ABC supports Safran style

“John has always had a unique creative style through which he investigates serious issues, and ABC TV fully supports John’s approach to this new series,” said ABC Director of Television Kim Dalton.

His comments follow news reports that John Safran underwent a crucifixion re-enactment in the Philippines on Friday.

Safran is believed to be planning to use the material as part of an eight-part ABC-TV series, John Safran’s Race Relations, to screen later this year.

Dalton described the series as as “a thoughtful and challenging exploration of cultural differences and convictions — the kind of project that you expect from John Safran.”

Safran’s radio co-presenter Father Bob Maguire, who also appeared in Safran v God, said: “He would not have done it contemptuously.

“For him, religion is the heart of the cosmos. If he did do it, it would have been for a forensic investigation of religious practices.

“To Western eyes, there are some pretty unnerving devotional practices, so he’s like a detective, investigating it. He’s certainly not anti-religious.”

During Safran v God, Safran attracted a lot of comment for under-going an exorcism, although some were divided over whether it was real or enacted.

Source: The Age