The Catholic Weekly 30 October 2022

catholicweekly.com.au 2 30, October, 2022 CULTURE WARS V COMMON SENSE ONE OF the country’s most decisive political leaders is calling on Australian parents to boycott all entertainment that exposes children to sex- uality and gender politics at a young age. One Nation NSW leader Mark Latham said it’s inap- propriate that sexuality in children’s programming has escalated from simply featur- ing same sex couples to out- ward displays of intimacy that are not age appropriate. “Children don’t have those feelings yet, they’re not rel- evant in their body or mind. The reaction kids have is ‘yuk.’ I don’t see the point of the likes of Disney and other en- tertainment companies push- ing that,” Mr Latham told The Catholic Weekly . Mr Latham said intimate scenes of any kind had no place in programs and movies marketed at kids. “Putting this material in front of children at a young age is normalising behaviour that parents would normally want to keep separate from their child’s education and entertainment options until they’re teenagers.” “What do these formats gain in terms of entertain- ment value? These formats One Nation leader urges families to switch off inappropriate programming for the sake of their children ¾ Michael Kenny Bambi boycott have prospered for decades without this, why is it neces- sary now?” “Those things are gratui- tous, it’s propaganda, indoc- trination and it is just unnec- essary at such a young age. We all need to push back against this and the best form of re- sistance is the consumer boy- cott,” Mr Latham said. President of the National Civic Council Patrick Byrne echoed the political leader’s sentiments, saying it’s all part of a push by the entertain- ment industry to force fami- lies to conform to a whole new A scene from the Disney movie Under Wraps 2 , the first movie to feature a gay wedding. Mark Latham has urged parents to switch off inappropriate entertainment for the sake of their children. IMAGE: DISNEY agenda about sexuality, am- bushing parents into forced conversations before their children may be ready. “The problem with these things is it is introducing children to intimate sexuality before puberty when they un- derstand what it actually is. I would like to see it not in chil- dren’s programs, heterosexual or any kind,” Mr Byrne said. NSW State Director of Fam- ily Voice Australia Graeme Mitchell acknowledged that the entertainment industry is free to make films and pro- gramming as they wish for all audiences, saying the spot- light should be directed at the film classification system. “If it was working as intend- ed, children would be protect- ed, at least in theatres. But the situation is not confined just to films, but is evident in TV programs also, even those aimed at very young audienc- es.” Mr Mitchell says that par- ents have to be extra vigilant in doing the research on what their children are viewing to protect their children in the home as well as outside it. “Children must be protect- ed fromall displays of intimate sexual behaviour, [so] their development will be guided in the right direction by the warm affection their parents display for each other in the home and beyond,” he said. Warwick D’Silva, State President Australian Fami- ly Association WA said they would like intimate displays on screen to be kept away from kids, especially when they serve no purpose to the storyline. “Parents just want to go and see a movie with their kids and enjoy it, then they are exposed to same-sex kissing scenes and they have to stop and try to find a way to explain to their kids what is going on,” he said. I n this edition News Marketplace Archbishop’s homily Editorial & Letters Comments 1-11 8-9 17 18-19 22-23 “ … for secular modernity marriage is a cer- emonial celebration of romance and com- mitment; sexual complementarity, fidelity, longevity and children are optional and mat- ters for negotiation; and all that is promised is revisable.” - Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, Annual Marriage Mass, St Mary’s Cathedral 16 October QUOTABLE EDITOR Peter Rosengren (02) 9390 5400 REPORTERS Marilyn Rodrigues (02) 9390 5410 Debbie Cramsie (02) 9390 5396 Adam Wesselinoff (02) 9390 5400 SUBSCRIPTIONS Rita Ng (02) 9390 5411 ADVERTISING AND MARKETING Steve Richards (02) 9390 5404 Katie Clarke (02) 9390 5402 DESIGNERS Renate Cassis Mathew De Sousa Our story begins in 1839 with the Australasian Chronicle, continuing with the Freeman’s Journal in 1850. Level 13, Polding Centre, 133 Liverpool Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. Phone (02) 9390 5400 | Vol 73, No 5259 The Catholic Weekly is published by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney ABN 60 471 267 587 and is printed by Spotpress Pty Ltd, 24-26 Lilian Fowler Place, Marrickville NSW 2204. CatholicWeekly The Celebrating loved ones for over 90 years Trevor Lee & Son is a family business that has helped families celebrate and remember their loved ones for over 90 years. ♦ Intimate and personal funeral services ♦ Professional, compassionate staff, available 24 hours a day ♦ On site or in the comfort of your own home ♦ Servicing all areas of Metropolitan Sydney and Country NSW ♦ Pre-Paid Funerals available Contact Bernadette (nee O’Hare), Trevor or Darren Lee on 9746 2949 to arrange an appointment. Contact 1300 851 592 www.diamondwomen.com.au Worried? Alone? Pregnant? COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT CENTRES LOCATED IN BAULKHAM HILLS, GOSFORD, SYDNEY, MACQUARIE FIELDS, PENRITH AND SOUTH SYDNEY League scores an own goal FROM PAGE 1 “And if you don’t win? There’s always next week and, if it’s the grand final, there’s next year. “When you win you are taught to be magnanimous and humble. We’ve raised our kids in the Catholic ethos which does include the sport- ing field. “It’s a very tactile way of showing children to be humble and show those Catholic values and then when you do lose, you don’t spit the dummy, you look at why you lost. Maybe you were unlucky or you didn’t train hard enough. “One of the junior sport- ing clubs in my area has the motto ‘Play to win but learn to lose’ and that really is what it’s all about.” Peter Wade, principal of Patrician Brothers’ College, Fairfield, winners of this year’s NRL Schoolboys Cup, said the life lessons taught by sport, including rugby league, are undeniable. The game teaches students camaraderie, team spirit, dis- cipline and to always do your best, he said. “We are a com- prehensive high school which loves its sport and recognise not only the Catholic but life lessons taught by it,” he said. “No matter what you are doing, whether it’s debat- ing or league, there is always winners and losers. However what we teach is sportsman- ship and if the decision goes against you, you have to ac- cept it.” Catholic Schools NSWSen- ior Sport Officer Peter Giles has coached junior rugby league for more than 45 years’ and said he worries kids are going to start asking ‘why are we playing, what’s the point without a result?’ “My big question is about unintended consequences: will they still be playing rugby league because they can go to soccer, or basketball or rugby union as all these sports of- fer competitions where they keep score,” he said. “The Catholic ethos that is taught in rugby league I fear could be lost through this, including winning gracious- ly and losing the same way, teamwork, tenacity and com- munication. “I wonder where this is heading: are we going to stop giving little Johnny marks in class because he only got a 78 when his mate got 92, what is that teaching them?” MacKillop Rugby League Team hits the pitch. PHOTO: CSNSW SPORT Photo courtesy of Giovanni Portelli