Can I play a game with a Lesbian in it?

[CountrySinger]

I guess I can’t play any married couples in the Sims. There are no priests so every one is an invalid marriage. They don’t go to reconciliation or mass either.

And you know that in the Sims, sex is not always unitive and procreative. You have to choose “try for a baby” or “woohoo”. Sims and their birth control.

Evil Sims.

 

[Tagetes]

as to the marital status of all the characters and determine if any of them are married invalidly

Particularly, we should ask them about Winston. He strikes me as suspicious in that regard. If any of them is hiding a bunch of invalid marriages, it’s definitely him.

 

[CatholicSheila]

And you know that in the Sims, sex is not always unitive and procreative. You have to choose “try for a baby” or “woohoo”. Sims and their birth control.

Evil Sims.

ah, but I can control that factor. Always try for baby.

Unless I work out some for of natural family planning that they have to live by.

 

[starshiptrooper]

The actual game has nothing to do with sexuality, a bit of backstory never hurts anybody.

Besides, Tracer being a lesbian does not change the fact that nobody wants to play the objective.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

While I myself am not a video gamer, I have had some exposure to Overwatch. Given that the game is not story-driven, making Tracer a lesbian is even more pointless than boycotting the game in protest. My personal opinion is that the greatest problem with any video game is how much time people spend playing it. If it bothers you that much than don’t play the game. Personally, I think God cares more about how YOU chose to spend your time than about the sexual orientation of a person who doesn’t even exist.

 

[Falcon287]

There are a few ways to look at this. Since you bought the game before the information was made public, you are probably fine to continue to play. This is because what you should be concerned about is the concept of scandal.

St. Paul talks about that there is no issue with eating meat offered due to the knowledge he possessed, but if it would cause scandal to the “weaker minds,” then he wouldn’t eat. He explains that “If your brother is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love (Romans 14:15a).”

So if someone knows you are a Catholic and they are scandalized (meaning in this case that they think supporting those evil behaviors is ok), then that will be a sin. However, due to the anonymity of the game, there should be no issue. You can point out to Blizzard why you object to the actions of the characters. If anyone asks, you can explain. However, since the game itself doesn’t have you do that sort of thing, you should be fine to play.

Now once the game becomes a huge movement for stuff like promoting gay sex, then you probably have an obligation to stop. I had to do something similar with a TV show I liked. Before, it was mentioned as a passing thought, but no care was attached to it, but in the 3rd season, they started to really push the agenda. Same with Supergirl this year (they even pulled a marketing trick to get people to watch it)

If you play Overwatch, there is no sin from your original concern. However, if you still consider it to be sinful and then play it, then it is a sin because you are not acting from faith (Romans 14:23). Though I would take into consideration about whether the costumes for the characters are appropriate and then judge with the same standard as above.

God Bless

 

[twf]

If I were the OP, I’d contact the game developer and inquire whether or not Tracer is actually a practicing lesbian, or if she just has SSA. I’d also inquire as to the marital status of all the characters and determine if any of them are married invalidly. That would be a deal-breaker for me.

I heard one of the characters was baptized Catholic but raised Protestant…and thus unknowingly entered into an invalid marriage. That definitely raises red flags.

If, as the OP says, the fact that the character is a lesbian in the tie-in comics has no actual bearing on the game play, I don’t see an issue.

 

[twf]

There are a few ways to look at this. Since you bought the game before the information was made public, you are probably fine to continue to play. This is because what you should be concerned about is the concept of scandal.

St. Paul talks about that there is no issue with eating meat offered due to the knowledge he possessed, but if it would cause scandal to the “weaker minds,” then he wouldn’t eat. He explains that “If your brother is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love (Romans 14:15a).”

So if someone knows you are a Catholic and they are scandalized (meaning in this case that they think supporting those evil behaviors is ok), then that will be a sin. However, due to the anonymity of the game, there should be no issue. You can point out to Blizzard why you object to the actions of the characters. If anyone asks, you can explain. However, since the game itself doesn’t have you do that sort of thing, you should be fine to play.

Now once the game becomes a huge movement for stuff like promoting gay sex, then you probably have an obligation to stop. I had to do something similar with a TV show I liked. Before, it was mentioned as a passing thought, but no care was attached to it, but in the 3rd season, they started to really push the agenda. Same with Supergirl this year (they even pulled a marketing trick to get people to watch it)

If you play Overwatch, there is no sin from your original concern. However, if you still consider it to be sinful and then play it, then it is a sin because you are not acting from faith (Romans 14:23). Though I would take into consideration about whether the costumes for the characters are appropriate and then judge with the same standard as above.

God Bless

I think this is a little absurd to be frank. If a non-Catholic sees you picking this game off the shelf they will suddenly believe you endorse homosexuality and thus you would be guilty of scandal? That’s a major, major, major stretch. By that same token…isn’t this a shooter game? Why wouldn’t the non-Catholic be “scandalized” that the Catholic supports going around shooting people? Isn’t that graver than homosexuality? Especially when it doesn’t even factor into the game? This strikes me as a fairly Puritan approach.

 

[AClaire11]

I think this is a little absurd to be frank. If a non-Catholic sees you picking this game off the shelf they will suddenly believe you endorse homosexuality and thus you would be guilty of scandal? That’s a major, major, major stretch. By that same token…isn’t this a shooter game? Why wouldn’t the non-Catholic be “scandalized” that the Catholic supports going around shooting people? Isn’t that graver than homosexuality? Especially when it doesn’t even factor into the game? This strikes me as a fairly Puritan approach.

Agreed. Just because someone is scandalized doesn’t necessarily make it the sin of scandal. People can be scandalized by many things due to culture or prejudice that aren’t immoral.

 

[EasterJoy]

This is such an odd question.

Why, when you can of course play on a sports team that literally has lesbians who literally have female lovers living with them, would it be some problem to play a video game that has an imaginary lesbian incorporated as one of the characters?

We live in a world where homosexuals are being told they have a right consider their sexual inclination and whatever ways they are inclined to act on them to be wholesome and right, just as the heterosexuals are told that putting a boundary of on their sexual acts that goes beyond getting consent from partners is oppressive and unhealthy. We’re going to be working next to that, doing business next to that, probably socializing in the midst of that, and everything else. We are forced to tolerate it in business and we are past the point where being willing to see that depicted in art or leisure constitutes cooperation with it.

If the game makes you uncomfortable, don’t play it. If you think it is going to desensitize you to the truth by making you accustomed to the popular falsehood, don’t play it. If those aren’t a problem for you, however, it is not a problem for a grown person to read stories with characters who have problematic morals.

Honestly, too, are you sure that is the worst thing about this game? Most of the ones I see involve indiscriminate murder, destruction of the property of others, senseless violence, and the ludicrous idea that one “player” gets more than one “life” to squander on death-wish thrill-seeking. The desensitization that implies is more serious than desensitization with regards to tolerating the sexual misconduct of others.

 

[twf]

This is such an odd question.

Why, when you can of course play on a sports team that literally has lesbians who literally have female lovers living with them, would it be some problem to play a video game that has an imaginary lesbian incorporated as one of the characters?

We live in a world where homosexuals are being told they have a right consider their sexual inclination and whatever ways they are inclined to act on them to be wholesome and right, just as the heterosexuals are told that putting a boundary of on their sexual acts that goes beyond getting consent from partners is oppressive and unhealthy. We’re going to be working next to that, doing business next to that, probably socializing in the midst of that, and everything else. We are forced to tolerate it in business and we are past the point where being willing to see that depicted in art or leisure constitutes cooperation with it.

If the game makes you uncomfortable, don’t play it. If you think it is going to desensitize you to the truth by making you accustomed to the popular falsehood, don’t play it. If those aren’t a problem for you, however, it is not a problem for a grown person to read stories with characters who have problematic morals.

Honestly, too, are you sure that is the worst thing about this game? Most of the ones I see involve indiscriminate murder, destruction of the property of others, senseless violence, and the ludicrous idea that one “player” gets more than one “life” to squander on death-wish thrill-seeking. The desensitization that implies is more serious than desensitization with regards to tolerating the sexual misconduct of others.

You hit the nail on the head with the last point. I feel some Catholics / Christians never shut up about sexual sin, yet have nary a word to say about issues of social justice, the plight of the poor and oppressed, murder and violence, greed… sexual sins are very grave indeed, but I am quite certain Scripture puts FAR more focus on the latter examples.

 

[Eliza10]

If I were the OP, I’d contact the game developer and inquire whether or not Tracer is actually a practicing lesbian, or if she just has SSA. I’d also inquire as to the marital status of all the characters and determine if any of them are married invalidly. That would be a deal-breaker for me.

Also ask the game developer if the other characters who are not SSA live chastely, and do not engage in sexual relations outside the Sacrament of Marriage.

 

[EasterJoy]

Also ask the game developer if the other characters who are not SSA live chastely, and do not engage in sexual relations outside the Sacrament of Marriage.

Rrrrrright. On the other hand, maybe the fact that it is fantasy game about mercenary pirates going on high-speed chases through the open-air markets of old cities in pursuit of stolen antiquities kind of tips you off that the game isn’t necessarily intended to develop the players’ morals.

 

[BoomBoomMancini]

Rrrrrright. On the other hand, maybe the fact that it is fantasy game about mercenary pirates going on high-speed chases through the open-air markets of old cities in pursuit of stolen antiquities kind of tips you off that the game isn’t necessarily intended to develop the players’ morals.

I assume Eliza was being sarcastic, because contacting the game developers to ask if the character is actively lesbian or just experiences SSA is beyond silly. It’s a video game, people. Relax.

 

[WonderAndAwe]

So just a few days ago, on my birthday, December 12th, I got a copy of the video game, Overwatch. It’s a very mild shooter, with no blood, and it’s very fun. Honestly, I believe there’s nothing inappropriate in the game. Until now.

Today, it was officially revealed that a character from the game (Tracer) is lesbian (or potentially bisexual). Ugh, when I first read that, my heart probably skipped a beat.

Saint Thomas Aquinas and various other Saints have always declared same-sex attraction as sinful and evil. Various Popes have agreed to this. And we as Catholic should feel the same. But would it be wrong to play this game? Would it be wrong to play as her? I’ve always wondered this.

Anyone could help me, that would be great. God Bless You and Merry Christmas!

Sure. Tracer’s lesbianism, like Tracer’s taste in breakfast cereal, is irrelevant to the gameplay as it isn’t part of the game at all and only exists in supplementary material.

Now if the lesbianism was central to the gameplay like in, say, Life is Strange, then you could make the case it shouldn’t be played.

And for that matter, Tracer isn’t the only character you can play as.