Terre Haute, Ind., Jan 5, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- An NBC affiliate in Indiana has dropped a new drama, which has Jesus appearing as a recurring character and features a troubled Episcopal priest who is the father of a dysfunctional family. The decision was due to the volume of protests from viewers as well as a pro-family group.

The American Family Association told WorldNetDaily.com that it hopes other NBC affiliates would join WTWO in Terre Haute, Ind., in its decision to not air "The Book of Daniel." The series is set to debut Friday night.

The association’s chairman, Donald Wildmon, reported that several companies have notified his group that they have no plans to sponsor the show.

"We are tired of NBC's anti-Christian bigotry," said Wildmon. The association has an online petition against the program, which is being promoted as the riskiest show of the year and the only network prime-time drama series with a regular male homosexual character, a 23-year-old Republican son. The show’s writer is also a homosexual.

Other characters include a wife who relies on mid-day martinis, a 16-year-old daughter who is a drug dealer and a 16-year-old adopted son who is having sex with the bishop's daughter. The Episcopal priest's lesbian secretary is sleeping with his sister-in-law.

The show’s writer, Jack Kenny, has defended his program, saying that his characters are spiritual people who believe in Jesus, reported WorldNetDaily.com.

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