Is it set in stone 100% that owning a television is sinful? I am uncomftorable with the idea of completely removing the television from the home, although I think it should be heavily monitored.

Yet I don't see the problem in occasionally watching a basketball or football game. I also think it could be used to watch important shows/movies on EWTN that are not heretical (like tv shows about the saints/fatima movie).

In addition, I don't see the problem in some tv shows.movies like The Waltons or Little House on the Prairie or Old Yeller even though theyre prots.

Finally, without the TV/DVD player, how could we enjoy movies like Jesus of Nazareth and The Passion of the Christ?

@curiouscatholic23:

I second what Graham said; the uses you listed are fine and not a danger to your soul... just try not to watch too much network TV; the commercials are often as indecent (or even MORE) than many of the programs.

Remember that commercial TV is JUST that... TV stations are run as a BUSINESS, and that means the owners and programmers are out to make money. They will, and do, program whatever shows/attitudes/philosophies will attract the most viewers, and that obviously excludes most faithful Catholics. The programmers are not interested in encouraging your faith.

As for EWTN, please remember that they are TOTALLY Conciliar in their allegiances, they align themselves with known practitioners of Charismatic error and they have had their share of major scandals involving their hosts/personalities lately. I would not imagine that there is any danger to your soul in watching good, faithful movies on EWTN, but remember that their commercials and their in-house productions will be laced with Conciliar propaganda.

It's best to probably stick to DVDs or VHS where applicable; you can also subscribe to various online downloading services where you might be able to find some of the movies or shows you wish to see.

Search eBay and Amazon, as well as yard sales and estate sales... you never know what movies an older Catholic person might have had in their collection that will occasionally come up for sale.

May God bless you as you seek to order your home life according to His will.

Holy virgin saints of Heaven, teach us to guard our purity and sanctity for love of Christ.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

When I'm established, I may have a TV so the family and I could watch good or acceptable movies on DVD/VHS, but you can bet your life that there's not going to be an antenna hooked up to it. It's getting harder just to try and find good movies to watch that aren't going to scandalize the kids, or subliminally suggest modernist ideas to them. It's impossible to turn on the regular TV channels and not be bombarded with immodest or sɛҳuąƖ content. When I'm in a public area and they have a TV on, about 50% of the time (even if I'm just passing by) something sex related comes up on the screen.

I agree with you about the ads. If you live in or near a city there are assuredly rental stores that specialize in older movies. If not (and I seem to recall that you're rural) you could try one of those movie delivery things - Netflix, or whatever. Making sure they aren't subliminally modernist is more difficult - you might look at amazon for a conservative and alert movie reviewer and follow his recommendations.

It isn't sinful to own a television. As long as you watch good wholesome shows then it's ok to own one, but watching immodest tv shows such as Modern Family and The Bachelor would be sinful. The SSPX encourages people not to own one, and in fact third order members of the Society must give their tvs up.

EWTN is one of those stations that is safe from immodesty and materialism, but is not safe from modernism. Movies about Saints and Fatima are acceptable, and Mother Angelica is fine to watch as well (particularly her shows from 1993 to 2001, when she was in the Traditional nun's habit). But most of the other stuff on that station, like Fr. Mitch Pakwa and Life on the Rock is your typcial Bogus Ordo garbage.

Watching wholesome DVDs like Passion of the Christ is fine. Heck, even the Duggars (a Protestant family) only use their tv to watch DVDs.

Two great DVDs: Jesus of Nazareth from the 60s and Passion of Christ by Mel.  Amazing and glad you mentioned them, curiouscatholic.

Any other ideas for good Catholic DVDs that are larger productions like those two?

I saw a great movie on Padre Pio via youtube.



Has anyone seen that movie on Fatima, The 13th day??? Im curious about it.

As has been mentioned above, I found the commercials to be the main reason my wife and I eventually decided  to get rid of the TV completely.  We could control the actual program, but we had no control over the ads.  There are a few things I miss, but generally anything I really want to see I can find on line.  

I do miss baseball games, but I often go to a friend or relative's home to watch them.  None of my children have followed in my footsteps in terms of banning TV completely, although I am pleased that all keep a pretty tight watch on it.  

I also enjoy listening to games and other things on the radio.  There is a public radio station here that plays a lot of radio dramas and comedies from the 60's and earlier.  

Finally, without the TV/DVD player, how could we enjoy movies like Jesus of Nazareth and The Passion of the Christ?

When we watch a movie, we use our computer.

I like that the most comfortable places in the house such as the sofa, do not face a screen but rather a fireplace or bookshelf. If we let the kids watch something, they sit on folding chairs around a PC screen ... the sofa is where we read together.

What do you read together as a family?

We usually don't ALL read together ... either me & kids or dad & kids.
Right now we're just starting Mr. Popper's Penguins having finished Charlotte's Web last week. Matthew will read a couple of picture books of their choosing in the evening. Tonight was something about chickens that they picked up at a garage sale a few weeks ago.