Church of England could sue over Resistance Cathedral usage

Manchester Cathedral used in game 'without permission'

Today's top story sees the Church of England threatening to sue Sony Computer Entertainment over the inclusion of Manchester Cathedral in PS3 FPS Resistance: Fall of Man. The Church is said to be disappointed that Sony did not seek permission for the inclusion of the historical building and is concerned by the Cathedral being associated with a violent videogame.

The Cathedral's interior featured in the game, which has sold in excess of one-million copies, and in one scene set in the nave of the building hundreds of soldiers are killed. Sony have responded by stating that permission is sought 'where necessary'. The Church insists no permission was granted and is demanding an apology and the removal of the title from shelves, else legal action will follow.

"It is well known that Manchester has a gun crime problem," said The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch. "For a global manufacturer to re-create one of our great cathedrals with photo-realistic quality and then encourage people to have guns battles in the building is beyond belief and highly irresponsible. "

"Here in Manchester we do all we can to support communities through our parish clergy. We know the reality of gun crime and the devastating effects it can have on lives. It is not a trivial matter."

"Every year we invite hundreds of teenagers to come and see the cathedral and it is a shame to have Sony undermining our work," added the Dean of the Cathedral, The Very Revd Roger Govender.

"It is game-created footage, it is not video or photography," Sony's David Wilson told The Times newspaper today. "It is entertainment, like Doctor Who or any other science fiction. It is not based on reality at all. Throughout the whole process we have sought permission where necessary."

More on this soon.

By Luke Guttridge