Será que “A Charlie Brown Christmas” causou controvérsia para a CBS devido ao seu conteúdo religioso?

Em Um Natal de Charlie Brown , há uma cena mostrando Linus recitando uma passagem da Bíblia.

Linus says he does and, after walking to center stage, recites the annunciation to the shepherds from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2, verses 8 through 14, as translated by the Authorized King James Version:

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill towards men.

Esta parte da série foi vista como controversa por ser muito religiosa quando foi ao ar pela primeira vez em 1965 . Eu me lembro de haver alguma controvérsia em relação a esta cena do show, mas a cena parece ainda ar todos os anos.

The show’s producers repeatedly tried to convince the cartoonist to cut a scene using an old source, one much older than A Christmas Carol. Quoting the Bible was too religious for television, they argued. Schulz was adamant, and what many consider the greatest minute in animation history remained.

A CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System), nos Estados Unidos, transmitiu o especial de 1965 a 2000. A ABC (American Broadcasting Company) adquiriu os direitos do programa em 2000.

Although originally broadcast on the CBS network from 1965 until December 25, 2000, in January 2000, the broadcast rights were acquired by ABC, which is where the special currently airs, usually twice, in December.

Existe alguma evidência de que a CBS desistiu dos direitos de transmissão da ABC devido ao conteúdo religioso no programa? A CBS estava preocupada com possíveis repercussões que isso poderia causar em futuras audiências?