After more than a year of praying about the media, it looks as though no progress has been made.  Indeed it seems that things are worse than ever.  Many mainline films have homosexual themes; the anti-Church movie based on the best selling book “The DaVinci Code” was just recently released as a film.  News programs repeatedly cite polls that tell you of the President’s declining popularity rating. Music CD’s and video’s are as raunchy as ever.  

Critics are afraid to criticize.  They fall into the same trap as the culture.  “It’s wrong to be judgmental.”  Some folks who probably never open Scripture in their adult life will tell you that Jesus condemned not the adulteress [John 8] but the accusers.  This passage is of course not about judgment but about hypocrisy.  Many of the accusers in the crowd were guilty of the same sin of adultery themselves, but they brought only the woman forward for judgment while trying to trap Jesus.  Later in Scripture, it says that if you see someone sinning and you do not tell them that what they are doing is a sin, then the sin becomes yours as well.  We are not called to judgment, but to discernment. 

The media will tell you that they are only “giving the people what they want.”  This is obviously not true.  [Who was it that said a lie will travel half way around the world, while the truth is putting on its boots?]  Most films made are rated “R” or at least should be.  The fact of the matter is that the most successful films, the ones that sell the most tickets and make the most money, are the ones that are kid or family friendly.  This is a segment that is drastically underserved while the producers and directors create their “art.”  Boycotts won’t change the media’s mind.  Protests only draw publicity.  The only answer is continued prayer - and more prayer - and more prayer.  

The point is this, while it seems to be that nothing has changed, each day is one day closer to Christ’s return; each day is one less for the devil.  Satan has lost, and he is desperately trying anything he can to deceive as many as he can while he has any time left.  The battle is in the Powers and Principalities.  Send up your prayers to arm and strengthen the Lord’s angelic hosts. 

Those who are led to pray for this particular intention of mass communications, please contact Frank Z. Potter, the writer of this article, at #248-634-0812, to let him know that you will join with him and others in praying for this topic.  Frank is a member of the People of Joy Prayer Group at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Highland, Michigan.  He serves on the DCCR Assembly, and represents the Archdiocese of Detroit on the Michigan Service Committee of the AMCCC.