Well, let me tell ya, folks, if ya ever wondered who’s behind those movie ratings that seem to pop up all the time, it’s the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). They got this office called the Office for Film and Broadcasting, and it’s their job to take a good look at films, giving them ratings based on what they think is morally right or wrong, according to the teachings of the Church. Now, they don’t just sit there and watch movies all day—no, no—they got a whole system in place to make sure they’re doin’ things proper-like.
Now, when you see a movie rating like ‘A-I’ or ‘L,’ that’s all part of the USCCB’s system. The letters stand for different types of ratings. For example, ‘A-I’ means the movie is good for everyone, ‘A-II’ means it’s okay for adults and teenagers, and ‘A-III’ means it’s only meant for adults. Then there’s the ‘L’ rating, which is for those films that might be a bit too much for most adults, and ‘O’ is the one you really wanna look out for—it means the movie is morally offensive, and well, I reckon it’s best to skip those ones altogether.
So, how do they decide what’s what? Well, it ain’t bishops sitting around making these decisions. Nope, they got lay people doin’ the work, folks who are professionals but ain’t necessarily priests. These folks watch the films, write down their thoughts, and then they get a rating based on things like violence, language, and, of course, the moral messages being sent. It’s a big ol’ job, I reckon, but someone’s gotta do it.
The USCCB’s film reviews are often looked to by Catholics and other folks who want to make sure they’re watchin’ movies that won’t lead ‘em down the wrong path. After all, a lot of folks don’t want to be exposed to all sorts of bad influences, especially if they got young ones around. The ratings help folks know what’s good and what might be too much for the kids—or even for themselves, depending on what kind of movie it is.
But don’t think that just because a movie gets a high rating, it means it’s a good one to watch for everyone. No, no, some movies with an ‘A-I’ rating might still be a little slow or too preachy for some people. And then there’s the films with the ‘L’ or ‘O’ ratings, well, they just plain oughta be avoided, in my humble opinion. A good rule of thumb is to look at what those ratings say and decide if the movie’s got a message that lines up with your own values.
Now, I should mention, the USCCB used to be real active with their film reviews through the Catholic News Service, but back in July 2022, they stopped that, and the OSV News took over the task. That’s just the way things go sometimes. But I reckon the Office for Film and Broadcasting still has the final say on what gets rated, so don’t go thinkin’ this whole thing just up and disappeared. It’s still goin’ strong.
So what’s the point of all this? Well, folks, if you’re looking for some good, clean entertainment that won’t make you second-guess your choices later on, the USCCB’s movie reviews are a good place to start. They’re like a big ol’ filter for the world of film, making sure that what’s out there ain’t gonna lead folks astray. If you wanna make sure that your movie nights are safe for the whole family—or just for yourself, if you’re picky about what you watch—these ratings can be mighty helpful.
And remember, just ’cause a movie has a good rating don’t always mean it’s gonna be your cup of tea. Everybody’s got different tastes, and one person’s ‘A-I’ might be another person’s ‘A-III.’ So, use the ratings as a guide, but don’t be afraid to follow your own heart when pickin’ what to watch. After all, nobody knows what’s best for you better than yourself.
In the end, whether you’re lookin’ for a movie that’ll make you laugh, cry, or maybe just think a little deeper about life, the USCCB’s got your back. They do all this work so you don’t have to wade through the mess of movies out there. Just check the ratings, make sure you’re in the right zone, and sit back to enjoy. Ain’t that somethin’!
Tags：[United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic movie reviews, movie ratings, A-I rating, A-III rating, moral movie reviews, family-friendly movies, film reviews, OSV News, Catholic perspective on movies]
