Countering the Culture

Facts of Life

“As a parent of growing kids, I find that navigating popular culture is a never-ending and exhausting task. What is okay to let the kids watch, see and listen to? What kinds of television, music, movies and video games are being marketed to children today?

“It can be challenging to keep up,” blogged Danielle Bean at NCRegister.com recently.

“I am happy to have CultureGauge.com as a new weapon in my parental arsenal,” she continued.

“At CultureGauge.com parents have access to a Weekly Briefing that gives an overview of popular items in music, games, television, and movies that are currently being marketed to children and teens,” Bean explained. “It gives a thorough analysis of each of these items along with an overview of the ‘messages’ young people are likely to hear in the words and images.

“I like how in addition to a ‘caution rating’ for each item, there are also suggested questions for parents and kids to further discuss the issues brought up by media. These discussion questions are a great resource for parents who say Yes to some kinds of media, but want to continue having open conversations about the challenges some of these kinds of entertainment might present to their faith.

“I also like how the reviews of popular songs, movies and books pull no punches. They are honest about the good and redeeming qualities that are found in some otherwise objectionable fare, but unafraid to label certain products for what they are: toxic.”

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne attends a German Synodal Way assembly on March 9, 2023.

Four German Bishops Resist Push to Install Permanent ‘Synodal Council’

Given the Vatican’s repeated interventions against the German process, the bishops said they would instead look to the Synod of Bishops in Rome. Meanwhile, on Monday, German diocesan bishops approved the statutes for a synodal committee; and there are reports that the synodal committee will meet again in June.

Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza City on March 31, amid the ongoing battles Israel and the Hamas militant group.

People Explain ‘Why I Go to Mass’

‘Why go to Mass on Sundays? It is not enough to answer that it is a precept of the Church. … We Christians need to participate in Sunday Mass because only with the grace of Jesus, with his living presence in us and among us, can we put into practice his commandment, and thus be his credible witnesses.’ —Pope Francis