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The Holy Father’s Concern Regarding the Media and the Family

On the 24th of January 2004 the feast of the patron saint of Journalists Saint Francis de Sales, Pope John Paul II issued a letter regarding the mass media. In this letter, he is clearly concerned with the direction it is taking, he seems to suggest it is an opportunity missed for humanity as a whole. He says it has brought exceptional opportunities to enrich the lives of both individuals and the family. ‘At the same time, families today face new challenges arising from the varied and often contradictory messages presented by the mass media.’1 How often has one settled oneself in a favourite chair to watch a play a film or a documentary only to be shocked or embarrassed by what you have just seen? We are often told ‘you can always reach for the switch and turn it off’ however by that time it's usually too late. You have been forced against your will to hear blasphemy or seen things which you do not wish to see or subject your friends and family.

The state of the media must make our Holy Father especially sad since he was once an amateur actor in Poland before training for the priesthood. During the war when Poland was under Nazi occupation he was part of the secret Rhapsodic Theatre, it is perhaps from this time that the Holy Father acquired his rich warm sounding voice, the voice that helped bring down Communism. That voice now very frail still resonates with love, peace and wisdom. Fellow actor at the time Jerzy Turowicz said, “I think it was the general opinion that Wojtyla was the best actor in the small group.”2 The Rhapsodic Theatre produced plays based on faith and Catholicism, which for a Pole was synonymous with patriotism. Even today we should believe that to really love your country you must want Christ to be a major influence in it.

So the media particularly the TV must be in a grave state for the Holy Father to have suggested a few years ago that Catholics give up the TV for lent. He also asked TV executives to “relinquish your adherence to programme planning geared to instant success and maximum audience ratings.”3 It is quite clear that the real reason for the Holy Father’s concern over the Television is it’s negative effect on the family

“…development, particularly in children. The child lives on sensations alone, seeking new ones all the time…and often remains intellectually passive; the intellect does not engage in the search for truth; the will remains bound by habit.”4

The Holy Father’s message released for the 38th World Communications Day, to be held this year on Sunday, 23 May is intitled “The Media and the Family: A Risk and a Richness.” In this message the Pope clearly shows he is aware of the strength of the media to affect peoples lives:-

“Infidelity, sexual activity outside marriage, and the absence of a moral and spiritual vision of the marriage covenant are depicted uncritically while positive support is at times given to divorce, contraception, abortion and homosexuality. Such portrayals, by promoting causes inimical to marriage and the family, are detrimental to the common good of society.”5

He is concerned that the policy-makers in the media appear to be actually hostile to traditional family values and traditional cultures and promote the globalisation of secular values, which aid the consumer society. Could it be that money is at the heart of the promotion secular values the media? Those who produce TV programmes are not interested in the family for it does not pay so well. A homosexual has more money to spend than a married man in certain sectors of society e.g. the entertainment industry. Divorce, contraception and abortion are all multimillion pound industries.

Ref: 1,5, L’Osservatore Romano, 4th February 2004, John-Paul II, Media and Family: ‘A Risk and a Richness’

Ref: 2,3,4 Man of the Century, Kwitny 1997.

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