vilify God, Jesus Christ, the Bible, or the formularies of the Church of England. Following the most recent prosecution for blasphemous libel - the "Gay News" trial in 1977 - the Law Commission for England and Wale6 examined the common law offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel. In its 1985 report on offences against religion and public worship it concluded, by a majority of its members, that these offences should be abolished and not replaced. A minority proposed a new statutory offence applying to all religions, and were supported in this view in a 1988 report commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury to consider the Law Commission's report. 259. The publication of the book The Satanic Verses has given rise to calls on the one hand for the law on blasphemy to be extended to protect Islam and other religions and on the other for it to be abolished altogether. These are plainly incompatible positions which allow of no compromise. The United Kingdom recognizes that this is a difficult area where there are strongly held views on both sides, but the Government has no plans at present for legislation. There have also been calls on the Government to suppress the book. Ministers have made it clear in reply that they have no powers to suppress or ban publications and that the right to freedom of expression is qualified only by the relevant provisions of the criminal law. Obscenity 260. Under the Obscene Publications Act 1959, an article is deemed to be obscene if its effect is such as to tend to deprave and corrupt persons who are likely to read, see or hear the matter which it contains. The Government takes the view that this test of what is obscene does not afford adequate protection to the public against the worst type of material in circulation, 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the legal aspects of free speech, religion, and publication, specifically in the context of the United Kingdom. It touches on the topics of blasphemy, libel, and obscenity, and the government's stance on regulating these areas.

**Category**
Culture, Law