BBC VIRGIN ROW.

Byline: BART DICKSON

SCOTS religious leaders have condemned a BBC documentary which questions whether Mary was a virgin when she conceived Jesus.

The Virgin Mary, due to be shown three days before Christmas, investigates three separate theories on the birth of Jesus.

Included in the hour-long programme, presented by the former Brookside star Sue Johnston, is a highly controversial theory that Mary was raped by a Roman soldier.

But the programme concludes that Mary fell pregnant to Joseph before marriage and that Joseph stood by her.

The show has dismayed both Catholic and Protestant leaders in Scotland.

A spokesman for the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland said: "From earliest times Christians have honoured Mary as the Christ's mother and an insult to her is an insult to the beliefs of billions of people worldwide."

Leaders of the Church of Scotland said they were saddened by the programme's content.

A spokesman said: "Some denominations believe it is vital that Mary was technically a virgin and say there can be no argument about this."

CAPTION(S):

PRESENTER: Sue Johnston