Pope Condems Violent Games

[Zeta]

If Jack Thompson was looking for a powerful ally, he just found one.


"I once caught a fish in Twilight Princess THIS BIG!"

Pope Benedict XVI, the current head and spiritual leader of the Catholic Church, voiced his opinion on games today from the Vatican, saying that violent or sexually explicit games are a "perversion" and "repulsive."

As part of the annual papal message for World Communications Day, the theme of which was "Children and the Media: A Challenge for Education," the pope talked about the media's effect on children, paying particular attention to games and films.

"Any trend to produce programs and products--including animated films and video games--which in the name of entertainment exalt violence and portray antisocial behavior or the trivialization of human sexuality is a perversion, all the more repulsive when these programs are directed at children and adolescents,'' the pope said.

Pointing toward the growing influence the media has on youth, he said the media can support a family's educating of children provided it "promotes fundamental human dignity, the true value of marriage and family life, and the positive achievements and goals of humanity." He called upon the leaders of the industry "to safeguard the common good, to uphold the truth, to protect individual human dignity, and promote respect for the needs of the family."


http://www.gamespot.com/news/6164659.html

I think the implications on homosexual marriage were unneeded, as was the statement that 'these programs are directed at children'.

Discuss.

[Cecil475]

Well the Pope dissing videogames. Big suprise. I'm playing Mario 2 and read the article as I try to squeeza a comment on this one.

1. The theme of the Forty-first World Communications Day, "Children and the Media: A Challenge for Education", invites us to reflect on two related topics of immense importance. The formation of children is one. The other, perhaps less obvious but no less important, is the formation of the media.
What can I say? It's a popular subject nowadays.

"Any trend to produce programs and products--including animated films and video games--which in the name of entertainment exalt violence and portray antisocial behavior or the trivialization of human sexuality is a perversion, all the more repulsive when these programs are directed at children and adolescents,'' the pope said.
It does get tiring to keep hearing or reading about how games are only directed at children. At the very least he didn't single out videogames.

Here's why The Pope and Thompson won't get along.
The role of parents is of primary importance. They have a right and duty to ensure the prudent use of the media by training the conscience of their children to express sound and objective judgments which will then guide them in choosing or rejecting programmes available
Thompson is getting after the A.G. for helping parents understand the ESRB. The Pope is saying that's the parents responsibility. He won't go for that. No sir.

- Warren Lewis

[kurisu7885]

Thompson is getting after the A.G. for helping parents understand the ESRB. The Pope is saying that's the parents responsibility. He won't go for that. No sir.

- Warren Lewis

Seeing that final point I'm not as worried as I was, but now we'll have alot of catholic parents jumping on the bandwagon. I imagine a good drop in game sales and an increase in returns in the next few months now.

[Soldat_Louis]

Well, there's an ambiguity here.

What the Pope really condemns is a couple of things (the exaltation of violence, and the portraying or "anti-social behavior and the trivialization of human sexuality") that can be found in any form of media... including animated films and video games. He doesn't condemn "violent games" only nor per se.

So let's not overreact yet. Whatever I think of Benedict XVI and his ideas on other topics (and I disagree with him on many things), it's a bit too soon to compare him with Jack Thompson.

[Dagrak]

Very old Palpatine look-a-like leader of church denomination reknown for refusing to accept change condemns video games played by people over 30 years younger then him. Well I don't know about you but I am shocked beyond words!:D

[KN]

Seeing that final point I'm not as worried as I was, but now we'll have alot of catholic parents jumping on the bandwagon. I imagine a good drop in game sales and an increase in returns in the next few months now.

Wait, you've ever met a catholic who LISTENS to the pope?

[John]

Wait, you've ever met a catholic who LISTENS to the pope?

Second this. I come from a Catholic family. The Pope is more like a novelty item.