Morrissey

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godfreyjones

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So as a catholic is it alright to listen to Morrissey or The Smiths. I’m really not sure if I should be.
 
dont know how to edit my post as i am new to this forum so i thought i’d just add a reply to make my question more understandable. For those who don’t know Morrissey is a singer/songwriter who has albums both on his own and with his band The Smiths. He is openly gay which is why I am wondering if as a Catholic I should listen to his music. I guess what I’m asking is how do you differentiate the sin from the sinner for instance if Morrissey’s music is deemed immoral because of his homosexuality then by the same line of thinking shouldn’t the works of Hemmingway (suicide) as well as the Beatles (drugs) be seen the same way. At anyrate I think the Smiths’ song “There is a Light and it Never Goes Out” is one of the most beautiful songs ever written but is listening to it wrong?
 
I don’t see any reason why not; The Smiths is therapeutic in a way. Their songs have a touch of irony. Many of their songs deal with depression, or with life’s quirks, failed relationships, etc. Anyone who’s listened to The Smiths will agree with me.
 
I’ve heard “Girlfriend in a Coma” has homosexual undertones, but I don’t know about their other songs.
 
I like the Smiths. But I’m 180 degrees in my views of life, religion and politics reversed from them.I like the music not necesarily the lyrics or the message.

But I guess I’m hypocritical because I would say that some Heavy Metal and Rap should be banned based on the lyrics and the music.

I think in todays world you can take what the culture offers and try to sift out the good. But for example in some rap and some heavy metal I dont think there’s any good to be sifted out.

The problem is when youths, who dont have the scope or the perspective that adults have take the whole thing (the music, the lyrics the persalities etc.) and idolize it.
 
Franciscan said:
I think in todays world you can take what the culture offers and try to sift out the good. But for example in some rap and some heavy metal I dont think there’s any good to be sifted out.

The problem is when youths, who dont have the scope or the perspective that adults have take the whole thing (the music, the lyrics the persalities etc.) and idolize it.
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I agree with both of these points. I think as long as you can clearly differentiate the right and the wrong in the content, it will not be harmful – though sometimes there can be very very subtle nuances that may cloud one’s perspective and one should always be on guard with everything really.

As far as the Smiths go, I was a teenager and in early college when I listened to them. Their music is great, love Johnny Marr on guitar–though for me personally sometimes Morrissey’s voice is a little over-done and overly sentimental but it fits well with what they are trying to convey. For me, I knew I was not gay and listening to Morrissey sing was not endangering me in any way to “go to the other side” or whatever so I would not see it as a sin in itself or occasion of sin. But it is different for each individual depending on their self-knowledge.

At least I hope that is all the case. If I am wrong, I hope God understands and forgives me.
 
I think Morrissey himself said that he was “celibate”–at least that’s his claim when The Smiths was still around. No one was sure what exactly he means by that, though I would think that he didn’t have any actual relations with anyone around that time. Haven’t followed Morrissey’s career right after The Smiths, so what happened after that, I have no clue.
 
Hes a manic depressive isnt he. Some of his stuff is good all the same.
 
But isn’t listening to non-worship music sinful? Isn’t it ‘worldy’?
 
godfreyjones said:
dont know how to edit my post as i am new to this forum so i thought i’d just add a reply to make my question more understandable. For those who don’t know Morrissey is a singer/songwriter who has albums both on his own and with his band The Smiths. He is openly gay which is why I am wondering if as a Catholic I should listen to his music. I guess what I’m asking is how do you differentiate the sin from the sinner for instance if Morrissey’s music is deemed immoral because of his homosexuality then by the same line of thinking shouldn’t the works of Hemmingway (suicide) as well as the Beatles (drugs) be seen the same way. At anyrate I think the Smiths’ song “There is a Light and it Never Goes Out” is one of the most beautiful songs ever written but is listening to it wrong?
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Morrissey is openly gay? I thought he declared he was asexual.

I’ve always been a big fan of Morriesey, or better yet the Smiths. I would have to say no - listening to it is not wrong.
 
cynic said:
But isn’t listening to non-worship music sinful? Isn’t it ‘worldy’?
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cynic: I see your posts live up to your moniker. I think you know your statement is ridiculous. The Church is probably one of the greatest patrons of the arts in all of history.:cool:
 
The Smiths music tends to wallow in emotions that are ‘un-christian’ and self indulgent.
 
cynic said:
The Smiths music tends to wallow in emotions that are ‘un-christian’ and self indulgent.
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Sometimes you’ve got to just wallow so you can get over it. Nothing wrong with that. I am human…
 
godfreyjones said:
. For those who don’t know Morrissey is a singer/songwriter who has albums both on his own and with his band The Smiths. He is openly gay which is why I am wondering if as a Catholic I should listen to his music. I guess what I’m asking is how do you differentiate the sin from the sinner for instance if Morrissey’s music is deemed immoral because of his homosexuality then by the same line of thinking shouldn’t the works of Hemmingway (suicide) as well as the Beatles (drugs) be seen the same way.
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Remind me, if you could, of the name of any artist who managed to get through life sinless. We’re all flawed or sinful in some way…so why not focus on the gifts and talents we can share instead of faults. If an artist is using his talent to promote or glorify something base–that might be a good reason to look around for other alternatives, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here.
 
dulcissima said:
Sometimes you’ve got to just wallow so you can get over it. Nothing wrong with that. I am human…
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…melancholy, longing (lust?), despair, heartache etc… isn’t it all self-love? aren’t you supposed to reject such emotions and be outward-looking?
 
I love The Smiths, and a couple of Moz solo tracks. He definitely disagrees with Catholicism, but no one is perfect.
 
cynic said:
…melancholy, longing (lust?), despair, heartache etc… isn’t it all self-love? aren’t you supposed to reject such emotions and be outward-looking?
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The Pope listens to and plays Mozart – there is melancholy, longing, despair and heartache in Mozart’s music too.

I understand your point, but I disagree.

You could also argue “Blessed are they who mourn…”
 
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