Mark Wahlberg

[on_the_hill]

I don’t get him. He gets positive recognition for being Catholic, supposedly attending daily Mass, raising his kids in the Church, etc.

But he also makes R rated movies full of violence and sex. (2 Guns, for instance.)

Not that he’s obligated to be a role model, but what kind of message is that sending?

 

[skyman1972]

Why is it his responsability to send a message? He is an actor doing his job. It wasn’t Mark Wahlberg the Catholic starring in TED. He was playing a part!

 

[on_the_hill]

Right.

But isn’t there a point at which a person would/should/could say that a job goes beyond the boundaries of his beliefs?

People lead by example, whether it’s a good example or a bad example. Whether or not he wants or intends to send a message, that’s what he’s doing by default.

 

[po18guy]

He is a work in progress, like each one of us.

 

[Patti_M]

Right.

But isn’t there a point at which a person would/should/could say that a job goes beyond the boundaries of his beliefs?

People lead by example, whether it’s a good example or a bad example. Whether or not he wants or intends to send a message, that’s what he’s doing by default.

Oh, I like Marky Mark. I didn’t know he was Catholic. I always suspected it, don’t ask me how. So he must be doing something right if I was able to pick up on it. I think if he can be positive influence in some way, I’m willing to give him a little room.

 

[Deus_tecum]

I like the action movies he’s been in. I don’t care to see him in raunchy comedy. I first became aware of TED when visiting a young couple’s home where it was blaring on the TV from a bootleg DVD in spite of kids running around as young as 4 years old. The couple is one of those “They can watch what we watch” types. The premise of the movie was stupid, and the comedy low brow. That sort of stuff might be funny in a Southie bar, but its not for me.

 

[JulioCalifornia]

Maybe he is not a Catholic like you or like me. Even some other Catholics we know might not be practicing like you. I find it hard to look up to celebrities as role models. They to me are entertainers and I will choose whether or not to see a particular film they are in and not follow their lead in the way they proclaim to live their lives. But that’s me. What about you? Do you judge him based on his films or the fact that he proclaims to be a Catholic? A Catholic not like you?

 

[skyman1972]

So should “hollywood” find actors with bad morals to play characters with bad morals? (not that it would be that hard) If all movies were made only to give a good message then movies in general would be boring. I watch movies to escape for a while not to recharge my moral lackings. Oh and Ted made me and my Wife laugh out loud, should we now go to confession?

 

[The_Bucket]

He is a work in progress, like each one of us.

I’d go with this one. Most of his kids were born out of wedlock, though they were with the woman to whom he is married. His whole family is Catholic and he attends Mass frequently. He’s also burning off all the inappropriate or stupid tattoos that he has on his body for his kids.

So yeah, basically he’s a work in progress like the rest of us.

 

[mommamaree]

In my opinion, just because some of his characters do bad things or have bad morals, does not mean that he promotes such behavior or morality.

There can be movies that portray characters of pure motives and perfect behavior that are not advisable to watch. (I cannot handle watching the Passion of the Christ, for example, where Jesus is portrayed by another Catholic actor.)

An interesting thing to note is that Mark Wahlberg’s wife went through RCIA and converted to the faith, and they were able to be married in the Catholic Church.

 

[Pax2u]

He is a work in progress, like each one of us.

My thought also. It’s a journey…you get to different stages at different points. I don’t watch “action” movies and have never seen him in a film…but I admire that he is vocal about his faith in his private life.

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

If you google, “Mark Wahlberg goes to Church” It seems that the paparazzi stalk the poor man and his family.

My sister recently sent me a news article. He apparently stopped by for confession and had his son with him. And a picture of him leaving the Church.

What amused me incredibly were the comments.

The man had just been to confession yet someone commented that he had knee length shorts on and it was disgraceful.

The man had just gone to confession, and had his little son with him. What a great example for his son!

 

[Neofight]

I don’t get him. He gets positive recognition for being Catholic, supposedly attending daily Mass, raising his kids in the Church, etc.

But he also makes R rated movies full of violence and sex. (2 Guns, for instance.)

Not that he’s obligated to be a role model, but what kind of message is that sending?

What kind of message is he sending? I don’t know, but I’m guessing its no better or no worse than the message the rest of us are sending.

Does that make him a “bad Catholic”? It makes him a typical Catholic…especially if you remember the Church is not a luxury resort hotel for saints, but an Intensive Care Unit in a hospital for sinners!

 

[Lancer]

I understand your thought…but I don’t think it is a simple direct correlation/analogy (Catholic=Movie Rating/Story Contents=Professional Business Decision)…but I do think…each actor based on his/her faith and spiritual maturity…and conscience…has to “draw a line in the sand”…so to speak…and not cross it. But, that is between them in their conscience and God…we just can’t know nor should we judge…except to “vote with our eyes and pocket book”…and take responsibility for what we are responsible…our soul/salvation…and our children’s spiritual and cultural development.

They are all on the same Journey to God…just like us…all travelling in the “Valley of Tears”…its just that their journey is quite visible…and in their conscience…they must also take that fact into consideration. I don’t think they can ignore that…but should not be “saddled” as a “role model”…I believe that their pastor should help them to discern where the “line in the sand” really is for them.

Just for fun…look at who these actors portrayed…some incredibly infamous characters…in this life…and one who both in time and eternity…Satan.

The Passion of the Christ
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rosalinda Celentano as Satan

Luca Lionello as Judas Iscariot

Mattia Sbragia as** Caiaphas**

Hristo Shopov as Pontius Pilate

Luca De Dominicis as Herod Ántipas

Pietro Sarubbi as Barabbas

p.s.:
Budget $30 million
Box office $611,899,420 million…[Mark Wahlberg should have played someone in this movie. $$$$!].

Lastly, remember in the movie…the close up of the Roman soldier’s hand holding the nail in Christ’s palm…and that other hand/arm with the sledge hammer that so graphically hammered the first blow to drive that the first nail through Christ’s hand…that actor’s was the Producer and director…Mel Gibson. Many of us could have played that part…very well…especially me.

Pax Christi

 

[on_the_hill]

Nope. Sorry. Not changing my mind.

I’m not holding a grudge against Wahlberg, not hatin’ on him. Just posing the question: when so many people recognize that we are becoming increasingly morally bankrupt, and you have the opportunity to do your part to stanch the moral hemorrhage, particularly when people DO view you as a Catholic role model (which they do in MW’s case) should you not do your part?

 

[Deus_tecum]

I have something to add. If anyone thinks it is wrong to act in a movie with guns, then it is by the same logic wrong to watch a movie with guns. Let’s not worry about the mote in brother Wahlberg’s eye.

 

[Midwest88]

I think there’s a fine line. With the violence Mark plays an under cover agent, so guns are needed - violence and blood will ensue. As for sex in the movie, it’s implied, though the actress is the revealing her body in an objectifying way, not so much Mark. This is Hollywood exploiting females to this degree.

Although his film make him do things (eg shoot a guy, swear, beat someone up) I don’t think these things are looked on as “good” by the general public.

Out of all the roles he’s played, the closest thing that is the opposite to his usual role (guy w/ gun vs bad guys) is playing Mr. Salmon in Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones.

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

Not that he’s obligated to be a role model, but what kind of message is that sending?

I think he refused a role in *Brokeback Mountain *for moral reasons. That makes him a good role model in my eyes.

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

I have something to add. If anyone thinks it is wrong to act in a movie with guns, then it is by the same logic wrong to watch a movie with guns.

What about owning guns? Many Catholics in the US think this is perfectly acceptable and not a moral issue.

 

[trickster]

Wow, what happened to not judging Matthew 7? Sometimes it is the negative, the dark side of life, the mistakes that are the greatest teachers…what is wrong with an actor exploring, playing with and inter-acting with our disordered nature…? Creativity should not be stifled into a little box of values…or maybe values should be pulled out of our finite natures…who knows…I like the guy…even though I’m not much into gun movies…