Well, now, if you’ve ever wondered about them movie ratings from the Catholic Church folks, I reckon I got a thing or two to tell ya. It ain’t like them regular movie ratings you see on TV or at the movie theater, no ma’am. The Catholic Church, or more specifically the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), they got their own way of doing things when it comes to rating films. And it’s a bit different from what you might be used to.
You see, the USCCB has this special office called the Office for Film and Broadcasting. They used to review movies, real good they did, tellin’ folks whether the film was decent for family watchin’ or if it was somethin’ that might make ya think twice. They’d give each movie a little tag based on what’s in it, like if it’s clean or if it has stuff that might trouble some folks, especially the young ones.
Now, they had a system, see. Movies were given ratings like A-I, A-II, A-III, L, and O. Let me tell you what each one meant. First off, A-I, that was the “General Patronage” rating. This was for movies that were good for all folks—young and old alike. Ain’t much in there that would ruffle any feathers. Then there was A-II, meant for adults and adolescents, not quite the little ones, but still okay for teenagers. A-III, now that one was for adults only. You’d have to be grown up to handle what was in them films. If a movie got an L, well, that meant it was for a “limited adult audience,” meaning it had content that might be troubling even for some adults. And finally, O, that one stood for “Morally Offensive.” I reckon that means it’s best to stay far away from such a movie, ‘cause it might not just be inappropriate, it might be downright wrong.
So, how did they decide what rating to give a movie? Well, the ratings weren’t handed out by bishops themselves, no sir. Instead, lay professionals took care of that. These were folks who knew a thing or two about films and what’s right and wrong. They’d watch the movie, maybe more than once, and then they’d assign a rating based on what they saw. But it wasn’t just about what happened in the film; they’d think about the overall message too, what it taught, and whether it would lead people to a better path or lead them astray.
Now, there was some big change in 2022. The Catholic News Service, which was the one doing the movie reviews, they stopped. Just up and suspended all them reviews. They passed the torch to another group, OSV News. But even with that change, people still talk about the old system, and some folks still look up them ratings when they’re thinkin’ about watchin’ a movie. It’s always good to know what you’re gettin’ into, right?
It wasn’t just movies that got rated. Oh no. There was a whole big book, the “Family Guide to Movies and Videos.” This book had little reviews for more than 7,500 movies! That’s a lot of movies, don’t you think? From back in the 60s all the way through the 90s, folks could look up a movie and see what the Catholic folks had to say about it. I tell ya, it saved me a few times from sittin’ through somethin’ that woulda given me nightmares.
What does this mean for you, though? Well, if you’re like me, you want to make sure the things you watch don’t mess with your head or your soul. So, them ratings can help. They give you a clear idea if a movie is safe to watch with the whole family, or if you should maybe think twice about takin’ the little ones along. It’s like goin’ to the grocery store and checkin’ the labels on what you buy. You gotta be careful about what you put in your mind just like you’re careful about what you put in your belly.
Now, I reckon it’s always good to stay informed about these things. There’s a lot of movies out there, and some of ‘em can be real tricky. They can look all shiny and fun, but underneath it all, they might have messages or content that ain’t so good for us. That’s where the USCCB ratings come in. They give you a way to figure out whether it’s worth your time or whether it’s somethin’ you’d best avoid. And just like with any kind of guidance, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
So what’s the bottom line here? Well, the USCCB used to be a big help for folks lookin’ for advice on which movies were alright to watch, and their ratings were a good way to stay on the right track. They made sure you didn’t end up watchin’ somethin’ that’d leave you feelin’ all kinds of wrong. Even though they don’t do it like they used to, it’s still a good idea to think about what kind of movies you’re watchin’ and whether they’re leadin’ you to a better path or not. Ain’t nothing wrong with bein’ careful about the things you let into your life, and movies are no different.
So, next time you’re wonderin’ about a movie, maybe take a look at the rating before you hit play. It might just save you a lot of trouble.
Tags：[Catholic Conference of Bishops, USCCB movie ratings, movie reviews, family-friendly movies, moral movie ratings, Catholic film guidance, OSV News, movie classification, Catholic media reviews]
