Channel Four's newly found religious fervour

Meanwhile, in an alternate universe, far, far away:

Mr Ralph Lee, the Head of Channel Four's Factual Programming explains the decision to broadcast the Catholic Church's call to prayer during Lent:

"A mass act of personal sacrifice and worship, it's carried out every year by numbers of committed Catholics - yet the vast majority of people in Britain won't even be aware of its existence. Not surprising when you consider its near invisibility on mainstream TV," said Lee.

"It's easy for non-Catholics to see Catholicism through a superficial prism of what is forbidden, and Lent through the physical hardship of fasting and control.

"For Catholics, however, Lent provides great physical and spiritual gains.

"It's a time of reformation and reflection, whether that's developing a greater awareness of the suffering of others, feeling a stronger affinity with their Catholic brothers and sisters around the world, or resolving to change the way they live their lives for the greater good."

Lee said that after the bad publicity from various scandals in the Church and the subsequent suspicion and hostility towards British Catholics, there had "never been a more pressing need to give a voice to the moderate mainstream majority".

He said the live broadcast would "act as a nationwide Tannoy system" and a provocation to viewers "in the very real sense of the word".

He admitted the decision to broadcast the event may result in some criticism of Channel Four, but said "that's what we're here to do - provide space for the alternative and a voice to the under-represented.

"Nearly five per cent of the country will actively engage in Lent - can we say the same of other national events that have received blanket coverage on television such as the Queen's coronation anniversary?" he asked.

Channel Four will also broadcast the traditional chanted Introit to the Mass of each day, online. It will be automatically played at the same time it is sung at the London Oratory.

Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, said: "It seems reasonable that there should be some acknowledgement on TV of the needs of the Catholic population in Britain, although one can't help wondering whether this is just another of Channel Four's publicity-seeking stunts.

"Given that the BBC devotes hundreds of hours a year to militant secularism and relativism, with two or three anti-church mentions every day on its morning news programmes, and hardly any mention of minority religion, a few minutes devoted to Catholicism doesn't seem unreasonable," he said.

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Surprised that a TV channel in the UK should be doing this?  

You should be!  The real story is here - with only the reference point being changed above.