Legion of Decency Question

Started by red solo cup, June 12, 2018, 07:30:49 AM

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red solo cup

I know that the Legion would maintain a list of movies that was considered immoral as a guide to Catholics. Did this have the official sanction of the Church? If so could someone point me to the relevant document/website. Did the Legion ever include books on it's list?
non impediti ratione cogitationis


jovan66102

How official is official? It was an arm of the USCCB. Its diocesan directors were appointed by the Ordinaries. In fact, 'Catholic ratings' are still given by Catholic News Service which is also an arm of the USCCB.
Jovan-Marya Weismiller, T.O.Carm.

Vive le Christ-roi! Vive le roi, Louis XX!
Deum timete, regem honorificate.
Kansan by birth! Albertan by choice! Jayhawk by the Grace of God!
"Qui me amat, amet et canem meum. (Who loves me will love my dog also.)" St Bernard of Clairvaux
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Gardener

I need to go through my dvd's from the covered era and make sure I don't have any.

thanks
"If anyone does not wish to have Mary Immaculate for his Mother, he will not have Christ for his Brother." - St. Maximilian Kolbe

Therese

Here is a scan of a book that they published, listing all their classifications for all (US) movies from 1936-1959.

https://archive.org/details/motionpicturescl00nati

Sempronius

#5
Is it ever morally licit for a women/child to be an actor? No matter how decent their roles are? I know what we moderns would say to that but I would guess that pre-v2 bishops would in some way tend to adopt the church fathers views on morality.

Lynne

In conclusion, I can leave you with no better advice than that given after every sermon by Msgr Vincent Giammarino, who was pastor of St Michael's Church in Atlantic City in the 1950s:

    "My dear good people: Do what you have to do, When you're supposed to do it, The best way you can do it,   For the Love of God. Amen"

drummerboy

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly?  Probably because the hero wasn't exactly a hero
- I'll get with the times when the times are worth getting with

"I like grumpy old cusses.  Hope to live long enough to be one" - John Wayne

Maximilian

Quote from: drummerboy on June 13, 2018, 07:26:17 AM

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly?  Probably because the hero wasn't exactly a hero

Actually, it looks like Clint Eastwood's movies were almost universally condemned. High Plains Drifter and Outlaw Josie Wales are also on the list.

Gardener

Surprised The Bad Seed wasn't condemned in '56.

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooy8HTb8izw[/yt]

Just did a google search and cannot find that it was. Odd.
"If anyone does not wish to have Mary Immaculate for his Mother, he will not have Christ for his Brother." - St. Maximilian Kolbe

ServusMariae

Quote from: red solo cup on June 12, 2018, 07:30:49 AM
I know that the Legion would maintain a list of movies that was considered immoral as a guide to Catholics. Did this have the official sanction of the Church? If so could someone point me to the relevant document/website. Did the Legion ever include books on it's list?

Sorry to derail a bit, but it's great to see someone brought up about the Legion of Decency. For a while I've heard of them but thought they were long defunct. What's the current status quo now? Does the Legion still exists?

jovan66102

No. Catholic News Service, an arm of the USCCB (as was the Legion) still gives movies 'Catholic ratings' as I pointed out, but there is no Legion of Decency, no pledge to sign, etc.
Jovan-Marya Weismiller, T.O.Carm.

Vive le Christ-roi! Vive le roi, Louis XX!
Deum timete, regem honorificate.
Kansan by birth! Albertan by choice! Jayhawk by the Grace of God!
"Qui me amat, amet et canem meum. (Who loves me will love my dog also.)" St Bernard of Clairvaux
https://musingsofanoldcurmudgeon.blogspot.com/

nmoerbeek

Quote from: ServusMariae on June 13, 2018, 09:32:26 AM
Quote from: red solo cup on June 12, 2018, 07:30:49 AM
I know that the Legion would maintain a list of movies that was considered immoral as a guide to Catholics. Did this have the official sanction of the Church? If so could someone point me to the relevant document/website. Did the Legion ever include books on it's list?

Sorry to derail a bit, but it's great to see someone brought up about the Legion of Decency. For a while I've heard of them but thought they were long defunct. What's the current status quo now? Does the Legion still exists?

I believe that the Legion started out as an ecumenical endeavor, but because Catholics where the largest group it eventually became a strictly Catholic thing. The Legion eventually had its name changed to the National Catholic Office of Motion Pictures in the 60's, in the 80's they no longer published any reviews.  Eventually it was kinda reborn again by being renamed to the USCCB's Office for Film and Broadcast, and then that was shut down in the 2000's.




"Let me, however, beg of Your Beatitude...
not to think so much of what I have written, as of my good and kind intentions. Please look for the truths of which I speak rather than for beauty of expression. Where I do not come up to your expectations, pardon me, and put my shortcomings down, please, to lack of time and stress of business." St. Bonaventure, From the Preface of Holiness of Life.

Apostolate:
http://www.alleluiaaudiobooks.com/
Contributor:
http://unamsanctamcatholicam.blogspot.com/
Lay Association:
http://www.militiatempli.net/

Lynne

Quote from: jovan66102 on June 13, 2018, 10:44:17 AM
No. Catholic News Service, an arm of the USCCB (as was the Legion) still gives movies 'Catholic ratings' as I pointed out, but there is no Legion of Decency, no pledge to sign, etc.

And the reviewer for the CNS gave a somewhat favorable(?!!) rating to Brokeback Mountain, so we can see what a good source that is for ratings.

::)
In conclusion, I can leave you with no better advice than that given after every sermon by Msgr Vincent Giammarino, who was pastor of St Michael's Church in Atlantic City in the 1950s:

    "My dear good people: Do what you have to do, When you're supposed to do it, The best way you can do it,   For the Love of God. Amen"

red solo cup

Quote from: Gardener on June 13, 2018, 08:43:11 AM
Surprised The Bad Seed wasn't condemned in '56.

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooy8HTb8izw[/yt]

Just did a google search and cannot find that it was. Odd.
This was a seriously messed up movie.
non impediti ratione cogitationis