Videos at CCD

[3boys]

Please give me your (name removed by moderator)ut… Two of my sons are in the High School CCD program at my church. Last week they showed the movie Constantine (rated R) before this they watched The Exorcism of Emily Rose and in the near future they plan on showing the Divinci Code. They do not notify the parents for approval or tell us before hand what movies will be viewed. (The reason I know about Divinci code is because the boys told me the teacher said that was next)

I let the Exorcism of Emily Rose pass because first of all I didn’t know it was going to be shown and when I found out the boys had already watched it. I thought it was poor judgment, but I didn’t think they would continue to show these types of movies…boy was I wrong!

I asked my sons if the teacher talks about the movies afterwards and they said “not really” I asked if they pointed out how Hollywood and the Bible differ and got the same answer.

So what would you do if your CCD program showed these types of movies? Do you think I’m wrong for feeling these are not appropriate for church?

 

[netmilsmom]

Please give me your (name removed by moderator)ut… Two of my sons are in the High School CCD program at my church. Last week they showed the movie Constantine (rated R) before this they watched The Exorcism of Emily Rose and in the near future they plan on showing the Divinci Code. They do not notify the parents for approval or tell us before hand what movies will be viewed. (The reason I know about Divinci code is because the boys told me the teacher said that was next)

I let the Exorcism of Emily Rose pass because first of all I didn’t know it was going to be shown and when I found out the boys had already watched it. I thought it was poor judgment, but I didn’t think they would continue to show these types of movies…boy was I wrong!

I asked my sons if the teacher talks about the movies afterwards and they said “not really” I asked if they pointed out how Hollywood and the Bible differ and got the same answer.

So what would you do if your CCD program showed these types of movies? Do you think I’m wrong for feeling these are not appropriate for church?

Any R rated movie needs parental approval.
Without discussion, I feel, none of them are appropriate.
Are you paying for this?

 

[puzzleannie]

I am unable to imagine a scenario in which Constantine could be used to impart a religious lesson.

we do use videos with HS kids sometimes. If it is a complete movie it is in a youth group setting, we have pizza and a movie nights, and parents have advance notice of the movie and why it was selected. Simon Birch, Napoleon dynamite, Remember the Titans, the movie with the marching bands competing (many of our kids are in band), Life is Beautiful, are some recent ones. also Passion of the Christ – no pizza that night. They are shown with an intro, and discussion follows on a theme from the movie. Not overtly catechetical, but as conversation starters.

If we use secular videos in the classrom, it is only clips, to introduce or illustrate the theme of a lesson. Usually that is biblical–7th graders see the whole Jesus movie over the course of the year, but sometimes a clip 5-7 minutes from a popular movie that poses a question or makes a point. That is done rarely, so it does not lose its effect and become boring.

for instance one teacher used one scene in Emily Rose as a start to a discussion on the devil and action of demons, to get questions going as a lead-in to church teaching on the topic.

It is very ineffective in a catechetical (or classroom) setting in general to show a whole movie as a lesson. it indicates, just as it did in our school classes, a lazy unprepared teacher.

 

[netmilsmom]

We do use videos with HS kids sometimes. If it is a complete movie it is in a youth group setting, we have pizza and a movie nights, and parents have advance notice of the movie and why it was selected. Simon Birch, Napoleon dynamite, Remember the Titans, the movie with the marching bands competing (many of our kids are in band), Life is Beautiful, are some recent ones. also Passion of the Christ – no pizza that night. They are shown with an intro, and discussion follows on a theme from the movie. Not overtly catechetical, but as conversation starters.

Yup. This is exactly what I would be very pleased with if my kids were in High School CCD.
Good Job! Sounds like you have it all together.

I like that the parent’s are told in advance.

My older daughter freaks at tension in movies. I could imagine her coming home with nightmares from some flick. I would have to view them in advance (or in the case of “The Passion” watch it with her at home). Sounds like the OP’s program is just showing movies to fill time

 

[puzzleannie]

just want to make the distinction between 3 things that may be going on with your youth. CCD - formal classroom instruction in the doctrines and practice of the Catholic Church. Confirmation preparation, separate sessions, usually involving parents and sponsors along with candidates, which focus specifically on the sacrament and the Holy Spirit.

Youth Group, which is whatever the kids and their leaders decide it should be, usually has components of social, entertainment, music, community-building, some service and sports. The best youth groups are those that arise out of something the kids want to do, and model ways to become involved in the larger life and mission of the Church, and model community-building.

A 4th dimension, the one missing in most parishes, is actual youth ministry, pastoral care for the needs of youth, especially youth in crisis. The other 3 are not about that and do not address those needs. Showing movies with no context, discussion or underlying reason does not further the goals of any of these activities.

 

[3boys]

Thanks for all your responses! I called our pastor and he was not available today so I spoke to the Religious Education Director. She didn’t know about any of the movies being showed in the CCD class. She too felt they were not appropriate for teenagers. She did tell me that the person who is teaching the High School class is a temporary volunteer and she has been looking for someone to fill the position. She gave this person a six week curriculum to follow then gave him the rains to continue like the such…which is understandable. Guess he made need a little more guidance, but I’m thankful that people volunteer their time.

The Director requested to see the movie Constantine because she didn’t know anything about it. (I gave her my copy) She said she would get back to me after viewing it. I did mention to her that my children will not be present if the CCD class saw the Divinci Code and she said she could assure me they will not be viewing it!

I talked to the Director about the sad shape our youth program is in. They don’t really do much to involve the kids. I know they are having a problem finding a youth leader but there kids are board to death with the program. Even my own kids want to go to some of their friends churches because the youth groups are so AWSOME. She mentioned that Father is more worried about our parking problem then the youth right now, I told her “there won’t be a parking problem if the youth leave the church”. I don’t think the church needs to become a circus for our children but we could be doing more with them. Then I told her I would volunteer for the job! I think she thought I was kidding!

Answering some of your questions:

1)There is a small fee for CCD in the beginning of the year. $40.00 per student if I remember right.

2)I am talking CCD class (Wednesday nights) not the youth group. At this time we don’t have a youth group, they are looking for a leader. We did have a youth group last year that met on Sunday nights.

3)Confirmation preparation classes are for eight graders. My children are in High School (9th-12th grades)

Thanks so much for your responces…I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t going over board on this one. I never speak up on most things, but I’m glad I did this time.