Sony "forgiven" by church in Resistance row

Manchester Cathedral has "forgiven" Sony for using a replica of the holy building in PS3 shooter Resistance: Fall of Man.

The format holder outraged religious leaders earlier this year for using a mock-up of the interior of the Church in the hit first-person shooter.

But now, after failing to win an award at last night's BAFTA awards, the Very Reverend Rogers Govender has decided to put the incident in the past - even though Sony refuses to accept it has done wrong.

"I think some important lessons have been learnt," said the Dean of Manchester, speaking to the BBC. "So we forgive Sony for what they have done, even though they still believe they have done no wrong."

"In an industry that is breaking new frontiers, it is important that long held traditions of film and television are maintained. These traditions include having courtesy, respecting the dignity of your subject, and admitting when mistakes have been made," he said.

"In so many ways Sony have failed to live up to these standards by disrespecting people of faith and the victims of gun crime in Manchester," he added.

He also added that visits to the Cathedral have increased since the controversy hit the news headlines.