Pope Says Media Damaging Families

The BBC ^ | January 24, 2004 | Mike Workman

[RWR8189]

The Pope urged parents to supervise their children

The Pope has called on governments across the world to ensure that family life is not weakened by the growth of communications media.

He said in an age where many families had access to immense and varied media resources, parents needed to regulate how their children used it.

The Pope did not single out any particular section of the media.

But it is clear that he is concerned about the internet and the vast number of new television stations.

This would include strictly limiting the time children devote to media... putting some media entirely off limits and periodically excluding all of them for the sake of other family activities Pope's advice to parents

In his statement issued in advance of World Communications Day on 23 May, Pope John Paul II once again emphasised traditional Catholic teaching on the family and human relationships.

He criticised those in the communications industry who were promoting values detrimental to the common good of society.

Pro-active approach

The Pope urged parents to closely supervise what their children saw and heard, and to be more critical of messages which could undermine the family.

All communication has a moral dimension... People grow or diminish in moral stature by the words which they speak and the messages which they choose to hear Pope John Paul II

More significantly perhaps, he urged parents to be outspoken when it came to telling producers and governments what they liked and disliked.

And as for governments, he said they needed to involve what he described as family representatives in the regulation of the media, so they did not act against the good of the family.

Although the Pope made clear he was not supporting censorship, he is advocating a more pro-active approach by those who hold his conservative values.

It will almost certainly be seen as a challenge by opponents of the Catholic Church's teaching on such issues as divorce, contraception or homosexuality.

[explodingspleen]

As a member of the adolescent teen demographic, I can testify that, yes, television is largely responsible for the fact that my peers are dimwitted neanderthals.

[Jeff Chandler]

Positive Media

[realpatriot71]

Why do you think "they" call it "programming"? MTV has done more to damage the minds of the youth today than any other media outlet. Ever see a music video on MTV anymore? Probably not, and when you do, it's full of fornication and idolitry. Every TV show on MTV celebrates "sexual freedom" and if you take a tequilla shooter for every condom commercial now aired on that network, you'll be raging drunk in about an hour. Every show on MTV promotes the gratification of self and the idolization of "things". It's sickening and probably the ONLY channel the 12-22 y/o folks are glued to. How do you think these people are going to act given what they have seen on TV day in and day out . . .

[NYer]

All communication has a moral dimension... People grow or diminish in moral stature by the words which they speak and the messages which they choose to hear

When Time Warner Cable Manhattan refused to provide access to the EWTN channel, NYC catholics signed petitions and threatened to cancel their cable subscriptions. TWC got the message and responded!

That's awesome!

Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list

[The Duke]

I wonder if he was referring to the "Sodomy Channel", or perhaps the new "Bestiality Channel"?

Or, if the market is not quite large enough for these niche channels perhaps there's room for "The Orthoscope Channel". One could imagine a schedule that reads:

2pm - I am Joe's Colon
3pm - I am Jane's Colon
4pm - I am Rover's Colon

Gosh, now that I think of it, I do believe there remain unexplored depths of depravity to which our culture can anticipate sinking!

[Free_at_last_-2001]

He criticised those in the communications industry who were promoting values detrimental to the common good of society. - Good!

[Elsie]

Pope Says Media Damaging Families

This just in.......

In related, breaking news, the Vatican today announces that the Sun will rise in the East!!

Stay tuned for further updates........

[bushfamfan]

The media and entertainment field has shaped our morals now. Anything goes. People worship people in television, music, etc. and give them more respect than they deserve. They're driving our ideas that every morally reprehensible action is ok. Just do it. There is no way back now unfortunately. Britney Spears, Madonna, Eminem, that's the way of today.

[IonInsights]

The Pope is right about this one. Unfortunately, censorship is a worse cure than the disease.

[the invisib1e hand]

Pope John Paul II rocks.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

the "Sodomy Channel"

Given that Bravo shows re-runs of "Queer Eye" and "Boy Meets Boy" BEFORE 9pm, I'd say they're pretty close to being labelled "The Sodomy Channel".

[dsc]

Is anybody else having trouble getting streaming audio and video from the EWTN site? I've tried both Windows Media Player and Real Audio, and they both garble the feed on me after a while.

[the invisib1e hand]

The Pope is right about this one. Unfortunately, censorship is a worse cure than the disease.

who said anything about censorship? Just unplug the freakin' thing and go play some baseball.

[foreverfree]

bump

[B Knotts]

The Pope is absolutely right on this. We as a society are allowing these peddlers of filth to pump this toxic waste into our culture 24/7. We have to stand up to them, which we have not yet done in any meaningful way.

We have the means, as technology has given them to us. Firstly, there is the ON/OFF button. :-)

There are also excellent controls in modern TV and satellite receivers. Censorship is bad when the government does it, but is an excellent thing when a parent does it.

As a father it is my responsibility to censor what enters my house. All fathers should be doing the same. TURN THE GARBAGE OFF, whatever the consequences as far as whining and protesting goes.

It has gotten so bad that I have at times considered just getting rid of television in the house, but there still is some good to be gotten from it, if it is used judiciously.

[bluegrass]

"How low can you go?" seems to be the mantra these days.
Even on Nick just last night, kids bobbing for apples in a toilet. Do we really need this? I'm getting more and more disgusted and I'm not a prude really, just a Mommy.

[Polycarp IV]

Cast the one-eyed beast from its central throne in your home BUMP!!!

Ping. (As usual, if you would like to be added to or removed from my "conservative Catholics" ping list, just send me a FReepmail. Please realize that some of my "ping" posts are long.)

[Polycarp IV]

It has gotten so bad that I have at times considered just getting rid of television in the house, but there still is some good to be gotten from it, if it is used judiciously.

Just how much good is gotten from it? Is it enough to outweigh the bad?

We had no TV for 5 years, then a relative bought us a little 13inch TV/VCR. We still don't have cable, satellite, or antennae. My kids only watch videos we permit.

Even with this level of control, I'm seriously considering putting this TV in storage. Its a one-eyed beast.

[Barnacle]

Long live Pope John Paul II!