London, UK - A hardline Christian lobby group voiced anger Tuesday after the country's top judges rejected their blasphemy case against a screen version of "Jerry Springer the Opera", based on the US television show.
The House of Lords Appeal Committee rejected a petition from Stephen Green, head of Christian Voice, after a lower court refused to allow a private prosecution against the head of the BBC and the show's producer.
Critics alleged that the show, which was screened by the BBC and starred the veteran US actor David Soul, was blasphemous in its representation of Jesus Christ as a homosexual and in its heavy use of swearing.
"Apparently Jesus Christ, Mary, the mother of the Lord, and Almighty God may now be ridiculed and insulted on stage and by broadcasters free from the sanctions of the law," said Green.
"It means there is no redress in British law against those who portrayed Jesus Christ on stage and on the BBC as an infantile coprophiliac, told by the character of Jerry Springer in the show to 'Grow up, for Christ's sake'."
The judgement comes as the government tries to repeal the country's blasphemy laws, with support from the Church of England, to which they apply.
Critics have called the legislation "ancient, discriminatory, unnecessary, illiberal and non-human rights compliant" but opponents say to repeal the laws would effectively signal Britain's abandonment of the importance of religion.
Christian Voice sought to bring a private prosecution against BBC head Mark Thompson and "Jerry Springer the Opera" producer Jonathan Thoday, but a lower court rejected their case, as did the High Court in December.
The Law Lords, the nation's highest court, rejected a petition saying it "does not raise an arguable point of law of general public importance which ought to be considered by the House at this time".
But Green condemned that view.
"Contrary to the finding of these Law Lords, it is indeed a matter of great general public importance at this very time that the Almighty Creator of the universe and the Saviour of mankind have been insulted and vilified," he said.
"It brings down the judgement of God on us all. I love my neighbour and I do not want that to happen... Christians will now have to take matters into their own hands when Christ is insulted on stage and on screen," he added.
A BBC spokeswoman declined to comment at length, noting that judges "have consistently rejected Christian Voice's arguments in relation to this programme.
"We don't intend to indulge Christian Voice any further," she added.