Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   LOCAL FEATURES Friday, June 07, 2002 Fr. Bonnot: Use good judgment for TV, movie viewing By Joanne Malene Staff Associate AKRON — Father Bernard (Bob) Bonnot is probably one of only a handful of people in the world who believe that the media is a gift from God. Speaking at the May meeting of the First Friday Club of Akron, Father Bonnot spoke on “Media and Entertainment: Help or Hoax? Superficial or Spiritual?” emphasizing the importance of Christian people using their own good judgment when it comes to viewing movies and television. “We live in a mediated culture,” said Father Bonnot. “The bottom line is that the First Amendment will always prevail. So, individual judgments will always be needed and ratings will regularly be a part of dialogue.” A Youngstown diocesan priest, Father Bonnot currently serves as vice president for religious affairs for the Hallmark Channel. He explained that there have been many different responses to the media. “For example, the Catholic approach to rating the content of movies has changed over the years,” he said. “Pope Pius IX believed that the media should be controlled, while Pope John XXIII believed that since the media is in the world, so it must be embraced.” According to Father Bonnot, during the 1960s, Jack Valenti, head of the Motion Picture Association of America, knew that some kind of rating system had to be developed. “We had the Legion of Decency in the 1930s, but we needed something more,” he said. “So Valenti helped come up with the basic rating system. But, I think there is more to be gained by looking at subheadings and taking the ratings seriously. “I think the [media] industry has tried to be more informative, particularly towards parents. And, I think there is respect of the freedom of the individual and respect for the freedom of the mercantile libertarian.” Father Bonnot spoke about the development of the V-Chip, explaining that the chip is now being built into every television that is being sold. “Unfortunately, most people don’t realize the V-chips are there,” he said. “Seventy percent of television owners have it; 53 percent don’t realize they have it. There is a technology to help people be responsible in the home. People with older television sets can buy a V-chip at an electronics store.” Father Bonnot pointed out that the movie and television industry was almost forced into developing a ratings system. “They did it very reluctantly,” he said. “But the media provides the functions of image, experience and emotion. We just need to be careful what we do with it. If you find that too much is inappropriate for your children, you can use the V-Chip to block out programs with these ratings.” Father Bonnot suggested that concerned viewers check local television program listings to find out the rating or to look for the on-screen display at the start of a show. “The rating symbol will show up in the upper left-hand corner of the television screen during the first 15 seconds of a program,” he said. “If you have a V-Chip, you don’t need to check the rating of each show, since you can simply program your TV to block any shows that receive particular ratings, that lack the sense of values you want to instill. Father Bonnot said he would like to encourage parishes to make better use of the media. “We should sponsor parish film festivals,” he said. “And, we should make use of the media within our churches. A new book, ‘Lights, Camera, Faith’ by Peter Malone provides a suggested movie for every Sunday of the lectionary. We could tie media use in with our Sunday homilies. It would be a way to visually make a connection.” Several written audience questions were asked of Father Bonnot, including one asking why he thought television news was not subject to ratings. “The best thing to do,” said Father Bonnot, “is to find news that you find nourishing. If the market place is down, if ratings are down, they will try something else.” Speaking about the Hallmark Channel and the difficulties that it has getting air time for quality programming, Father Bonnot said, “We need to be supportive of the kind of media we find that dignifies the human person and support it. It’s ironic; the G-rated ‘Lion King,’ for example, made a lot of money, but it doesn’t mean Hollywood will rush to produce more just like it.” He also suggested television and moviegoers go to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’s Catholic Communication Campaign website, (http://www.usccb.org/ccc/information.htm (CCC) and look at the communication area. “There is a listing of 45 classic movies that the Vatican has identified as high quality films,” said Father Bonnot. “They are not all religious films, just good pieces of art that grasp the emotion. There is an 800 number as well (1-800-311-4CCC) which gives a brief review of what is in the movie, the strains that are very supportive and those that are not.” When asked what he likes to watch, he said he is not a huge consumer of media, especially television and movies. “But I like ‘Law and Order,’ whose executive producer used to serve at Cardinal [Francis] Spellman’s Masses,” he noted. “‘Return to Me’ is a marvelous film about Catholic values. There are lots of films like that; you just have to be vigilant in identifying them.” The First Friday Club is an organization of practicing Catholics. For more information, call (330) 535-7668. Joanne Malene covers news in Stark and Portage counties for the Exponent   Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   Other Articles of 2002   Christmas letter from El Salvador missions thanks diocesan Catholics   Bishop shares views, discussion with Central students   ETC slates Christmas specials throughout the season   My Favorite Christmas Memories   Guidelines on religious ed homeschooling are issued   Local Catholic radio station targets Feb. 1 date   HMs end 98-years of service to Salem St. Paul Parish   Learn ‘language’ of young, youth meet speaker urges   Bishop Tobin: Meeting in D.C. on norms was ‘anxious, tense, difficult’   Priests must ask one another the tough questions, speaker says   Catholic death and funeral rites   Deacons mark 25th with Mass, dinner, memories   Diocesan Ministry Convocation Speaker: Global solidarity, not globalization, should be aim   Jusseaume inaugurated as sixth Walsh president   Diaconate marks 25th anniversary with Oct. 27 fete   New norms sent to priests, deacons on Communion under both kinds   Ashtabula parishes are ‘one Catholic community’   Jusseaume to become Walsh’s sixth president   Charismatic speaker: ‘Church being tested in faithfulness’   Lutheran/Catholic covenant event draws 140 to Walsh   Canton St. Joseph Parish observes centennial celebration   HMHP CEO Michael Rowan   Stewardship speaker: It’s about gratitude and thanking God first   Imagination is key to resolving crisis, priests told   War with Iraq? 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