LETTERS

Pool of filth

Posted 6/12/19

To the Editor: The Legion of Decency, a true oxymoron today, was formed in 1934 to combat immoral movies. Catholics took a pledge, in church, against bad movies. They pledged not to go and see any morally objectionable movies. In today's sick and twisted

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LETTERS

Pool of filth

Posted

To the Editor:

The Legion of Decency, a true oxymoron today, was formed in 1934 to combat immoral movies. Catholics took a pledge, in church, against bad movies. They pledged not to go and see any morally objectionable movies.

In today’s sick and twisted society this pledge would basically forbid Catholics from viewing any movies made by Hollywood today. The Legion was very effective because at one time Catholics were united and strong and a powerful force to be reckoned with by Hollywood.

But then things began to change and as usual not for the better. At the end of the 1950s the emphasis was taken off condemning inappropriate movies and the legion was made to appear more positive and less condemning. Finally by 1975 the Legion of Decency ceased to exist. As the Church’s influence over Hollywood abated so did the movie industries standards. A new rating system was introduced by the Church called the Bishops new Catholic rating system and from the movies we see today apparently that new system has not worked out very well.

I tried to gather information about the Legion and why it began to lower its standards but there does not seem to be anything concrete to explain why an organization that tried to keep its followers, especially the young ones from being subjected, to smut, lewdness and obscenity so pervasive that it no longer seems to offend us. And look at what we have allowed to enter our homes thru television, a media that has become so offensive there are no words to even describe the trash, waste and absolute drivel that it brings to us.

And we have allowed this to transpire with no more than a whimper. We have allowed individuals who have no sense of decency to corrupt our children’s minds and did not have one iota of courage to stand up and say, “No more.” We have let our own depraved nature allow itself to take over everything we were taught was good and wholesome and turn it into a pool of filth that grows larger as we grow more comatose.

John Cervone

North Providence

Comments

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  • KimLorene

    The Catholic church forming a League of Decency. Now, THAT'S an oxymoron!

    Wednesday, June 12, 2019 Report this

  • Cat2222

    It is the parent who determine what their child watches, not the church. Money, politics and greed are why movies like this are made. It would take a heck of lot more than a church Legion to put a stop to it.

    Once again, everyone hearkens back to the "good old days" when they really weren't all that good. The church lost its right to be the moral barometer of decency and corruption once it came to light that they willing and knowingly sent pedophiles out in public to commit crimes against children repeatedly.

    By the way, where was The Legion of Decency when the children needed it the most?

    Friday, June 14, 2019 Report this