One of the most popular games on the PS3 platform, Resistance: Fall of Man outraged the Manchester Cathedral. Over the weekend, BBC and other media outlets reported that the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch is furious because a portion of the popular game takes place in the Manchester Cathedral.

"For a global manufacturer to re-create one of our great cathedrals with photo-realistic quality and then encourage people to have guns battles in the building is beyond belief and highly irresponsible," said McCulloch, quoted by Reuters.

"The video footage of the cathedral battle on YouTube has shocked and dismayed us beyond words. They can only be described as virtual desecration", Rogers Govender, Dean of Manchester Cathedral, added.

In a letter addressed to Sony, the church leaders requested on Monday four actions to be taken: an apology for using the cathedral, withdrawal of the game, or modification of the section of the game to remove the cathedral interior, a substantial donation from the games' profits allowing the cathedral's education department to target more effectively those aged 18 to 30 and support from the Japanese company for other groups in Manchester fighting against gun crime.

In an initial statement, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe said that "It is game-created footage, it is not video or photography. It is entertainment, like Doctor Who or any other science fiction. It is not based on reality at all. Throughout the whole process we have sought permission where necessary."

But today in another official statement Sony said their officials have spoken to the Manchester Catheral authorities and the issue will be resolved directly with them. Sony declined to make further comments.