Meanwhile, key stock analysts are about to shun the company for several moral lapses. Even on Wall Street, that's no laughing matter.

For the first time in the company's 43-year history, Comcast is about to be removed from a growing number of mutual funds that specialize in socially responsible (SR) corporations. Individual, religious and institutional fund managers increasingly want to invest in companies that (among other things) protect the environment, pay their officers within reasonable limits and respect the basic rights of their employees.

As a cable and media company, Comcast has no environmental problems and it has even been commended for its charitable contributions. But Comcast is faulted for consolidating voting power in the Roberts family, which has effectively blocked ordinary stockholders from reforming the company through shareholder resolutions.

Comcast has also been long criticized for grossly overpaying its executives. CEO Brian Roberts reportedly made more than $21 million in 2004 (including stock options), which SR specialists say is twice what is considered reasonable. With total packages of more than $200,000 a year, Comcast's board of directors is also doubly blessed.

But the chief reason for Comcast's fall from grace is the company's history of poor union relations. So concludes KLD Research and Analytics, the nation's leading SR analyst, which tracks more than 3,000 U.S. corporations.

Comcast stands out among its corporate peers, and not in a good way. According to KLD, 16 out of 17 media companies in the Standard and Poor's (S&P) 500 meet KLD's criteria for social responsibility. Verizon—a unionized company and Comcast's chief local competitor—is also a member in good standing.

Chances are if you have a 401(k) with a socially responsible mutual fund, its portfolio manager watches what KLD does. Within weeks, the prestigious Domini 400 Social Index is expected to cut Comcast. The Calvert Social Index—not among KLD clients—also deleted Comcast recently for its workplace practices.

The three clergymen trying to mend Comcast's ways came armed with a petition signed by scores of religious leaders. They accused Comcast of institutional indifference to what they say is the basic human right to form a union without fear of reprisal.

Roberts got especially hammered for a Comcast memo that labeled union organizers "pushers." Among other putative infractions, the company is also accused of pulling out of a franchise agreement with Oakland, Calif., because the city passed a labor rights ordinance. The company reputedly fired a longtime company employee after he testified in front of the Oakland City Council. Last year in Maryland, the National Labor Relations board ruled that Comcast violated federal labor rules.

But when Pittsburgh's Rev. Jack O'Malley asked Roberts to add the right to form a union to the corporation's code of ethics, Roberts responded that Comcast already obeys the law. That isn't good enough for the clergymen, who say they've tried unsuccessfully for months to talk with senior VP Charisse Lillie, and with certain board members, including Judith Rodin, former UPenn president.

Stonewalling both clergy and media groups, Comcast has successfully contained the union issue. And till now, it's worked. The Inquirer devoted only a short paragraph to this stockholder protest, while the Daily News reported nothing.

Still, it's one thing to ignore the clamoring of the clergy; it's another to brush aside the Wall Street stock pickers. Since August, KLD has also tried to contact Comcast [Loose Canon, "Clever Vinnie," Aug. 11, 2005]. But after Comcast refused to respond, KLD branded them as corporate pariahs.

The future is calling, says Comcast about its new phone service. Now that Wall Street is calling, perhaps Comcast will pick up the line.