Burbank, CA – Today Radio Disney received about 40,000 petitions gathered in just a week from individuals who are upset because of the company’s censorship of a radio ad. Radio Disney agreed to air an ad for Promenade Pictures’ film, The Ten Commandments, but refused to allow the words “chosen by God” to remain in the ad. No other radio station has censored the ad or complained about its content. The Ten Commandments, a full-length, 3D CGI animation film, has been showing in theaters since October 19.

In less than one week, more than 40,000 people signed an online petition, asking Radio Disney to reverse its policy of deleting God from advertising on its stations. Liberty Counsel had the petitions delivered to Radio Disney’s Senior Vice President and General Manager, Jill Casagrande, and Director of Brand Marketing, Jennifer Kobashi, so the company will take the public outcry seriously. Liberty Counsel enclosed a letter with the petitions requesting that Radio Disney reverse its decision and run the original ad that included the words “chosen by God.” The petition states:

I am deeply troubled by the report that Radio Disney has refused to air an advertisement for the new animated movie entitled “The Ten Commandments” (produced by Promenade Pictures) because the ad states that Moses was “chosen by God.” This is blatant anti-faith bigotry and censorship by Radio Disney, especially when Radio Disney’s own website promotes movies with references to mythical gods, Tiki gods, Navajo gods and animal gods!

I am signing this citizen petition and calling on Disney to reverse its policy and issue a formal apology to Promenade Pictures and people of faith across this nation. Disney needs to get out of the business of censoring religious expression and focus instead on providing content that uplifts our families and our heritage of faith, as does this movie about Moses and the Ten Commandments.

Liberty Counsel joined with Promenade Pictures to promote The Ten Commandments before the advertising controversy erupted. Liberty Counsel’s 3-minute video explaining the importance of the Ten Commandments played before movie previews at more than 70 churches and on Daystar satellite television network.

Mathew D. Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented: “Radio Disney wrongly assumed it could censor God from an ad about the animated movie, The Ten Commandments, and that nobody would take notice. But Radio Disney is wrong. It is out of touch with the vast majority of Americans. How can God be censored from a movie about The Ten Commandments? The mere thought is ridiculous.”