PROTECT YOUR FAMILY FROM MEDIA
Jun
15
Written by:
Sunday, June 15, 2008
June 15, 2008
I want to share parts of this excellent article from Zenit, the Vatican Press, with you this week. We must each be proactive in taking control of the content of the media that seems to stream constantly into our modern lives. The following is an interview from Zenit, the Vatican Media outlet. I found it very enlightening. The full article may be obtained at http://www.zenit.org/article-22552?l=english.
Father Gary
Media Management to Protect Your Family
Interview With Talk Show Host Teresa Tomeo
Teresa Tomeo has just published "Noise: How Our Media-saturated Culture Dominates Lives and Dismantles Families."
Q: You discuss how the media is the most dominant force in American culture today. What do you think are the most damaging effects it has had on us morally and spiritually?
T: I think the biggest issue is with the overall desensitization of the Catholic culture and belief system....The culture has been forming our faith and not the other way around. Birth control, abortion, cohabitation, pre-marital sex, have all become the "norm" in society and most of the messages come from the entertainment media and the news media, which embrace and promote all of the above. That combined with very poor catechesis over the past 40-50 years along with the sexual revolution has led to disaster. The good news is the Church has-and always has had-the answers in her teachings. And there are some real positive efforts such as a hugh explosion in Catholic media that are making a big difference.
Q: What would your response be to someone who said you were overstating the case-that the media, including Internet, video games, etc.-is only harmless entertainment?
T: I would say that they are in denial. Many people who make such statements don't want to take a close look at their own bad media habits such as too much time on the Internet or cell phone or too much time in front of the TV..........It takes a lot of time and effort to become a media savvy family, but we all must do our part. To give you an example of just what a media-obsessed culture we are, just nine days after the Pope left the United States the extremely violent video game "Grand Theft Auto Four; Liberty City" went on sale around the world. People were lined up for hours waiting to grab their copy. The Pope went so far as to say that we can't talk about protecting our children if we are not willing to take a look at the big picture, including easy access to pornography and media products that promote violence. No. 1 on the list is to keep the TV and the computer in a central area of the home where the usage can be closely monitored. Leaving kids alone in their rooms with access to the Internet and to TV is a recipe for disaster. Parents should also set guidelines and stick to them and make sure that meal times are media free-no TV, no iPods or cell phones allowed. Families should also take advantage of the many tools that are available, such as Internet filters and TV ratings, as well as helpful media activist groups such as the well-known Parents TV Council.
Q: As a former broadcast journalist, you discuss the bias found in mainstream media. As average readers/listeners, how can we protect ourselves from the bias in important new stories, for example, when preparing to vote?
T: We need to consider the source. Research shows that at least 50% of those working in today's secular media are atheist or agnostic and only about 12% go to some type of church service. The majority of them also admit to supporting legalized abortion, as well as other actions that go directly against Church teaching. While the media are supposed to be objective and balanced, that often is not the case. The media tend to preach instead of report by telling us in the way they cover stories that we need to believe a certain way-and that way is not the way of the Church. So again, consider the source of the news story and then check everything against the Catechism and Scripture. Make sure you know what the Church actually teaches instead of what the media say it teaches. Also turn to orthodox Catholic sources for issues that concern Catholics and voting. There are a number of good Catholic Web sites available, such as Priests for Life, that can help Catholics in the voting process.
Theresa Torno has just published "Noise: How Our Media-Saturated Culture Dominates Lives and Dismantles Families".