Report claims that women are being led to witchcraft by "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer".

The report claims more than 50,000 women a year have deserted their congregations over the past two decades because they feel the church is not relevant to their lives.

It says that instead young women are becoming attracted to the pagan religion Wicca, where females play a central role, which has grown in popularity after being featured positively in films, TV shows and books.

The study comes amid ongoing controversy over the role of women in all Christian denominations. Last month its governing body voted to allow women to become bishops for the first time, having admitted them to the priesthood in 1994, but traditionalist bishops have warned that hundreds of clergy and parishes will leave if the move goes ahead as planned.

The report's author, Dr Kristin Aune, a sociologist at the University of Derby, said: "In short, women are abandoning the church.

"Because of its focus on female empowerment, young women are attracted by Wicca, popularised by the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Aww look at how cute Willow is in that picture. How could she be blamed for corrupting anybody?

You know every time anybody threatens to open the minds of Christians about other religions or philosophical beliefs they go on the attack and try to make them the villain. Well in my mind the villain is any organization that denies its followers the opportunity to learn about opposing points of view or the freedom in choosing their own religion.

By the way, and this is just between us, I LOVE Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

I am a died in the wool geek when it comes to the show, and it is still the ONLY television series that I own on DVD. Yep all seven seasons worth. But if you tell anybody I will totally deny it.