{"id":153402,"date":"2022-05-10T09:30:54","date_gmt":"2022-05-10T13:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.regnumchristi.com\/en\/ask-a-priest-can-a-confessor-ban-me-from-all-movies-and-social-media\/"},"modified":"2024-10-22T15:00:28","modified_gmt":"2024-10-22T19:00:28","slug":"ask-a-priest-can-a-confessor-ban-me-from-all-movies-and-social-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.regnumchristi.com\/en\/ask-a-priest-can-a-confessor-ban-me-from-all-movies-and-social-media\/","title":{"rendered":"“Ask a Priest: Can a Confessor Ban Me From All Movies and Social Media?”"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
Q: When I went to confession last week my confessor gave me some harsh advice after I asked him about my choice of movies and shows. I am usually careful about what I watch. For example, I avoid violent content, and I try my best to weigh the pros and cons of a movie. The same goes for video games. My confessor told me to avoid movies at all cost and even social media. I was worried after that because I know that I am morally bound to obey his advice. I was taken aback, since I am just 18 and in college, so my classes are online. I do watch movies and shows in my unproductive time (around four hours or so daily). I want to know whether I still need to follow whatever advice I get in a confession? Plus, I have scrupulosity, so it doesn\u2019t let me live in peace. \u2013 R.O.<\/p>\n

\n<\/address>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC<\/em><\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Since I don’t know the whole context of the conversation between you and the confessor, I don’t want to second-guess the advice that he gave in the moment.<\/p>\n

While we should take seriously the advice of a confessor \u2013 the confessional can be, after all, a special forum in which the Holy Spirit works \u2013 the following of that advice might not always be obligatory but rather prudential.<\/p>\n

The penance that a priest prescribes is obligatory, but his advice is something that you would want to weigh the pros and cons of, and decide whether to follow it.<\/p>\n

Ideally the confessor could educate a penitent\u2019s conscience about the objective sinfulness of something. For it is the evil of the thing that obliges a penitent to avoid it, not the priest\u2019s obliging him to avoid it.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the priest felt as though he didn\u2019t have a lot of time to give you a detailed moral explanation, and so advised an across-the-board ban on movies and social media. Or, if he perceived that just about any media pose a grave danger for you, the prohibition might have been the strong medicine he thought you needed.<\/p>\n

In general, though, I wouldn’t say that a person is obliged to avoid all movies and social media.<\/p>\n

Some movies can be uplifting, and social media can be a powerful tool if used correctly.<\/p>\n

The key here is discernment. We have to be prudent about our use of media.<\/p>\n

You mention that you spend four hours a day watching movies and shows. That seems like a lot of time.<\/p>\n

You mention “unproductive time.” There really shouldn’t be unproductive time in our lives.<\/p>\n

Every day is a gift of God. One of the most valuable things he gives us is time — and like all our God-given gifts, we should use them for his glory and for the good of others.<\/p>\n

My suggestion is that you spend some time in prayer and see how you might use your days more productively.<\/p>\n

Being of college age, you have a capacity to learn things more quickly and deeply. These are the years that you want to use well, to study hard, to form yourself well. It would be a pity to spend a quarter of your waking hours watching movies.<\/p>\n

In lieu of movies, you might consider the fine resources online that could help you grow in your knowledge of the faith, such as Catholic Answers<\/a>, the St. Paul Center<\/a> for Biblical Theology, Discerning Hearts<\/a>, and Renewal Ministries<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For more reading about use of the media in general, see the Second Vatican Council decree Inter Mirifica<\/em><\/a> and John Paul II\u2019s apostolic letter \u201cThe Rapid Development<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Remember, someday we will have to give an account to God of how we used that great gift of time.<\/p>\n

Keep learning more with <\/span>Ask a Priest<\/a><\/p>\n

Got a question? Need an answer?<\/h3>\n

Today\u2019s secular world throws curve balls at us all the time. AskACatholicPriest is a Q&A feature that anyone can use. Just type your question HERE<\/a>\u00a0and you will get a personal response back from one of our priests at RCSpirituality. You can ask about anything \u2013 liturgy, prayer, moral questions, current events\u2026 Our goal is simply to provide a trustworthy forum for dependable Catholic guidance and information. So go ahead and ask your question\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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