The pattern I see is that the broadcast networks are not running the ad, but cable networks are.  Why?  Broadcasters are running scared due to the FCC's overzealous pursuit of "indecency."

This is precisely the outcome Focus on the Family and their ilk wanted -- self-censorship by networks due to the threat of intervention.

Where is the Alliance Defense Fund or other "Religious Freedom" groups? They are usually found this time of year protecting people's rights to display nativities.  I guess they are just political movement not really interested in promoting religious liberty.

I'm finding the trend in corporate stifling of free speech very, very disturbing. I'm, frankly, amazed at the tremendous stupidity of certain corporate entities. I mean... even FOX is airing this. Wow.

Okay, that's all I had to say. I know it's not particularly constructive, but oh well.

My BS detector says something fishy is in the broth. This ad just doesn't strike me as political enough or offensive enough under any reasonable standard to justify their rational for not running this ad.

Maybe it's because my Reynolds Wrap hat is getting frayed from overuse, but it looks to me like they are playing into the right wing agenda to garner support from Bush and Michael Powell for furthur FCC deregulation of monopoly standards.

In the alternative, they could be trying to appease some of the conservative groups, who joined liberals in opposing Powll's loosened standards for media consolidation, with an eye to breaking them away for the grass roots opposition that derailed Powell's last effort.

FOX is amoral.  They just want the ad revenue.

This disturbs me too.  I go to a UCC church.  Best church I have ever attended.  I had sworn off christians and the christian church after sitting for years and having hate thrown down my throat.  Many christian churches today preach hate; it goes way past intolerance.  I left church in high school after a sunday school class talking about how the mormons, jehovah's witnesses and other non protestant groups were evil cults whose members would burn in hell.  This was not being taught to adults but to elementary and high school kids.  A kid I knew from that church attacked a mormon over this issue.  The insanity got to me and I left.  That church and many others make a mockery of the teachings of Christ and fail to understand that the bible was not meant to be taken literally.  The early christians never did.  It was always allegorical interpretation.  The literal interpretation did not take place until the time of Martin Luther.  If we were to take it literally then yes, homosexuality would be wrong (Leviticus 18:22), but among the things I would be allowed to do would be buy slaves from neighboring nations (Leviticus 25:44), sell my daughter into slavery (Exodus 21:7), kill anyone who works on Sunday (Exodus 35:2) etc.  The list goes on and on...including banning shellfish and pork (Leviticus 11:7 and 10).  Amazing how all animals are created equal, just some are more equal to others.  

The UCC was the first place I have been where they throw this literal garbage out the window and welcome everyone...just as Jesus did.  They want to help people like Jesus does.  They do do evangelism, but not in the traditional sense of trying to convert people but by being there for those looking to belong and welcoming all people regardless of race, creed, orientation or RELIGION into the church.  We have a hindu and a buddhist at my church (their wives believe in christianity) and they have a great time.  The pastor takes the bible and relates it to real life...not telling you to follow this or burn in hell, but using the little parable to make you think about NOT how to be a better Christian, but instead how to be a better person.  THAT is truly WHAT JESUS WOULD DO!!!

Sorry to get off on a rant, but I finally feel comfortable in a church and with my faith again for the first time in 10 years.  I don't want to see the (non) christian right try to influence and destroy the love and tolerance I have witnessed over the last year.

One possibility is that the networks didn't want to get involved in a religious ad war. The Big Media bias is actually stridently apolitical. There is a conservative corporate bias at the ownership and upper management level, but they are quite aware that they need to appeal to as broad a spectrum of their audience as possible.

Perhaps they made a small inferential leap to the next logical development. What type of commercials will Dr. Dobson and Jerry Falwell want to run? It is very foreseeable that the UCC commercial would compel a response from the right that just might be genuinely offensive. Big Media execs may view their refusal to run this ad as their only option to avoid getting stuck in the middle of a relgious ad war that would alienate large blocs of their audience.