Church voices Resistance to Sony Bafta nomination

Church leaders have called for Sony's PlayStation 3 game Resistance: Fall of Man to be removed from the awards nomination list at the 2007 British Academy Video Games Awards.

Sony came under fire in June after church officials discovered that the game included a fire-fight scene set in Manchester Cathedral which used depictions of the building without permission.

Bishop of Manchester, the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, said at the time: "For a global manufacturer to recreate one of our great cathedrals with photo-realistic quality and encourage people to have gun battles in the building is beyond belief and highly irresponsible."

Following a meeting with the church, Sony apologised unreservedly for its actions and took out a full-page advert in the Manchester Evening News expressing its regret over the incident.

Due to its high sales, Resistance: Fall of Man is up for a PC World Gamers Award at the Video Games Awards.

Dean of Manchester Cathedral, the Very Reverend Rogers Govender, has lashed out at Bafta for allowing the game to make the short-list.

"Sony has admitted that it did not have permission to film or use Manchester Cathedral in its computer game and has said that it is 'confident there is no legal requirement for us to seek permission'," he said in a statement.

"Bafta should not be seen condoning such behaviour unless they are saying it is acceptable for producers to walk into historic buildings and film interiors, ignoring contracts, rights and liability."

The 2007 British Academy Video Games Award will be held at Battersea Evolution on 23 October.