Papal message urges media to protect children from harmful programs

Published: 2007-01-24

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Media professionals, prior to offering violent or sexually explicit films, cartoons and video games as entertainment for children or teens, should ask themselves how young victims of abuse and exploitation would view such products, Pope Benedict XVI said. In his message for World Communications Day, which will be celebrated May 20 in most countries, the pope called for cooperation among media, parents, schools and parishes to protect children from harmful programming and to educate them in choosing their entertainment wisely. "Beauty, a kind of mirror of the divine, inspires and vivifies young hearts and minds, while ugliness and coarseness have a depressing impact on attitudes and behavior," said the message, released Jan. 24 at the Vatican. The pope chose "Children and the Media: A Challenge for Education" as the theme for the 2007 celebration.

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