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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Music and the artists who produce it.	Steve	Sunday, December 11, 2011
Question: On a Catholic forum the subject regarding music and the artists who produce it came up. Basically, it was said that if a given artist held personal views opposed to the Catholic faith (say they are pro gay marriage, pro choice, and so on), that buying music by them would be sinful, even if the music itself did not express this view or promote this agenda. Now, I could understand this being a sin if the music held blatantly anti-Christian views or if the money paid for the music was stated to specifically be given to anti-Christian causes. But, what if those views had no bearing on the actual music? I was under the impression that the Church had no official stance on music, provided it did not have any negative impact on our faith. That is, if the music was not promoting sentiments contrary to our faith, it was morally neutral. But, now I am being told that any purchase of music is a support of the artists views (I thought it was only support of their musical output, and the actual product). I am torn here, as I can see it going both ways. I know the CCC states we are not to participate or cooperate with evil. Am I sinning by buying music by artists with views contrary to my own, even if I am and will remain steadfastly opposed to said views? Thank you for your time.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), L.Th., D.D. Dear Steve: Buying music from artists who are not Christian or who hold views contrary to Catholic teaching is not cooperating with evil. The people telling you this are being scrupulous. The involvement with those artists are remote. There is no direct participation or implication from a buyer in the personal views of the artist. If this criteria were used across the board, we would have to renounce all of society and move to a mountain top and live on the land. The Internet runs through systems owned by companies that do things contrary to Catholic Teaching, some even support abortion and same-sex marriage. Thus, under the logic of your friends we should abandoned all use of the Internet. Two Popes have told us to be on the Internet and bring Christ to the Internet. So, we have a dilemma for your friends. It is impossible to boycott everybody. Thus, such issues are up to your personal conscience. One thing that is known objectively is that being a customer of the Internet or of music is not in-and-of-itself a sin. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Music and the artists who produce it.

Steve

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Question:

On a Catholic forum the subject regarding music and the artists who produce it came up. Basically, it was said that if a given artist held personal views opposed to the Catholic faith (say they are pro gay marriage, pro choice, and so on), that buying music by them would be sinful, even if the music itself did not express this view or promote this agenda.

Now, I could understand this being a sin if the music held blatantly anti-Christian views or if the money paid for the music was stated to specifically be given to anti-Christian causes. But, what if those views had no bearing on the actual music? I was under the impression that the Church had no official stance on music, provided it did not have any negative impact on our faith. That is, if the music was not promoting sentiments contrary to our faith, it was morally neutral.

But, now I am being told that any purchase of music is a support of the artists views (I thought it was only support of their musical output, and the actual product). I am torn here, as I can see it going both ways. I know the CCC states we are not to participate or cooperate with evil. Am I sinning by buying music by artists with views contrary to my own, even if I am and will remain steadfastly opposed to said views? Thank you for your time.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), L.Th., D.D.

Dear Steve:

Buying music from artists who are not Christian or who hold views contrary to Catholic teaching is not cooperating with evil. The people telling you this are being scrupulous.

The involvement with those artists are remote. There is no direct participation or implication from a buyer in the personal views of the artist.

If this criteria were used across the board, we would have to renounce all of society and move to a mountain top and live on the land.

The Internet runs through systems owned by companies that do things contrary to Catholic Teaching, some even support abortion and same-sex marriage. Thus, under the logic of your friends we should abandoned all use of the Internet. Two Popes have told us to be on the Internet and bring Christ to the Internet. So, we have a dilemma for your friends.

It is impossible to boycott everybody. Thus, such issues are up to your personal conscience. One thing that is known objectively is that being a customer of the Internet or of music is not in-and-of-itself a sin.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum