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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Blair Witch Project	Dave	Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Question: Whats all the concern about the movie Blair Witch? By todays standards theres no gore or violence to speak of and very little profanity. Have you guys even watched it, or are people condeming it cause it has witch in the title? The movie is way overrated any way.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Dave: I have seen The Blair Witch Project. The problem is not gore, violence, or profanity, or the word "witch" in the title. The problem is that, like many other horror movies, it calls attention to negative forces and ideas and fears that we do not need to be focusing upon. It is not that this movie needs to be condemned, it is rather that it is not prudent to view it. This is especially the case for children and others who are sensitive to the suggestion of supernatural or preternatural phenomena and/or the fear of the unknown and unexplainable. Many can handle that, some cannot. My lack of recommendation of the movie comes for those reasons and that it is unnecessarily indulging the Culture of Death that our late Holy Father, John Paul II, of happy memory, warned us against. The fact that it is hyped as "real", and even if one knows that it is not real, its presentation is "realistic," makes this movie even more a problem from the point of view of the Catholic theology on our need to encourage a Gospel of Life and oppose a Culture of Death. It also presents a problem from a spiritual warfare and a psychological perspective. The apparent reality of it gives the film more power spiritually and psychologically, and that can be used by the Enemy to harass those who are sensitive. For all of us it just places in our minds images and thoughts that we do not need to have. St. Paul said in Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." St. Ignatius of Loyola in his Constitutions wisely teaches: "All should take care to guard with great diligence the gates of their senses (especially the eyes, ears, and tongue) from all disorder, to preserve themselves in peace and true humility of their souls..." There is nothing more sinister about it than that, but I cannot recommend it for the reasons stated above. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Blair Witch Project

Dave

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Question:

Whats all the concern about the movie Blair Witch? By todays standards theres no gore or violence to speak of and very little profanity. Have you guys even watched it, or are people condeming it cause it has witch in the title? The movie is way overrated any way.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Dave:

I have seen The Blair Witch Project. The problem is not gore, violence, or profanity, or the word "witch" in the title.

The problem is that, like many other horror movies, it calls attention to negative forces and ideas and fears that we do not need to be focusing upon.

It is not that this movie needs to be condemned, it is rather that it is not prudent to view it. This is especially the case for children and others who are sensitive to the suggestion of supernatural or preternatural phenomena and/or the fear of the unknown and unexplainable. Many can handle that, some cannot.

My lack of recommendation of the movie comes for those reasons and that it is unnecessarily indulging the Culture of Death that our late Holy Father, John Paul II, of happy memory, warned us against.

The fact that it is hyped as "real", and even if one knows that it is not real, its presentation is "realistic," makes this movie even more a problem from the point of view of the Catholic theology on our need to encourage a Gospel of Life and oppose a Culture of Death.

It also presents a problem from a spiritual warfare and a psychological perspective. The apparent reality of it gives the film more power spiritually and psychologically, and that can be used by the Enemy to harass those who are sensitive. For all of us it just places in our minds images and thoughts that we do not need to have.

St. Paul said in Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

St. Ignatius of Loyola in his Constitutions wisely teaches:

"All should take care to guard with great diligence the gates of their senses (especially the eyes, ears, and tongue) from all disorder, to preserve themselves in peace and true humility of their souls..."

There is nothing more sinister about it than that, but I cannot recommend it for the reasons stated above.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.