Open Letter to the Producer of 3rd Degree

Please find a copy of an Open Letter which has been sent to the producer
of the programme 3rd Degree

The Producer,
3rddegree@etv.co.za <mailto:3rddegree@etv.co.za>
Fax 011-4827313

5 September 2001

Dear Sir/ Madam

On Thursday the 23rd of August, ETV's Debra Patta of the programme 3rd
Degree, addressed the issue of homosexual co-adoptions. However her bias
was obvious and should have been honestly stated at the beginning of the
programme instead of the pretence that an honest discussion would ensue.

Patta was unprofessional in her blatant "muzzling" of Mrs. McCafferty
during the programme and her reference to Mrs. McCafferty's studies and
research being "unscientific" without giving any reason or even
listening to the research was insulting and manipulative.

I was concerned that Mrs. McCafferty, being a Christian, had not used
the Bible as her source, and on enquiring I have been informed that she
was told that she would not be allowed to refer to the Bible and if she
did, the recording of the show would not be aired. This is anything but
"freedom of speech", which the media squeal about all the time. It is
also a disgraceful display of engineered reporting. On top of this
Patta and her other guest both saw fit to attack Christianity while
allowing no "free" response or defence.

Debra Patta owes Mrs. McCafferty and bible believing Christians a public
apology. If this is not forthcoming, I would suggest that Christian
lobby groups and churches call on Christians in South Africa to show
their disapproval of this discrimination against Christians, by not
watching ETV on Thursday nights between 8pm and 10pm. Any action taken
in this regard should be of interest to ETV advertisers, as their
research will reveal that a very large percentage of South Africans
refer to themselves as Christians.

I now view 3rd Degree in a very different light having become aware of
the bias and manipulation involved in bringing across the interviewers
viewpoint only.

Sincerely,

Cheryllyn Dudley MP
cdudley@acdp.co.za <mailto:cdudley@acdp.co.za>