A coalition of religious conservatives has formed in opposition to a proposed Comedy Central cartoon about Jesus Christ.

The newly formed Citizens Against Religious Bigotry intends to appeal to Comedy Central advertisers urging a boycott of the TV cartoon, tentatively titled JC.

Comedy Central announced the series last month, saying it would depict Christ as a "regular guy" who moves to New York to "escape his father's enormous shadow," with the father shown as more involved with video games than the real world.

Citizens Against Religious Bigotry says it believes the cartoon will be offensive, citing Comedy Central's previous record of mocking Christianity.

'Why does Comedy Central give such deference to Islam while mocking Christianity?'—Tony Perkins, Family Research Council

It accuses the network of a double standard, pointing out that a South Park episode showing the Prophet Muhammad was not aired for fear of offending Muslims.

"Why does Comedy Central give such deference to Islam while mocking Christianity?" Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council, asked Thursday. "Is it because they confuse the civility of Christianity with weakness?"

The coalition of conservative and religious groups includes watchdog group Media Research Center, the American Alliance of Jews and Christianity, the Catholic League, the Parents Television Council and talk-show host Michael Medved.

In a teleconference with media representatives, Medved raised the issue of internet threats Comedy Central faced over the South Park episode depicting Mohammad. Many Muslims believe depictions of the Prophet are forbidden by their faith and such depictions in Western media have drawn death threats.

"Does that indicate that Christians then are punished because they aren't crazy? That they get punished because their religion does not encourage threats of violence?" he asked.

The group said it had begun a letter campaign to encourage Comedy Central advertisers to boycott the show.

Network spokesman Tony Fox noted that JC is nothing more than an idea now and may never make it to air. No one knows what will be in the show, as there is not even a completed script, he said.

With files from The Associated Press