The National Secular Society is accusing the BBC of running a 'PR exercise for the Church of England' by broadcasting its Today programme from Lambeth Palace earlier this month.
In an official complaint the NSS's chief executive Stephen Evans accused the broadcaster of portraying the Church in a positive light without challenge, making no reference to sex abuse scandals and not engaging with the non-religious public.
'The bias and deference towards the Church of England demonstrated in this show suggests a "cosy relationship" has developed between the BBC and the Church, which undermines public confidence in the BBC's commitment to impartiality,' he said.
But the NSS' complaint wasn't taken as seriously as it hoped, especially given the broadcast from Lambeth Palace is part of a series the Today programme is doing on religion and it will have a particular focus on atheism and secularism in the New Year.
Instead it was mocked on Twitter, particularly after the NSS compared Justin Welby to Hitler in an earlier criticism of speech in the House of Lords.
Here are five hilarious responses to the NSS' bluster.
Gavin Drake, editor of the Anglican News Service, alludes to the NSS' previous dig at the CofE.
Ali Campbell just undermines the whole thing:
Well exactly David Waddell:
The Broccoli Society!
