Is there a limit on what is acceptable for a Priest to do in his free time?

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This is a rather odd and difficult question. Let me be very clear first and foremost that my question is not about a Priest partaking in average recreational activities (sports, hiking, etc) or enjoying hobbies (like art, cooking music etc.) I am wondering about the morality of a Priest who has a hobby/side job that includes creating questionable content. I know this sounds confusing.

For example, would it be moral for a Priest to spend his free time creating art, music, or books that have questionable, immoral, or sinful content? How would you feel if you heard a song with inappropriate lyrics or read a scandalous novel and found out that it was written by a Priest? Is it appropriate for a Priest to spend his free time creating content like this?
 
Absolutely not.

Any Catholic, regardless of vocation, cannot lead others into sin via scandalous sexual or other content.
 
Mk541 said:
art, music, or books that have questionable, immoral, or sinful content?
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Like what, for instance? Do you have any particular thing in mind? If so, beating around the bush is a waste of time.
 
Mk541 said:
For example, would it be moral for a Priest to spend his free time creating art, music, or books that have questionable, immoral, or sinful content? How would you feel if you heard a song with inappropriate lyrics or read a scandalous novel and found out that it was written by a Priest? Is it appropriate for a Priest to spend his free time creating content like this?
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that would be immoral for anyone, not just priests.
 
Mk541 said:
For example, would it be moral for a Priest to spend his free time creating art, music, or books that have questionable, immoral, or sinful content
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Some people thought that the books of the late Fr. Greeley were pretty dirty.
 
Specifically, the morality of a priest writing fictional novels that have disturbing graphic content such as sex, violence, rape, incest, abuse etc.
 
Mk541 said:
the morality of a priest writing fictional novels that have disturbing graphic content such as sex, violence, rape, incest, abuse etc.
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It’s entirely possible that he could be doing so for completely moral reasons, such as cautionary tales and such.
 
So what qualifies as a cautionary tale? What would set a novel apart from one made just for entertainment?
 
Mk541 said:
So what qualifies as a cautionary tale? What would set a novel apart from one made just for entertainment?
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As far as sinfulness goes, the intention of the writer is a good place to start.

Again, do you have a particular work of literature in mind?
 
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I do have a particular book/s in mind, though I wasn’t sure if i should share because they are not well known, they were released within the last decade, and the Priest is still alive and serving as a Pastor. They are fictional novels and include graphic rape scenes and sexual things involving teenagers etc. There is no big ending that shows a “moral to the story” or anything like that. They are very dark.
 
Mk541 said:
There is no big ending that shows a “moral to the story” or anything like that. They are very dark.
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Then don’t read them. If you have any further questions, direct them to your pastor. You’re not going to get a definitive answer here.
 
I would say it’s not gratitous.

For example I could imagine them being in a crime novel. With sex I wouldn’t get too graphic (in fact I’d not get hraphic at all. I don’t see how a graphic sex scene adds much with the possible exception of a rape and even then I don’t know how much the details would add).

With romance I would keep it chaste unless you’re writing a redempive story arc. Something like couple is not chaste, one or both come to regret it and they remain chaste as a couple, maybe with some struggles, or break up and the one who has learned their lesson finds someone better. I could see that being written as it’s never too late to start being chaste or and you are not your past.

In the examples you mentioned I think it may depend on if the characters engaging in the behavior ones the reader is meant to identify with/look up to?
 
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This thread has me rethinking my love of rap music and South Park now. I also am in a band in which some of the lyrics are questionable. Yikes.

I have a lot to think about.
 
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SacredHeartBassist said:
This thread has me rethinking my love of rap music and South Park now. I also am in a band in which some of the lyrics are questionable. Yikes.

I have a lot to think about.
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Me and my platoon watched a lot of South Park huddled around a cot while in Afghanistan. It’s a bittersweet memory. And I quit playing in the Doom/Stoner band I was a bassist in. Small world. Haha
 
currently in a funk band. Ugh it’s gonna be hard to give it up
 
this is a troll thread

we are getting a lot of them lately…
 
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brian_custer said:
his is a troll thread

we are getting a lot of them lately…
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Unfortunately, this is not a troll thread. The books are a series of sci-fi novels that feature explicit and graphic content, the majority of which are involving children. There is a repetitive focus on children peeing themselves, rape, molestation, incest, and elaborate descriptions of teenage girls and their “erotic” beauty.

I am hesitant to list the author or the titles of the books, but this is unfortunately a real situation.
 
If it is bothering you send a letter to the vicar for Priests of your diocese expressing your concerns.
 
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