Hi, just “tried” to watch “The Departed” and was shocked at the foul language of the film. I was totally turned off by listening to that language every few seconds. I had to scan the film and get to the ending. What a disappointment. I am totally confused why the USCCB would rate that movie with an L (limited) instead of O. There are many O rated films that I enjoy and am not watching them because of the O rating which was given many years ago. I believe they should re-rate some of the older movies like Pet Semetary, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Omen with Gregory Peck, Child’s Play; I have them in my collection and don’t watch them due to the O rating. I feel they are totally harmless and fun to watch, whereas the Departed was worthy of an O rating. Do you watch horror movies rated O? I find them fun and harmless but avoid them. Do you confess it if you intentionally watch an O rated film? maryann
I think it’s important to keep in mind that the USCCB movie ratings are NOT infallible proclamations of the universal Church as to the morality of watching a particular movie. Since it’s on the USCCB website, it can have the appearance of somehow being the US bishops’ “official” position on a given movie. This is not the case.
The USCCB is somewhat analogous to a diocesan chancery. The bishop (or in this case bishops) is the head, but there are many different offices that are there to help him in his work. Some of these are run by priests. Many are run by lay people or religious sisters. The USCCB is no different.
In this case, the particular office that publishes movie reviews is the
Office for Film and Broadcasting (OFB). While there is probably a bishop that is connected with the office, it is probable that the day to day office activities are
not handled directly by a bishop but by the office staff. This includes the movie reviews.
Bishops are busy people and Hollywood is prolific. If the OFB had to wait for a bishop’s approval before every movie review, they likely would not publish very many of them.
So, while their movie reviews can be helpful, they are very far from being infallible statements of the Church. I don’t think that the Church would ever come out and say “It is a sin to watch (fill in the blank) movie or TV show”. A lot of it depends upon the person. Of course, that doesn’t mean it would be prudent to watch anything and everything indiscriminately. And there always is the possibility of scandal (“Hey, she watches that movie all the time so it MUST be okay!”).
You’ll probably have to sort through that on your own (and perhaps with a good spiritual director!)
).