Report Fox Broadcasting And Family Guy To The Fcc

[StColette]

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' post='1821108' date='Mar 31 2009, 01:32 PM']Closing ourselves off into bubbles that only watch good, religious programming only turns us into the very people everyone else labels and pokes fun at all too easily.[/quote]

We aren't saying that you should only watch religious programming, what we are saying is that you should watch programs that are "good" not vulgar. You keep bringing up the need to be in tune with the culture by watching shows like Family Guy. People are able to relate to the culture of today without watching such shows. I don't watch them, but I know enough about them, that if one of the youth my husband instructs mentions them I can be involved in the conversation. I also make it known to them that it isn't the best thing that they could be doing with their time and much of what comes across on shows like that are nothing but trash anyway so why waste your time.

You also say that it has good points about morals. This might be the case occasionally, but using Family Guy or something other similar show in a catechetical way would be asking for trouble. Say you were to use one of the episode of family guy that did say something about morals and you show those to a group you are working with. Essentially you are opening up a can of worms. Youth, especially, can take this to mean that the show gives good moral guidance and/or is appropriate for them to watch. In order for them not to make that assumption you would have to say "the show isn't very appropriate much of the time, but I'm going to show you this one episode because it is appropriate." If I had an instructor tell me that I would think they are full of it.

Are youth today lose their innocence quick enough in today's society, and shows like Family Guy do not help matters.

If your my age, 24, please think back to when you were growing up or when you were a teenager. Did you see any of the filth that is on tv today? In my own experience the answer is no. I've asked my sister the same thing, she's in her thirties, and she gave a big no as well. And before you make an assumptions about me, I wasn't a goody goody in my teenage years, I did something things that were very stupid because I wanted to be able to relate to my peers.

You got to ask yourself this question, what are you gaining from that show? What benefit is it giving you?

And btw, who cares if we get poked fun at. Jesus said we would be persecuted and rejected, and I have no problem with that.

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' post='1820949' date='Mar 31 2009, 02:41 AM']His arguments were weak and quite sad, in fact. Unfortunately, a lot of people feel that way. A lot of practicing Catholics feel that way. It would be good material for a homily to address those feelings and how we can give that pain to Christ on the cross at Easter and at every Mass, but it's a rare priest who is man enough to talk about real issues from the pulpit.[/quote]

I already do. I had a class on atheism (ask some of our atheists on this phorum, they will attest to the conversations I had with them) and we talked extensively about it. I have also spoken about atheism in a Sunday homily, using C.S. Lewis as an example. I also have preached on abortion, Hell, Purgatory and other "hard issues." However, I am not alone, just because you don't see it from a few priests it does not mean "it's a rare priest who is man enough." You should meet some of my friends, they talk all about that stuff as well. However, if I were to speak about Family Guy, Southpark, etc. though I would gain the interest of the Congregation, I might confuse, scandalize or, as Jenny said above, they might think that it is a good show that they should be watching.

[quote]I guess that was supposed to be a joke about what God is doing... I was expecting a return to God zooming around the stratosphere on a flying ski-doo. Sometimes Family Guy gets a little too random, but for me it's just a TV show. However, more than a few people out there gain a lot of their views on religion, sex, society, and politics from "just a TV show."[/quote]

Each person has a different threshold, but exposing yourself to it constantly can't be good, just as you would not expose yourself to a virus thinking it would eventually have no affect on you.

I know people form their views based on TV as well as what they listen to, what they read and the people they hang out with. Doesn't mean that we shouldn't speak about the importance of, in the words of St. Francis: "being in the world but not of it." As Hebrews reminds: "We have here no lasting city..." if our "permanent residence" is here how prepared will we be when we "go home?"

Edited March 31, 2009 by Theologian in Training

[StColette]

Well said Father

[Vincent Vega]

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' post='1821108' date='Mar 31 2009, 12:32 PM']It's not just "Family Guy" that thinks this way. For one, Seth McFarlane is the guy who writes the show, but you can also bet many (if not most) of the viewership holds similar views. I believe there is a place for Christians to engage the culture, but in order to do that you have to be in the culture without become a product of the culture. Closing ourselves off into bubbles that only watch good, religious programming only turns us into the very people everyone else labels and pokes fun at all too easily.[/quote]
I realise that Family Guy is not the only media who thinks this way - is that supposed to excuse it? And as to the fact that the viewership that feels this way too - I wonder how many had those views before or after they were exposed to programming in the vein of Family Guy.

I don't need to watch a show that continuously belittles and blasphemes to be aware of the culture of the youth.

[LouisvilleFan]

[quote name='Luthien' post='1821115' date='Mar 31 2009, 02:40 PM']Woah, so if I watch EWTN exclusively I will become a book burning "Phelps" bigot?[/quote]

Possibly. If you never expose yourself to the other sides of a story or issue, it's an easy slope to slip down.

Edited March 31, 2009 by LouisvilleFan

[LouisvilleFan]

[quote name='StColette' post='1821121' date='Mar 31 2009, 02:51 PM']I also make it known to them that it isn't the best thing that they could be doing with their time and much of what comes across on shows like that are nothing but trash anyway so why waste your time.[/quote]

And then they ask, "Why?" Do you have a good reason to throw back at them? Youth usually assume adults are being overly cautious or don't understand.

The other day my mom criticized "Twilight," saying she knows is demonic because it's dark. The same argument was used by many people against Harry Potter. I told her that I make no judgment for or against the series because I haven't read it. That's only fair.

[quote name='StColette' post='1821121' date='Mar 31 2009, 02:51 PM']You also say that it has good points about morals. This might be the case occasionally, but using Family Guy or something other similar show in a catechetical way would be asking for trouble.[/quote]

I wouldn't use Family Guy in catechism Maybe in an RCIA format, if the audience is appropriate. I've seen movies used many times to teach a point on Christian doctrine or morality. "The Matrix" is a favorite... to the point of being a bit overused for that purpose.

[quote name='StColette' post='1821121' date='Mar 31 2009, 02:51 PM']Are youth today lose their innocence quick enough in today's society, and shows like Family Guy do not help matters.[/quote]

So teach them how to engage the media they consume, how to use their brains and question the messages as they are coming at them.

[quote name='StColette' post='1821121' date='Mar 31 2009, 02:51 PM']If your my age, 24, please think back to when you were growing up or when you were a teenager. Did you see any of the filth that is on tv today? In my own experience the answer is no. I've asked my sister the same thing, she's in her thirties, and she gave a big no as well. And before you make an assumptions about me, I wasn't a goody goody in my teenage years, I did something things that were very stupid because I wanted to be able to relate to my peers.[/quote]

I was a goody-goody and, well, I do remember seeing some trashy stuff on TV. My parents had cable, so that didn't help matters.

[quote name='StColette' post='1821121' date='Mar 31 2009, 02:51 PM']You got to ask yourself this question, what are you gaining from that show? What benefit is it giving you?[/quote]

I think it's funny and entertaining. Most of the episodes are not offensive to people of faith. Most of them actually carry a positive, worthwhile message. But I also like the "offensive" episodes because I want to hear where what our culture is hearing, because it's a good practice to hear those criticisms and reasons people truly believe in in order to remind ourselves of how respond and how we can know Catholicism is the Truth. For me, it's a mental exercise... I don't turn my brain off when I watch TV.

[LouisvilleFan]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1821135' date='Mar 31 2009, 03:36 PM']I already do. I had a class on atheism (ask some of our atheists on this phorum, they will attest to the conversations I had with them) and we talked extensively about it. I have also spoken about atheism in a Sunday homily, using C.S. Lewis as an example. I also have preached on abortion, Hell, Purgatory and other "hard issues." However, I am not alone, just because you don't see it from a few priests it does not mean "it's a rare priest who is man enough." You should meet some of my friends, they talk all about that stuff as well. However, if I were to speak about Family Guy, Southpark, etc. though I would gain the interest of the Congregation, I might confuse, scandalize or, as Jenny said above, they might think that it is a good show that they should be watching.[/quote]

I know there are priests like you who are working hard to preach like your life depends on it, but I still say you are a rare breed among priests as a whole. Much of it is just due to the Catholic seminaries learning how to teach the art of preaching, along with priests and laypeople learning to appreciate a solid, inspiring, and challenging homily. And I know some very good priests who are totally faithful to the Church and preach on those tough issues... but usually it feels more like a repetition of the Catechism than an expounding from the Scriptures and Tradition explaining the why's and how's, along with the application to our lives. When you receive that every Sunday as a Protestant, it is difficult adjusting to weekly moral lessons. Fact is, I sometimes get more from an episode of "Family Guy."

[quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1821135' date='Mar 31 2009, 03:36 PM']Each person has a different threshold, but exposing yourself to it constantly can't be good, just as you would not expose yourself to a virus thinking it would eventually have no affect on you.[/quote]

Rest assured, I don't make a habit of watching these shows.

[quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1821135' date='Mar 31 2009, 03:36 PM']I know people form their views based on TV as well as what they listen to, what they read and the people they hang out with. Doesn't mean that we shouldn't speak about the importance of, in the words of St. Francis: "being in the world but not of it." As Hebrews reminds: "We have here no lasting city..." if our "permanent residence" is here how prepared will we be when we "go home?"[/quote]

Indeed... that's the approach I'm trying to get at. All I've done here is share what I've observed and learned from a TV show that's part of this culture we are in. I wouldn't be surprised if I bring up this atheist Brian and religious Meg episode in some random conversation, especially because it leads so well into the story of our redemption from the less-than-ideal situations all of us are born into. "Family Guy" isn't going to tell that part of the story, but we can.

[Socrates]

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' post='1817932' date='Mar 27 2009, 05:01 PM']The lesson to learn from the success of South Park and Family Guy is that a little shock therapy helps get a message across, where playing nice just gets you ignored. Most Catholic outreach isn't speaking the culture's language, so it's mostly disrespected. We could stand to command a bolder presence in society, in our cities through media, arts, and culture. How many parishes, priests, and evangelists are out there questioning today's status quo? Who's asking tough questions? What are Newman Centers, FOCUS, and other campus ministries doing? For the most part, we hold the door to politely allow society to continue along her course.[/quote]
So what are you saying, that Catholic ministries need to find a way to incorporate more gay bestiality jokes into their outreach?

While Catholics indeed need to evangelize and challenge the culture, this should not mean using gratuitous "shock" or sinking to the lowest common denominator of our pop culture.

In today's pagan culture, just telling the Truth boldly and uncompromisingly will be "shocking" to many.
Note how in the past decade, [i]The Passion of the Christ[/i], a film which treated Christ and the Gospels reverently and at face-value, generated a lot more controversy and outrage in the general culture than all the sophomoric-blasphemous "irreverence" which is regularly churned out these days.

And people are asking tough questions, and challenging the status quo (though I'd say not enough, of course).
When orthodox Catholics speak out strongly on unpopular moral issues, we are then roundly chided by the bleeding hearts for being "un-Christlike," "insensitive," and "alienating." (And yes, I've seen this on Phatmass).
It seems serious Catholics just can't win.

While you backed down a little later, having known many great people involved in FOCUS and the good work it does, I also am a bit offended at your remark. FOCUS is an orthodox ministry doing important evangelical work, and has borne much good fruit. Unless you have personally started or been involved in a more effective ministry, your poo-pooing its work is out of line.

It seems you are extremely quick to criticize anything Catholics are doing, yet just as quick to defend the more degraded aspects of our culture. With due respect, I find this attitude a bit troubling (and it's not just you).

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' post='1819003' date='Mar 28 2009, 08:55 PM']For a Christian interested in evangelism, one reason is to learn about our culture, like St. Paul did before he started preaching about the "unknown god" that the Greeks acknowledged. We must listen and observe before we earn the right to preach.[/quote]
St. Paul did not descend to lowest filth of the culture though to get his point across (and yes, there was some pretty filthy aspects to the Greco-Roman culture of the time).

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' post='1821108' date='Mar 31 2009, 01:32 PM']It's not just "Family Guy" that thinks this way. For one, Seth McFarlane is the guy who writes the show, but you can also bet many (if not most) of the viewership holds similar views. I believe there is a place for Christians to engage the culture, but in order to do that you have to be in the culture without become a product of the culture. Closing ourselves off into bubbles that only watch good, religious programming only turns us into the very people everyone else labels and pokes fun at all too easily.[/quote]
There's quite a wide range between only watching Mother Angelica and tacitly approving shows which scrape the bottom-barrel of indecency and blasphemy. (And yes, I've watched early Family Guy episodes and laughed at them - but this one goes beyond any bounds).

And worrying about people poking fun at us is an extremely weak objection. People will poke fun at anybody serious about Christian morals.
(People may poke fun at you for not looking at porn or visiting strip clubs, for that matter. Must Christians partake in such things for the sake of "engaging the culture"? After all, who wants to alienate our brethren who like to do that sort of thing? -and lets face it, this stuff has become a major part of "mainstream" culture now.)
My point is, how low must we go?
Are we really worried about following Christ, or more with being popular with the world?
Often the two are not compatible.

Edited April 1, 2009 by Socrates

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' post='1821298' date='Mar 31 2009, 08:41 PM']I know there are priests like you who are working hard to preach like your life depends on it, but I still say you are a rare breed among priests as a whole. Much of it is just due to the Catholic seminaries learning how to teach the art of preaching, along with priests and laypeople learning to appreciate a solid, inspiring, and challenging homily. And I know some very good priests who are totally faithful to the Church and preach on those tough issues... but usually it feels more like a repetition of the Catechism than an expounding from the Scriptures and Tradition explaining the why's and how's, along with the application to our lives. When you receive that every Sunday as a Protestant, it is difficult adjusting to weekly moral lessons. Fact is, I sometimes get more from an episode of "Family Guy."[/quote]

You might do well to explore other Catholic Churches, priests do preach on them more than you think, and not all of them are merely "repeating the Catechism." Honestly, you don't seem to be painting them in too positive of a light, especially by saying that you get a better "moral lesson" from an episode of "Family Guy" than a homily. And, truly that is saying a lot.

[quote]Rest assured, I don't make a habit of watching these shows. [/quote]

You just contradicted yourself, because you say you watch "Family Guy," what shows did you think I meant? BTW, I had a recent confession and, without getting into too much detail, he recognized the spiritual dangers that exist by merely watching "mainstream TV." I thought it said a lot to his character and to the damaging effects that "mainstream TV" can, indeed, have.

[quote]Indeed... that's the approach I'm trying to get at. All I've done here is share what I've observed and learned from a TV show that's part of this culture we are in. I wouldn't be surprised if I bring up this atheist Brian and religious Meg episode in some random conversation, especially because it leads so well into the story of our redemption from the less-than-ideal situations all of us are born into. "Family Guy" isn't going to tell that part of the story, but we can.[/quote]

But, there are so many better resources than a show like "Family Guy" to demonstrate your point.

[LouisvilleFan]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1821590' date='Apr 1 2009, 01:34 AM']You might do well to explore other Catholic Churches, priests do preach on them more than you think, and not all of them are merely "repeating the Catechism." Honestly, you don't seem to be painting them in too positive of a light, especially by saying that you get a better "moral lesson" from an episode of "Family Guy" than a homily. And, truly that is saying a lot.[/quote]

I have been looking around, especially since my parish is merging this summer. There are some great priests, and I know the homily isn't the high point of the Mass, but it is helpful and encouraging when you can tell a priest or deacon cares enough to preach well and effectively. But some priests give a five minute homily (if that) and there simply isn't much offered to draw from.

The other unfortunate thing is that the better preachers tend to be the same guys who disregard the liturgy, making the Peace into a meet-and-greet and all that. It's a weird dichotomy, but it's not the end of the world... there's no perfect church or parish.

[quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1821590' date='Apr 1 2009, 01:34 AM']You just contradicted yourself, because you say you watch "Family Guy," what shows did you think I meant?[/quote]

Yeah, I watch when I happen to catch them on or just feel like a little comedy, but I'm not an habitual TV watcher. Lost is the only show I watch every week, and I sorta keep up with The Office and Kings in hulu.com. Other than that, I'd rather be out with friends or reading or doing something productive.

Freshman year of college, I knew a girl in Bible study who sometimes showed up and apologized for skipping the previous week because South Park was on... she was an interesting character.

Edited April 1, 2009 by LouisvilleFan

[LouisvilleFan]

[quote name='Socrates' post='1821448' date='Mar 31 2009, 11:07 PM']So what are you saying, that Catholic ministries need to find a way to incorporate more gay bestiality jokes into their outreach?[/quote]

No... not even sure where that's coming from.

[quote name='Socrates' post='1821448' date='Mar 31 2009, 11:07 PM']While Catholics indeed need to evangelize and challenge the culture, this should not mean using gratuitous "shock" or sinking to the lowest common denominator of our pop culture.[/quote]

Being bold is a better word that "shocking" people. But it's more than the outside culture... those of us inside the Church need to be reminded by our pastors about all the basics of Christian devotion and our obligations at Catholics, etc. We need to be asking tough questions and purifying ourselves while we work to purify the world around us.

[quote name='Socrates' post='1821448' date='Mar 31 2009, 11:07 PM']It seems you are extremely quick to criticize anything Catholics are doing, yet just as quick to defend the more degraded aspects of our culture. With due respect, I find this attitude a bit troubling (and it's not just you).[/quote]

In all honestly, the main reason I'm on phatmass is to provide myself with something interesting and thought provoking to do while I sit in an office for eight hours. And most of the threads are kinda ho-hum, so I start these debates to get something started and as an exercise to think about stuff like the implications of watching Family Guy or whatever else I've debated on here. I like to question things, but it doesn't pay the bills.

[quote name='Socrates' post='1821448' date='Mar 31 2009, 11:07 PM']St. Paul did not descend to lowest filth of the culture though to get his point across (and yes, there was some pretty filthy aspects to the Greco-Roman culture of the time).[/quote]

Family Guy is far from the lowest filth of our culture. As I said before, most of the episodes are relatively redeeming.

[LouisvilleFan]

[quote name='Socrates' post='1821448' date='Mar 31 2009, 11:07 PM']And people are asking tough questions, and challenging the status quo (though I'd say not enough, of course).
When orthodox Catholics speak out strongly on unpopular moral issues, we are then roundly chided by the bleeding hearts for being "un-Christlike," "insensitive," and "alienating." (And yes, I've seen this on Phatmass).
It seems serious Catholics just can't win.[/quote]

I believe the reason we are easily tuned out is that we often base our reasoning on the Church and Scripture. Well, if our culture rejects the Church, they'll reject any reasoning based upon her. But the Truth can be discerned everywhere, and everything in creation bears marks of our Creator. So I think we should try looking more to human experience, science, secular philosophy, etc. to attest to the Truth we already believe through the Church.

For example, instead of repeating the same old rejection of contraception from Humanae Vitae and condemning it from the outset, why not withhold the conclusion and simply invite people to pause and reflect on the effects of our society's contraceptive mindset in their life, their own marriage and family, and in the world? Lower the barriers a bit and we might be surprised at how many people recognize the evil through their own conscience without imposing a rule upon them.

For that matter, few Catholics understand that it's the contraceptive mindset that is the underlying evil, but all they hear is condemnation and nothing about the beauty of marriage and self-giving. I don't think most people consider that a homily on just about any matter of Church teaching can tie into just about any other teaching. That's why it's Catholic and catholic.

One thing to keep in mind is it isn't our beliefs that society dislikes so much as the perception that we judge without reason. We need to use reasoning to get people thinking about these issues and let them find the Truth through reflection and opening to God's grace. That's why I admire Stephen Colbert's approach... most people have no idea what he's up to, but he has an audience that EWTN is missing. Of course, there's a place for both... many parts in one body.

[quote name='Socrates' post='1821448' date='Mar 31 2009, 11:07 PM']While you backed down a little later, having known many great people involved in FOCUS and the good work it does, I also am a bit offended at your remark. FOCUS is an orthodox ministry doing important evangelical work, and has borne much good fruit. Unless you have personally started or been involved in a more effective ministry, your poo-pooing its work is out of line.[/quote]

I made the mistake of throwing FOCUS in with several other ministries, so that's my bad. FOCUS is probably the one ministry I know of that does encourage creativity and boldness in evangelism, though I base that only on a YouTube video of an outreach somewhere in the Northwest. I don't know if that's typical or not. I just hope they aren't levelling off already... are they still forming new chapters?

[quote name='Socrates' post='1821448' date='Mar 31 2009, 11:07 PM']It seems you are extremely quick to criticize anything Catholics are doing, yet just as quick to defend the more degraded aspects of our culture. With due respect, I find this attitude a bit troubling (and it's not just you).[/quote]

I do volunteer and support a local youth conference with fundraising, calling youth group leaders, designing flyers and other stuff that needs to get done. I enjoy being creative, thinking outside the box, and questioning things... unfortunately, few orthodox apostolates and ministries foster that kind of attitude. Thank God for G.K. Chesterton

Edited April 1, 2009 by LouisvilleFan