July 4, 2023

Q: How can a person go about discerning whether or not it is safe or healthy to watch or read certain media? I’ve been bewildered trying to find out what the controversy is especially with Harry Potter. There seem to be people who think it’s perfectly OK and others who think it’s dangerous. The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia both feature magic, good and bad — but somehow they are acceptable? How can I decide what is acceptable and healthy and what is not? For example, I watch a show called Teen Wolf. The theme of the show is that the teenager bitten by the wolf turns into a werewolf. He refuses to give into the killer instinct (as others do). He is a good werewolf whose strength is his character and loyalty to his friends. The show features rituals and occult to some degree (I don’t know if the rituals are real). I wonder if it is wrong to watch a show like this? I ask this because I’m disabled and TV/movies are some of the few things I can enjoy and do. – C.M.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: Each person has to discern what will help and what will hinder his spiritual life.

People respond differently to media. What might be harmless entertainment to a mature Christians, could be detrimental or confusing to a child or to someone with little or no formation in the faith.

So, you have to know yourself and what you are comfortable with.

Two observations might be worth mentioning.

First, whatever we watch and read can affect our very way of thinking. Our minds are like sponges.

Over time, the kinds of things we absorb from the media can make a good or bad (and profound) impact on us, sometimes without our even realizing it. One can imagine how racy TV shows and movies have helped lead lots of folks to adopt immodest dress in public.

One rule of thumb is to ask whether you would be comfortable watching something with Jesus or the Blessed Virgin sitting by your side.

Second, you mention this werewolf show. You might ask yourself whether there aren’t better things you can dedicate your time to, such as serious books (including the Bible) and edifying documentaries and online courses. And, of course, there is the option of dedicating more time to prayer.

Remember, the good is the enemy of the best. And ideally, the bad shouldn’t even be allowed in your house.

In any case, if your viewing is stuck at the “Teen Wolf” level, it might be time for a rethink.

For related reading on the Church’s take on the media, see “The Church and the Internet.” Also worth a peek is this list of 100 films hailed by the National Catholic Register as pro-Catholic (but note its warning).

I hope some of this helps.

 

Q: Is it a sin to watch an R-rated movie? -S.W.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: If the very content of an R-rated movie poses as an occasion of sin for a particular person, and he is aware of that, then that person should not view the movie. By watching it he would be deliberately putting himself in a situation where he knows he has a tendency to fall into sin.

The Motion Picture Association of America defines an R-rated movie as one that “may include adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements, so that parents are counseled to take this rating very seriously.”

Movies can thus earn an R rating for any of a range of reasons. The Passion of the Christ received an R rating for its graphic violence. Yet, the film won praise from many religious leaders, including the then prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Clergy. The film also prompted a change of heart in some criminals.

Most R-rated movies, of course, aren’t known for deepening people’s faith. On the contrary, many films have prurient content that poses a great temptation to sin, including grave sin. Our Lord warned pointedly about sins of the heart. “I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28).

Sensitivities of viewers vary greatly, however. What scandalizes one person might barely raise the eyebrows of another. Here each person has to know himself well enough to know what presents a near occasion of sin.

The Modern Catholic Dictionary defines an occasion of sin as “Any person, place, or thing that of its nature or because of human frailty can lead one to do wrong, thereby committing sin. If the danger is certain and probable, the occasion is proximate [or near]; if the danger is slight, the occasion becomes remote.”

Nowadays, a conscientious person wouldn’t want to avoid just risqué R movies. Even PG-13 and PG movies can present occasions of sin. And then there is TV, not excluding the commercials. Moreover, one shouldn’t overlook the impact of violence in various media; studies abound that show the negative impact of violent video games, for instance, especially on young people.

For those who think they could simply fast-forward through bad scenes of movies, a further question might be worth considering: If by renting to a certain movie or subscribing to a certain cable TV station, am I in effect giving my financial support to a morally dubious enterprise?

The more immediate question should always be: Is this movie or TV show (or whatever) worth viewing it if it risks leading someone into serious sin? Indeed, could any film be worth that price?