Mom who watches "Desperate Housewives"

[vluvski]

AmberDale:

See that’s just it right there. If one is not convicted that that’s a sinful act watching that T.V. show, then is it really sinful? If you are convicted not to watch such shows, then don’t because it would be a sin for you. But if one is not convicted then is it still a sin?

It is a matter of forming your conscience properly. Your friend not dancing because it made him feel sinful is not wrong in itself… but it does indicate to me that his conscience is malformed. (Certainly, I’d rather have a person err on that side than the other… but that’s not my point.)

Sometimes a person with a malformed conscience will get ‘pangs’ of guilt even though objectively the activity does not register as sinful. For example, a young man I knew was taught that masturbation was OK, but slowly started feeling like it wasn’t even though no one told him so. Other times, people who ought to know better will try to gain support from others who have not properly informed their consciences in order to justify an act they know full well is sinful. I am guilty of this myself, and it pains me greatly.

The rule ‘do what feels right’ doesn’t always apply. We as Catholics believe in absolute truth. While not every issue is black and white to us, it is black and white to God who is all-knowing. Some of us have backgrounds that have enabled us to be in tune with this to varying degrees. That is why we have an obligation to correct people with what we know and believe to be the truth.

 

[auntieneeker]

Whew! It’s getting hot in here!!

**

GregoryPalamas:

My point is, don’t be so judgemental and holier-than-thou. I’m really tired of the pharisee-like attitudes I see on this thread.

:clapping:

It would be interesting to know how many have actually SEEN Desperate Housewives. It *appears *to me that those who are condemning it (besides those who are just condemning TV in general), are basing their judgement solely on the title of the show.

The interesting thing about Desperate Housewives (which I do enjoy watching) is that the show is mainly about perfect outward appearances and the sinful and/or desperate lives that lie beneath the pristine exterior image that they portray. If you actually saw the show, you would know that the “behind closed doors” actions are not at all condoned or encouraged. Quite the opposite is true.

Only God knows the secret places in our hearts. I doubt anyone here is perfect–I know I’m not. What we have to be careful of is putting on perfect outward appearances, like the Pharisees.

Monique

**

 

[aterrell]

vluvski:

The rule ‘do what feels right’ doesn’t always apply. We as Catholics believe in absolute truth. While not every issue is black and white to us, it is black and white to God who is all-knowing. Some of us have backgrounds that have enabled us to be in tune with this to varying degrees. That is why we have an obligation to correct people with what we know and believe to be the truth.

There is black and white, definitely! There is not Catholic “absolute truth” regarding tv shows. As you said, it is a matter of forming your consciense. YOUR OWN conscience. Not someone elses!!

 

[Cupofkindness]

Aterrell:

Would you say that someone intentionally viewing two people fornicating is a sin? Though that person isn’t involved with the sin of fornification, they sin, that is they damage their soul by viewing another person’s sinful behavior and finding it entertaining, even if it is fiction, the on-looker is separating himself from God by taking that behavior in vicariously. Such as it is with many prime time tv shows. Some television shows are harmful because what the viewer is watching is sinful actions that taint their soul. It’s a very subtle, complex thing, but over time it will weaken your resolve to value purity (it seeems to be happening to you already). The problem with these shows is there sexual content, overt or covert, and how it impacts the souls viewing these scenes is already well established. Desperate Housewives is not the same as I Love Lucy. And stating that one kind of entertainment is equal to another by virtue of the fact that it’s entertainment is a weak argument indeed. Historical programming does not have the same impact because matters of a sexual nature have such an essential role in the formation of our minds and hearts. Politics, sports, cooking shows, etc just don’t have the same effect.

Have you seen the movie “Therese?” Watch that incredible movie. Not only will you be entertained; taken out of yourself for two hours; but you will want to be holier after you see the movie. Now compare something like “Therese” with Desperate Housewives. Do you feel like saying a Rosary after you view that show? Not that all entertainment can be like “Therese” but if you set that kind of standard you’ll find that you’ll lose the taste for trashy shows.

Have you offered this matter up in prayer? I would encourage you to really pray about this and ask God how He wants you to spend your free time.

 

[kaymart]

I have posted earlier other then previews advertisments I’ve never seen Desperate housewives nor did I comment on that show because I honestly know nothing about it. As for Law and Order yes, its not a show children should watch, yes, its questionable, all “cop” shows are. I got hooked on Law and Order when the show about the “ripped from the headlines” teacher with the tape recorder (The real teacher was my youngest child’s teacher during a summer school program for the handicap preschoolers) so natrually interest was there. She also taught special ed in the middle school my daughter and sister attended (even though she was not their teacher) they knew her. So if I’m sinning I check with my Priest tomorrow, If it is, I will not watch Law and Order.

 

[Steph700]

Cupofkindness:

Aterrell:

Would you say that someone intentionally viewing two people fornicating is a sin? Though that person isn’t involved with the sin of fornification, they sin, that is they damage their soul by viewing another person’s sinful behavior and finding it entertaining, even if it is fiction, the on-looker is separating himself from God by taking that behavior in vicariously. Such as it is with many prime time tv shows. Some television shows are harmful because what the viewer is watching is sinful actions that taint their soul. It’s a very subtle, complex thing, but over time it will weaken your resolve to value purity (it seeems to be happening to you already). The problem with these shows is there sexual content, overt or covert, and how it impacts the souls viewing these scenes is already well established. Desperate Housewives is not the same as I Love Lucy. And stating that one kind of entertainment is equal to another by virtue of the fact that it’s entertainment is a weak argument indeed. Historical programming does not have the same impact because matters of a sexual nature have such an essential role in the formation of our minds and hearts. Politics, sports, cooking shows, etc just don’t have the same effect.

Have you seen the movie “Therese?” Watch that incredible movie. Not only will you be entertained; taken out of yourself for two hours; but you will want to be holier after you see the movie. Now compare something like “Therese” with Desperate Housewives. Do you feel like saying a Rosary after you view that show? Not that all entertainment can be like “Therese” but if you set that kind of standard you’ll find that you’ll lose the taste for trashy shows.

Have you offered this matter up in prayer? I would encourage you to really pray about this and ask God how He wants you to spend your free time.

I’m curious. Which episodes of Deperate Housewives have you watched?

Oh yes. I Love Lucy. She never lied to her husband or manipulated him, did she? Well I guess I am really in trouble in my marriage down the road some day b/c as I child I watched almost every episode of that sitcom. I guess I am destined to become as manipulative as Lucy.

Sarcasm aside, are you saying that viewing any sort of sin on TV makes us guilty of that sin? What about watching historical war movies? Is it ok to watch violent acts but not ok to watch people who sin in other areas of their lives? I would be hard pressed to think of any tv show, movie, book, or opera in which all the characters were models of virtue. Is that the point of art? To show us what is perfect? Or do art and entertainment exist for us to enjoy them and then process them… to make us think and evaluate life. To make us appreciate relationships and to learn from other people’s mistakes and stories of woe. Or to let us dream a little bit about what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes for a day.

 

[aterrell]

Steph700:

I’m curious. Which episodes of Deperate Housewives have you watched?
Is that the point of art? To show us what is perfect? Or do art and entertainment exist for us to enjoy them and then process them… to make us think and evaluate life. To make us appreciate relationships and to learn from other people’s mistakes and stories of woe. Or to let us dream a little bit about what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes for a day.

Steph-- I love this!! Good point. Thank you.

As to everyone else, CupofKINDNESS or whatever… we obviously disagree and are not going to agree on this matter. Thanks for your opinions… by the way, no Desperate Housewives is not weakening my resolve for purity! Thanks for the concern though. It surely is easy to notice everyone else’s faults and forget about our own, isn’t it?? Also a good thing to be offered up in prayer… Think about it.

 

[Brad]

AmberDale:

Don’t know how to separate the quotes…Silly me.

I agree that being a saint is acheivable, if one is willing to make the sacrifices. Never said it wasn’t.
I never said that this particular show was even close to ‘good’ entertainment.
I guess I’m standing up for this people because I know what it’s like to try your hardest to do what you believe is right. Then in marches people who are telling you that you’re sinning for such things as watching T.V. (again I’ll need to start a new thread)
I’ve never seen this show, so I don’t know what it’s like.
Now pornography I have seen, when I was a teenager before my conversion. That definately is evil. And icky. I don’t recommend it to anyone.

You should see some of the show before jumping in. How do you know what is being watched doesn’t cross the line? I think it does.

 

[Brad]

Steph700:

Actually, yes they are judgemental attitudes. As I stated before, there is a lot of gray area in life… area where we as individuals have to make choices about how we spend our time, what we allow into our lives, what is ok and what isn’t. When I hear people on these forums spouting off black and white blanket statements such as “R-rated movies should never be watched” or “All primetime viewing options are bad” it reminds me so much of fundamentalist protestant America. It’s incredible.

Some fundamentalists have good points sometimes. They take the Bible seriously. That is a good thing.

Steph700:

Let me ask you something. Have you ever watched a TV program? Have you ever read a novel? Have you ever seen an opera?

Yep. If it has gratuitous and frivolous sex and/or violence, I stay away from them though. I’m not saying all characters have to be moral. I’m saying I don’t need to explicitly be exposed to their immorality.

Steph700:

If it causes you to sin, then by all means stay away from it. If you can appreciate it as an art form or as a piece of entertainment, then great. What is sin for one is not sin for another. A show can have adult themes (such as Gladiator) that I would not want a small child to watch. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t ok for an adult to view it. An adult can decide what is reality and what isn’t… it’s just a movie and an adult knows that (even though some of the events are in fact true!)… a young child may not.

Nudity, pornography, foul language, and some violence on TV is real smut mixed into a fantasy story. Simply because you are watching fantasy doesn’t mean that everything should go. The best written movies and shows were those where writers could not rely on frivilous high appeal and had to entertain using the characters themseves, not their bodies or their shocking language.

Steph700:

Sex & the City is one of the best written shows out there.

You many be right. A sad state of affairs - no pun inteneded.

Steph700:

If there are families on this forum who do not want their kids to watch it, I totally understand- it is an adult show with adult themes.

I love my family. I don’t want to have to separate myselves from them for adult fantasy of which I would corrupt or embarrass them by watching with them.

Steph700:

However, I am able to appreciate it as entertainment and it has provided endless hours of convo between me and my friends about all kinds of relationship issues- from boyfriend relationships, husband relationships, and girl- friend relationships that very few shows cover.

If you like that sort of discussion, fine. Or you could just say “don’t do what they do in the show”.

Steph700:

I’m sorry, but I’d much rather watch this and be interested than watch “Everybody Loves Raymond” and be bored out of my mind. To each his own, I’m sure there are plenty of Raymond fans here too.

Most of these shows are boring. I don’t watch them either. I agree. Choices are limited.

Steph700:

My point is, don’t be so judgemental and holier-than-thou. I’m really tired of the pharisee-like attitudes I see on this thread.

Being judgemental is often a good thing, sometimes keeps you out of trouble, sometimes saves a life.

The Pharisees didn’t truly care about others. Their hearts were not turned towards God. They were interested in looking better.
I don’t gain any points for suggesting that bad TV isn’t worth watching so I’d be careful in judging ulterior motives.

 

[Brad]

AmberDale:

So if watching Desparate Housewives makes you feel sinful, DON’T WATCH!!

Can you say the same thing replacing “Desparate Housewives” with “pornography” or “pay per view ultimate fighting”?

 

[auntieneeker]

Oops!

My point is, don’t be so judgemental and holier-than-thou. I’m really tired of the pharisee-like attitudes I see on this thread.

This was originally posted by Steph700, not GregoryPalamas. Sorry!

 

[Brad]

aterrell:

OK all good and fine to call sin “sin”. I agree. It is fine to tell someone who is cohabiting that what they are doing is a sin (lovingly PLEASE). But it is NOT ok to tell someone that watching their choice of a tv show is a sin!!! Viewing the show itself is NOT a sin!! If you are watching it and sinning in some way as a result, by all means, go to confession and stop watching it!! Desperate Housewives is no worse than CSI or Law and Order (since these are the other 2 shows mentioned).

Who said these shows are so great? Not me.

aterrell:

And BRAD with your historical violence— I know your type!!

No you don’t.

aterrell:

I know people who enjoy sci-fi and watch the show “Alias” but condemn people who watch Desperate Housewives.

I’ve never seen the show. I don’t watch the sci-fi channel. I have very basic cable. C-SPAN, EWTN, some limited sports(skipping the commericals), and very selectively, PBS.

aterrell:

If your thing is history and that is what you entertain yourself with, fine. You are no better than someone who entertains themself with fictional shows!! Please don’t put yourself on a high horse by saying that watching this stuff “keeps history from repeating itself”, etc… Like you are doing some service to mankind by watching something that has to do with history! It’s what you ENJOY. You are ENTERTAINING yourself!

What I said was historical violence shouldn’t be watched by children. I did not say one should immerse oneself in it. I said it was acceptable to watch in some circumstances because it actually happened and it provides us with an understanding of evil, which is quite important. If we hide under rocks from real and true evil then we start coming up with nonsense such as Saddam should still be in power. Reality always wins over fantasy.

 

[Brad]

auntieneeker:

Whew! It’s getting hot in here!!

It would be interesting to know how many have actually SEEN Desperate Housewives. It *appears *to me that those who are condemning it (besides those who are just condemning TV in general), are basing their judgement solely on the title of the show.

The title is demeaning enough but I have seen snippets of the show. Each and every one was bad watching.

auntieneeker:

The interesting thing about Desperate Housewives (which I do enjoy watching) is that the show is mainly about perfect outward appearances and the sinful and/or desperate lives that lie beneath the pristine exterior image that they portray. If you actually saw the show, you would know that the “behind closed doors” actions are not at all condoned or encouraged. Quite the opposite is true.

The message that is being sent is that the housewife role is not realistic(certainly not the happy housewife - she must be miserable and longing to live out some fantasy) That is yet another attack by Hollywood on the traditional family.

auntieneeker:

Only God knows the secret places in our hearts. I doubt anyone here is perfect–I know I’m not. What we have to be careful of is putting on perfect outward appearances, like the Pharisees.

Monique

Noone on this thread has made a claim of perfection that I have seen. I guess Jesus was being like the Pharisees when He said not to commit adultery. And St. Paul, likewise when he said no fornication.

 

[Brad]

Steph700:

I’m curious. Which episodes of Deperate Housewives have you watched?

Oh yes. I Love Lucy. She never lied to her husband or manipulated him, did she? Well I guess I am really in trouble in my marriage down the road some day b/c as I child I watched almost every episode of that sitcom. I guess I am destined to become as manipulative as Lucy.

Sarcasm aside, are you saying that viewing any sort of sin on TV makes us guilty of that sin? What about watching historical war movies? Is it ok to watch violent acts but not ok to watch people who sin in other areas of their lives? I would be hard pressed to think of any tv show, movie, book, or opera in which all the characters were models of virtue. Is that the point of art? To show us what is perfect? Or do art and entertainment exist for us to enjoy them and then process them… to make us think and evaluate life. To make us appreciate relationships and to learn from other people’s mistakes and stories of woe. Or to let us dream a little bit about what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes for a day.

Art and entertainment are for us to get closer to God. Everything is. They are for us to appreciate beauty. They are not for us to fantasize about our base desires or to say “whew, I’m glad I’m not as bad as them.”

 

[aterrell]

Okey dokey everyone… I’m outta here… This thread is totally out of control and could go on for pages and pages like this.

Alot of strong opinions here. Alot of good points. Hopefully we can take the good points and leave the sinful attitudes behind. God bless you all. I think everything has been said in every way possible by now! I won’t be surprised if I check back and see many more pages though!

Maybe we could talk about Harry Potter instead… Oh, the arguments would be the same…

 

[GregoryPalamas]

AmberDale:

See that’s just it right there. If one is not convicted that that’s a sinful act watching that T.V. show, then is it really sinful? If you are convicted not to watch such shows, then don’t because it would be a sin for you. But if one is not convicted then is it still a sin?
That’s hard to say.
I’ll use this example: When I was a protestant, I had a friend (he was a boy, but not a boyfriend) who was convicted of dancing. He was not permitted to go to dances or dance in anyway, because he believed for him it was a sin.
Yet in the bible (can’t think of the book) it says there is a time to dance, a time to laugh, a time to cry
But since dancing made him feel sinful, he didn’t dance.

So if watching Desparate Housewives makes you feel sinful, DON’T WATCH!!

It isn’t about feelings. Find out what is right and do it. Don’t behave like some Protestant who only operates out of feelings. Be a full blown Christian. Do what is right then reap the benefits. Do what is right because you love our Lord. Don’t pander to your passions or to your feelings. Do what is right.

Dan L

 

[GregoryPalamas]

aterrell:

OK all good and fine to call sin “sin”. I agree. It is fine to tell someone who is cohabiting that what they are doing is a sin (lovingly PLEASE). But it is NOT ok to tell someone that watching their choice of a tv show is a sin!!! Viewing the show itself is NOT a sin!! If you are watching it and sinning in some way as a result, by all means, go to confession and stop watching it!! Desperate Housewives is no worse than CSI or Law and Order (since these are the other 2 shows mentioned). And BRAD with your historical violence— I know your type!! I know people who enjoy sci-fi and watch the show “Alias” but condemn people who watch Desperate Housewives. If your thing is history and that is what you entertain yourself with, fine. You are no better than someone who entertains themself with fictional shows!! Please don’t put yourself on a high horse by saying that watching this stuff “keeps history from repeating itself”, etc… Like you are doing some service to mankind by watching something that has to do with history! It’s what you ENJOY. You are ENTERTAINING yourself!

It is simply not true that corrupting ones mind is not a sin. I’m really in shock. I came to Catholicism to seek holiness. I understand that we are all growing in that. I don’t understand a stubborn defense of watching shows that we would not happily share with Jesus Christ. This does not make sense.

Dan L

 

[aterrell]

GregoryPalamas:

It is simply not true that corrupting ones mind is not a sin. I’m really in shock. I came to Catholicism to seek holiness. I understand that we are all growing in that. I don’t understand a stubborn defense of watching shows that we would not happily share with Jesus Christ. This does not make sense.

Dan L

Ok one more thing, THEN i’m done! ha! but you quoted me here… So I’m responding…Corrupting ones mind IS a sin. The difference in opinion here is what corrupts the mind. You have a choice. Don’t ALLOW your mind to be corrupted.

 

[GregoryPalamas]

I wonder if a thread were started on holiness if many would post. “Follow peace with all and holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” I suppose it would be criticized for being pharisaical. Which of course would be a missapplication unless our Lord busily condemned only those who were going to see the Lord.

At any rate “How might we follow peace and holiness?”

Dan L

 

[Cupofkindness]

Google on “Desperate Housewives” script and read verbatum copies of the scripts for yourself. I cannot even provide a link due to the content of the scripts vis a vis CA’s policy on sexual material. Perhaps seeing the words in print would help you see more clearly the offensive content of this particular program.