Dear Brooklyn,
You have it the hammer on the nail bang on. All this discussion about buying merchandise misses the fundamental issue, viz, the morally contemptible programmes themselves. People who waste time watching this deplorable and morally depraved material ought, if they are professing Christains, to be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. Such programmes are not only mind polluting and time consumming but they encourage and excite unholy and unwholesome thoughts that can be the occasion of many hurtful lusts and sins. Surely dear friends we cannot sit passively watching scantily dressed men and women engaging in pre-marital sex and other sins of the flesh and remain unscathed - “can a man carry fire in his bosom and his clothes not be scorched” (Prov. 6: 27). Bearing in mind our Church’s teaching on chastity and fornication, how can they sit in front of a TV set and watch this unbridled ribaldry? With Job they should consider making a “covenant” with their eyes without delay (see Job 31: 1).
Furthermore these programmes have a tendency to foster a frivilous and hedonistic approach to life, the very antithesis to that enjoined by our most holy Faith. They are blatantly and essentially about the selfish pursuit of one’s happiness, at the expense of everything and everyone else. Since they are contrary to all that we reverence and hold dear as Catholics, they should be donounced in the strongest terms as unworthy and base forms of entertainment. Given this junk it is hardly surprising that our youth are turning out the way they are these days, save for some rare exceptions - dismissive of tradition and accepted social mores, unprecedented insubordination to parents and those in authority, severe attitude and behavoural problems, often issuing in aggression and violence - need I continue?
I make no apology for speaking in this manner; these things need urgently to be said to our disaffected youth. In the New Testament we are told to counsel our brethren if we see them going astray, exhorting them to change their wayward ways, out of love for them and genuine concern for their immortal souls. Nowhere is it even hinted at that we encourage them in their sin and, having no regard at all for their eternal welfare, make it easy for them to stray even further. Now if all this makes me a joyless prigg or prude then I plead guilty as charged.
For those who consider it perfectly acceptable to watch the the programmes adverted to in this thread, I draw your attention to these words of St. Paul (perhaps he would be deemed a legalistic kill-joy today also):
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, what ever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philipp. 4: 8).
Warmest good wishes and prayers,
Portrait
