Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale94

While affirming the belief that many people involved in social communi-

cations want to do what is right,5 we must also recognize that those who work

in this field confront "special psychological pressures and ethical dilemmas" 6

which at times see commercial competitiveness compelling communicators to

lower standards. Any trend to produce programmes and products - including

animated films and video games - which in the name of entertainment exalt

violence and portray anti-social behaviour or the trivialization of human

sexuality is a perversion, all the more repulsive when these programmes

are directed at children and adolescents. How could one explain this "enter-

tainment" to the countless innocent young people who actually suffer vio-

lence, exploitation and abuse? In this regard, all would do well to reflect on

the contrast between Christ who "put his arms around [the children] laid his

hands on them and gave them his blessing" 7 and the one who "leads astray ...

these little ones" for whom "it would be better ... if a millstone were hung

round his neck".8 Again I appeal to the leaders of the media industry to

educate and encourage producers to safeguard the common good, to uphold

the truth, to protect individual human dignity and promote respect for the

needs of the family.

4. The Church herself, in the light of the message of salvation entrusted to

her, is also a teacher of humanity and welcomes the opportunity to offer

assistance to parents, educators, communicators, and young people. Her

own parish and school programmes should be in the forefront of media

education today. Above all, the Church desires to share a vision of human

dignity that is central to all worthy human communication. "Seeing with the

eyes of Christ, I can give to others much more than their outward necessities;

I can give them the look of love which they crave".9

From the Vatican, 24 January 2007, the Feast of Saint Francis de Sales.

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

5 Cfr Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Ethics in communications, 4. 6 Aetatis novae, 19. 7 Mk 10:16. 8 Lk 17:2. 9 Deus caritas est, 18.