responsible for the building interiors you want to clone.
4. Support the work of those engaged in resisting the culture of gun crime and those involved in promoting the work of conflict resolution.
