Pope condemns violent animation
calls violent games, films a perversion
Jan 26, 2007 Dominic von Riedemann
(Source: www.bcdb.com)
Pope Benedict XVI, in his address on Wednesday's 'World Day of Social Communications,' denounced violence in animation and video games aimed at children.
"Any trend to produce programs and products - including animated films and video games - which in the name of entertainment exalt violence and portray anti-social behavior or the trivialization of human sexuality is a perversion," the pontiff said during his address, "all the more repulsive when these programs are directed at children and adolescents. How could one explain this 'entertainment' to the countless innocent young people who actually suffer violence, exploitation and abuse?"
Benedict XVI preceded these comments with: "Media education should be positive. Children exposed to what is aesthetically and morally excellent are helped to develop appreciation, prudence and the skills of discernment. Here it is important to recognize the fundamental value of parents' example and the benefits of introducing young people to children's classics in literature, to the fine arts and to uplifting music. While popular literature will always have its place in culture, the temptation to sensationalize should not be passively accepted in places of learning."
". . . media education requires formation in the exercise of freedom. This is a demanding task. So often freedom is presented as a relentless search for pleasure or new experiences. Yet this is a condemnation not liberation! True freedom could never condemn the individual - especially a child - to an insatiable quest for novelty . . . authentic freedom is experienced as a definitive response to God's 'yes' to humanity, calling us to choose . . . all that is good, true and beautiful. Parents, then, as the guardians of that freedom, while gradually giving their children greater freedom, introduce them to the profound joy of life.
"This heartfelt wish of parents and teachers to educate children in the ways of beauty, truth and goodness can be supported by the media industry only to the extent that it promotes fundamental human dignity, the true value of marriage and family life, and the positive achievements and goals of humanity. Thus, the need for the media to be committed to effective formation and ethical standards is viewed with particular interest and even urgency not only by parents and teachers but by all who have a sense of civic responsibility.
"While affirming the belief that many people involved in social communications want to do what is right, we must also recognize that those who work in this field confront 'special psychological pressures and ethical dilemmas' which at times see commercial competitiveness compelling communicators to lower standards."
The Pope's comments were later published in Italian, English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese. Wednesday also marked the feast day of St. Francis de Sales, the Catholic patron saint of journalists and writers.
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