Should we bring back the Legion of Decency?

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Ad_Orientem

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In my opinion, we should. It served a useful purpose. Then it turned into movie reviews/synopses. Then it was done away with. More than ever, with all the garbage movies and near occasions of mortal sin, if we are to watch films at all, we need a reliable warning system. Something like Kids in Mind, but Catholic.

Even if the Legion wouldn’t have the power today which it once had over the film industry, it would still be helpful for Catholics discerning what to watch. I usually end up checking the “parental guide” on IMDb (due to their covering more films than Kids in Mind), but those reviews can be written by just about anyone, and aren’t always accurate.

What do you think?
 
Well, I hear what you’re saying, but since you asked…😉
I think if parents and others can’t discern if a movie is appropriate or not based on the secular reviews, story line, and producer’s record…then that ship has sailed.
Unless they want to be able to blame the church for why they won’t allow their kids to see something.
Seems like it would make things even worse, if that can even be fathomed.
My 2 cents…
Peace.
 
pianistclare said:
Well, I hear what you’re saying, but since you asked…😉
I think if parents and others can’t discern if a movie is appropriate or not based on the secular reviews, story line, and producer’s record…then that ship has sailed.
Unless they want to be able to blame the church for why they won’t allow their kids to see something.
Seems like it would make things even worse, if that can even be fathomed.
My 2 cents…
Peace.
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I agree, I know if a movie is going to make me uncomfortable or not just eing reading the plot summary usually
 
I’m inclined to think that such an idea would not bear the fruit we hope it would.

If such an effort were attempted, the person at the helm would have to have the appeal of Pope Francis in order to get away with what the larger culture would probably label as “Catholic censorship.”
 
What would a revived Legion of Decency tell us that a combination of the current G, PG, PG-13, R, and X rating system, plus all the publicly-available information on the Internet, not tell us already?
 
Tarpeian_Rock said:
What would a revived Legion of Decency tell us that a combination of the current G, PG, PG-13, R, and X rating system, plus all the publicly-available information on the Internet, not tell us already?
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It wouldn’t really tell us anything new. The old Legion of Decency was able to have a remarkable effect in Hollywood, because if it rated movie as “Condemned,” that movie would pretty much be guaranteed to bomb at the box office. Catholics paid attention to the ratings. I’m not sure that they do anymore. Considering the TV that we watch, do we even care about the moral content of film?
 
ArchAngeles said:
Try this link: catholicnews.com/movies.htm
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Thanks for this. Unfortunately, the former Office for Film and Broadcasting and now Catholic News Service has not demonstrated the same high standards which the NLD once had.
Tarpeian_Rock said:
What would a revived Legion of Decency tell us that a combination of the current … rating system, plus all the … information on the Internet, not tell us already?
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Maybe not much, but it would have (in theory) more consistent and reliable information on what is offensive to faith and morals.
 
crumblymunky said:
Theocracy.
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Joe_5859 said:
If such an effort were attempted, the person at the helm would have to have the appeal of Pope Francis in order to get away with what the larger culture would probably label as “Catholic censorship.”
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Put these two together and you’ll get my response plus the fact I have enough reasons to put my faith in the back seat as it is without this Legion.

Definitely better. More neutral. Let’s people exercise the good 'ol right to discernment. 👍
 
Never heard of the Legion of Decency before this! Wow, learn something new everyday.

As a parent (and as someone who went to the movies about once a year before I had a child), I the Focus on the Family website – Plugged-In online movie reviews. Their reviews are extremely thorough and have given me enough information to choose which movies we see and which ones we don’t.

They actually panned the first Smurfs movie, but their review gave me enough info to know that it was just fine for my son and me to see. It’s their attention to detail (spiritual content, foul language, violence, etc.) that makes them my go-to website of choice.

God bless.

Gertie
 
Ad_Orientem said:
Maybe not much, but it would have (in theory) more consistent and reliable information on what is offensive to faith and morals.
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If you haven’t looked at DecentFilms.com, you might want to. It is written by Stephen Greydanus, who is the film reviewer for the National Catholic Register. He is also a frequent guest on a number of Catholic radio shows, including Catholic Answers Live.

decentfilms.com/
 
JimG said:
It wouldn’t really tell us anything new. The old Legion of Decency was able to have a remarkable effect in Hollywood, because if it rated movie as “Condemned,” that movie would pretty much be guaranteed to bomb at the box office. Catholics paid attention to the ratings. I’m not sure that they do anymore. Considering the TV that we watch, do we even care about the moral content of film?
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Right. I don’t see people paying a whole lot of attention to a movie “condemnation” nowadays. In fact, I’d venture to guess that it would only increase a film’s visibility. I bet the people in Hollywood would love the Catholic Church to “condemn” their movie now. That would garner loads of free publicity and public interest.

I have no problem with the current approach. CNS does give ratings that let you know if a movie is morally offensive. When you put that together with reviewers like Steve Greydanus or Focus on the Family and plot summaries that are readily available on IMDB or Wikipedia, you can pretty much find out anything you want about a movie before seeing it and making the decision yourself.
 
Ad_Orientem said:
In my opinion, we should. It served a useful purpose. Then it turned into movie reviews/synopses. Then it was done away with. More than ever, with all the garbage movies and near occasions of mortal sin, if we are to watch films at all, we need a reliable warning system. Something like Kids in Mind, but Catholic.

Even if the Legion wouldn’t have the power today which it once had over the film industry, it would still be helpful for Catholics discerning what to watch. I usually end up checking the “parental guide” on IMDb (due to their covering more films than Kids in Mind), but those reviews can be written by just about anyone, and aren’t always accurate.

What do you think?
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The Church tried to engage the relatively young Motion Picture Industry in a dialogue. It pointed out the influence of the motion picture, and while welcoming the positive aspects and its potential for good, it also pointed out the consequences of its negative influences and potential for harm. Movie company executives admitted they did have certain responsibilities to the public and made certain promises, but they did not act on them. The Legion was formed not for power over Hollywood but for guidance and good counsel regarding movies, which it rated on a case by case basis.

Soon, Protestants and others began doing what they could.

amazon.com/Reforming-Hollywood-American-Protestants-Freedom/dp/0195387848

But it was the Legion of Decency that led the way.

amazon.com/The-Cross-Cinema-National-1933-1970/dp/0275941930

Here is an encyclical that is just as true today as when it was written.

vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xi_enc_29061936_vigilanti-cura_en.html

I am not sure why it ended but I see it as no coincidence that it did when Hollywood began to add more bad to movies and TV shows starting in the 1970s, which gradually poisoned hearts and minds as the decades passed. Standards are needed.

The dissidents inside and outside the Church during that “golden age of dissent” did their best to turn Catholic teaching into a cafeteria. The cafeteria needs to close. Pope Benedict, in fact, declared it closed during his Papacy.

Peace,
Ed
 
Joe_5859 said:
Right. I don’t see people paying a whole lot of attention to a movie “condemnation” nowadays. In fact, I’d venture to guess that it would only increase a film’s visibility. I bet the people in Hollywood would love the Catholic Church to “condemn” their movie now. That would garner loads of free publicity and public interest.
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This reminds me of an episode of Fr. Ted…“The Passion of Saint Tibulus”.
The Bishop sent the two priests out to protest the movie and they chained themselves to the railing out front. Which caused every parishioner to run out and buy a ticket! They said
"what kinds of bad things are portrayed in the movie Father? “Oh terrible stuff, they leave little to the imagination, heretical stuff!” People rush in to the theater.
Then Father Ted says "It just goes to show you Dougal…nobody takes a blind bit of notice what the Church says about anything…and the proprietor says “This is extraordinary. This is the most successful film since Jurassic Park! Thank’s for protesting Father!”
The next scenes shows the parishioners scurrying in to get a seat. Funny, but so true.
Check it on YouTube.
 
pianistclare said:
This reminds me of an episode of Fr. Ted…“The Passion of Saint Tibulus”.
The Bishop sent the two priests out to protest the movie and they chained themselves to the railing out front. Which caused every parishioner to run out and buy a ticket! They said
"what kinds of bad things are portrayed in the movie Father? “Oh terrible stuff, they leave little to the imagination, heretical stuff!” People rush in to the theater.
Then Father Ted says "It just goes to show you Dougal…nobody takes a blind bit of notice what the Church says about anything…and the proprietor says “This is extraordinary. This is the most successful film since Jurassic Park! Thank’s for protesting Father!”
The next scenes shows the parishioners scurrying in to get a seat. Funny, but so true.
Check it on YouTube.
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😃 Thanks for that. Yes, funny and sadly true. I think the wider culture is more fixated on what the Church is against rather than on what the Church is for.
 
Lost_Wanderer said:
Put these two together and you’ll get my response plus the fact I have enough reasons to put my faith in the back seat as it is without this Legion.

Definitely better. More neutral. Let’s people exercise the good 'ol right to discernment. 👍
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well, i gotta admit that it is good, but sites like the Bishops movie reviews are good if you are planning to go with kids and such, i know it is best to educate them, but there are times where you would like to see before what can you face, besides they helped me with some scrupulous toughts, and they offer good reviews of the overall quality of the film.
 
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