Pope condemns violent games

His holiness says violent and sexually explicit media, including games, are "repulsive" and "a perversion," particularly when aimed at minors.

If Jack Thompson was looking for a powerful ally, he just found one.

"I once caught a fish in Twilight Princess THIS BIG!"

Pope Benedict XVI, the current head and spiritual leader of the Catholic Church, voiced his opinion on games today from the Vatican, saying that violent or sexually explicit games are a "perversion" and "repulsive."

As part of the annual papal message for World Communications Day, the theme of which was "Children and the Media: A Challenge for Education," the pope talked about the media's effect on children, paying particular attention to games and films.

"Any trend to produce programs and products--including animated films and video games--which in the name of entertainment exalt violence and portray antisocial behavior or the trivialization of human sexuality is a perversion, all the more repulsive when these programs are directed at children and adolescents,'' the pope said.

Pointing toward the growing influence the media has on youth, he said the media can support a family's educating of children provided it "promotes fundamental human dignity, the true value of marriage and family life, and the positive achievements and goals of humanity." He called upon the leaders of the industry "to safeguard the common good, to uphold the truth, to protect individual human dignity, and promote respect for the needs of the family."

Pope Benedict XVI's entire address is available in English online.

748 Comments

  • Eternal_Phoenix

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 3:10 pm PT

    Why are people getting so surprised, most of the thing that Pope said are true. Nowadays movies are mostly garbage, since the entire "plot" (if they have any) is sex and mostly violence (which I have seen so many, many time... boring!).
    Also, there are some video games, that can be consider "bad" for young audiences,**couch** GTA **couch**
    There is nothing more disappointing than hearing your 9 years old nephew tell you that he wants to play Bully because is "cool". I have Bully (which is an ok game, compared to GTA!!!) and let me tell you, damn that game is sometimes so mess up, I can believe is rated 'T'
    Don't get me wrong, I'm NOT SAYING that these things will turn you into a criminal or that all movies and games are bad, BUT they DO affect your personality and the way you think.
    All I'm saying is that, if you are "stupid" or your parents allow the tv to educate you (because they are too "busy" or because they are too lazy), then you are at risk of getting influenced by the "bad" side of the media.

    Just for the record, I am a 21 yrs old "Catholic" (not really, only in name) male and I currently don't feel obligated to have any kind of respect towards the new Pope, since he has to gain that respect, but after his "quote" about Islam, I lost any respect that I had for him. So, I don't endorse any of his extremest views.

  • smurfa1 posted Jan 24, 2007 3:03 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    smurfa1

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 3:03 pm PT (hide)

    As Bad Religion sings: "I believe in God when one and one is five."

    I accept if you believe in those (in my opinion) lies that God created the world and etc. There are no evidences that Earth was created for 6 000 years ago. There are no evidences that humans were created to rule the world.

    Instead we have a lot of evidences that speaks for Darwin and the evolution. I strongly agree with you Faelas that religion is stupid. Many problems that exists today is existing, just because we have different religions, or believes. Unfortunately there is nothing we can do about it, more than accept each other and respect what they believe in.

    But when a man decides that this is right and this is wrong, by reading the Bible, or whatever holy book. Then I am afraid. The Pope is against abortion, condoms and etc, that can protect people from poverty and deceases. Is that correct? NO! It is not!

    So is it strange that he starts to attack video games that is against his illusion of the world. Nope. But once again, should we have to live by rules and regulations that is made up by a man that has no idea of what he is talking about. Well that is up to you, but i will not.

  • Biohunter007

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:58 pm PT

    Its always amusing when the "leader" from a little boy raping cult has something negitive to say about about a culture that stays home and dosent bother anyone. Arent there more pressing issues to address such as the saftey of alter boys??

  • BoondockSaint66

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:56 pm PT

    LMAO!!!!!!

    And in Medievil times the church sold indulgences to people, forgiving them for their terrible sins, for large sums of money varying on their status and income. Oh yeah...the good ol' church. Here's my feelings on it. The church can do it's thing, people can do their thing, and I'll do mine. I'll respect the man's feelings, but I refuse to live by them.

  • bizuit

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:55 pm PT

    I love when ever the pope says something good which is all the time someone always come back with "ya but those pervert priests he does nothing about" Dont worry there being taken care of. I never hear these same people say anything about pervert teachers who do the same thing. Or the sex offenders that are always being released to the public again and again and recommit the same crime to someone else that no one says anything about. So congrats on being a hypocrite yourself

  • rougewarrior198

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:55 pm PT

    I agree with him that kids should not be playing violent video games, and for those bashing any kind of religion or spirituality, thanks for showing how intolerably ignorant you are. I respect peoples opinion and there right to choose in a god or no god, but people that rant and rave about how stupid religion is are going to have a hard time in life

  • Eastdabest

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:55 pm PT

    I thought people as old as him wouldn't know about video games.
    I bet his grandchildren's friends at school were talking about video
    games and he decided to buy a console. Then he went on a RAMPAGE!!!!
    and whacked the pope with his cane and told the pope it was because of
    video games.......(Seems believeable).......or is it?

  • theim3

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:54 pm PT

    "It has been proven (observed in study) that it is in a sentient being's best interest to "be good." It's that simple. If people did not cooperate and treat their neighbor's kindly, we would still be in the stone age, if not dead, and I promise you that nobody had even heard of jesus back then."

    What? People have been sheer a**holes to each other all throughout human history. Are you in 7th grade or something?

  • redxwarriorxxx

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:54 pm PT

    Wild Girl
    I guess spreading the truth about religion and priests' sex lives is not OK on this forum. Maybe they should refrain from posting news about the pope if they don't want the truth spoken.
    And by all means post on girl, post on. I'm trying not to seem so "I hate what you say" or anything and I thank you for show me that I can't type so well.

  • murlow12

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:53 pm PT

    I Couldn't agree more with his holiness. Games like Grand Theft Auto are a disgrace and perversion and are tainting our youth. I am an avid gamer, but I refuse to buy these types of games or support the developers that produce them.

  • nappan

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:53 pm PT

    jaredgood1: I'll grant you that the mentality is similar. I don't think there's any danger in it, and if there is remember that this is more of a reflection of something which already exists. Better to know where people stand than be surprised at the wrong moment.

  • evergrant2

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:53 pm PT

    I have to agree with statusone. What do you expect the mans opinion to be. I also have to agree with Rudy25, He needs to clean up his own house before he opens his mouth.

  • omarguy01

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:53 pm PT

    luckily, those games arent aimed at children

  • mk_2

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:52 pm PT

    "It is easy to prove to yourself that God is imaginary. The evidence is all around you. Here are 50 simple proofs" : http://godisimaginary.com/

  • SuperSpideyJedi

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:52 pm PT

    Christ Have Mercy on Us. Forgive us Lord for we know not what we do.

  • wallacebreen

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:52 pm PT

    Wide_world_girl, all those people who existed before religion was made did all those things with the help of God. And you still haven't explained why believing in God is bad. It gives people confidence and hope in their lives.

  • chaos0xomega

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:52 pm PT

    dragonbreathrw - That last post of yours shows your ignorance of history. He was in the Hitler Youth, not a full-blown Nazi It is unlikely he would have been even capable of thinking about sex in those days.

    In addition, it was illegal for Germans to have any form of intimate relations with jews during the Third Reich. Ever see Schindler's List? There is a reason why Der Kommandant isn't able to get it on with that jewish girl...

  • lol_waffles

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:51 pm PT

    The Pope is just trying to gain support from the millions of uninformed parents who will believe that violent videogames are the devil.

  • Morhavoc_IRL

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:51 pm PT

    its funny coz its the pope................and guys its just one guys opinion on stuff he doesnt do, i cant believe the amount of ppl gettin worked up over this...classics, and like i said"its funny coz its the pope"

  • eckertt001

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:51 pm PT

    This is about the worst place to debate religious issues.

    And I thank the pope for his opinion, however I believe he is mistaken on several key items. If a person can understand what is taking place in a game or movie, and demonstrates how to produce a healthy family and behaviorisms, then I fail to see what the issue is.

    Also, his statement is very broad and vague. Which was proboly intended to be left open for discussion.

  • jamloz13

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:51 pm PT

    When you bash the Catholic Church and the Pope's comments you are doing the exact same thing you are accusing the Pope of doing. You are bashing what you don't know, understand or are taking out of context. The Pope was talking about the things that are specifically marketed to children and teens. He was talking about the movie industry and the entire mass media as well, not just gaming. As a Catholic Youth Minster for the past 10 years, before I got ill (now on chemo), I have used video games in the ministry. It is responsibility of these young people's parents to keep the things that aren't appropriate out of these young people's hands. And if you are responsible for a group of young people to do the same while they are in your care.

    As far as the Nazi comments, slave trade and the other underhanded comments, you guys are being ignorant. Once again, doing the same thing you are accusing the Pope and the Church of doing. Wow, who would have ever thought human decency and protecting young people would be a horrible thing?

  • wallacebreen

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:50 pm PT

    The pope is NOT infallible. Personally, I don't think Church is really that important, as long as you believe in God.
    And there is MUCH more anti-christianity than there is anti-atheism.

  • wild_world_girl

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:50 pm PT

    Dill-man:

    "Religion is great in many ways, it teaches people humanatarinsm and basic values and morals"

    I'm so sick of religion getting credit for *human nature and common sense* It has been proven (observed in study) that it is in a sentient being's best interest to "be good." It's that simple. If people did not cooperate and treat their neighbor's kindly, we would still be in the stone age, if not dead, and I promise you that nobody had even heard of jesus back then.

    Humans were "doing it right" a long time before organized religion existed.

  • StatusOne

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:49 pm PT

    What else is he 'expected' to say? he likes to play GOW in his free time? its the friggin' Pope.

  • grandgundam3

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:49 pm PT

    Yeah, and, so what? Half the people in office in -this- country (and I mean the US, for our foreign posters, though it's kinda obvious) condemn violent games, so what's one guy half a world away to us. Besides, he needs to get his facts straight, cause last time I checked, violent games were meant for adults, hence the M ratings (or equivelent elsewhere in the world). The fact that parents buy Gears of War for their 9-year-old is no one's problem except the parent's. And if you want to the Big Guy upstairs into it, I see it like this. If He didn't want violent games in the world, He wouldn't have made it possible to make violent games. There, I shot down the Pope's -opinion- with my own. I feel a little better now.

    Oh, and kudos to GameSpot for the caption under the picture. Priceless.

  • Rudy25

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:49 pm PT

    This world is full of religious kooks. Take a look at your own organization pope. Freakin hypocrit cant even find solutions for pervert Priest touching innocent children, but he can solve problems by getting rid if violent games? Can you believe the nerve on this guy?

  • jaredgood1

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:49 pm PT

    "nappan
    Oh, you mean like the nazis gassed the jews and gypsies and blacks? Hmmmmm. I seem to remember the vatican being complicit in that. Sorry Jared, but unless you want to to reach waaaaaaaaay back in history to the late roman empire, it's pretty much christians who have been doing the stomping, not black people, or jews, etc. The fact that it's been christians doing so much of that killing and pillaging just makes your statement all the more comic and absurd."

    True, but then again, I wasn't commenting on history. I was commenting on mentality. The mentality on display here is the same mentality that people use to justify atrocities. It's not what people are saying, it's the rational and methodology people are using to justify what they are saying. Saying that because someone believes X or is an X, they should be castigated, is only a few steps from saying "we should get rid of X".

  • StraeDog

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:48 pm PT

    Ummmm, people who say the pope is infallible clearly have no right to talk smack about the Catholic church since they don't even know enough about it to know that the pope is NOT always infallible. He's only infallible when he speaks from the throne of Peter, which has happened twice in the 2000 year history of the Catholic church. So please, do your research before you make yourself look stupid.

  • tigerfan1993

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:48 pm PT

    I dont want to insult the pope, but seriously, stick with the holy water.

  • KobukSohn

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:48 pm PT

    ~BxBombr91 No offense, and I'm not quite sure who she was quoting, but after reading what the guy said, I had a hard time as well understanding just what the hell he was going on about.

  • wallacebreen

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:48 pm PT

    Wide_World_girl, would you care to explain why Christianity is so bad? You really seem to enjoy saying why Christians are so evil, and then you whine about why your comments were deleted.

  • dragonbreathrw

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:48 pm PT

    a_nevels666 The pope should just stay quiet on topics he knows nothing about, like games and sex. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Oh I'm sure he knows alot about sex. Especially with Jewish girls during the occupation that he could kill without any reprimand from the higher ups.

  • theim3

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:48 pm PT

    What really more needs to be said? If you really don't like the pope, how about just not being a Catholic? Is that so hard? I know you stuck-up liberals think you know what's best for everyone, but how about for once just accepting that some people find a greater meaning in their lives than humanity's more baser urges?

  • nappan

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:48 pm PT

    "wallacebreen Nappan, can you even read? I didn't say anything about hating bad video games. And why the **** is Christianity absurd? Is it bad to believe in God? Why so? "

    There's a big difference between faith in a god, and the catholic church my overly sensitive friend. One is a personal thing which is internal and the other is a giant entity with enormous power, wealth and influence, a criminal history and a fairly sketchy present.

  • Iffy350

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:47 pm PT

    AT-1 Snapper, AT-2 Swatter, AT-3 Sagger, AT-4 Spigot, AT-5 Spandrel, AT-6 Spiral, AT-7 Saxhorn, AT-8 Songster, AT-9 Spiral 2, AT-10 Stabber, AT-11 Sniper, AT-13 Metis-2, AT-14 Kornet, AT-15 Khrizantema, AT-16 Vikhr


    Blast w/ I tink

  • a_nevels666

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:47 pm PT

    The pope should just stay quiet on topics he knows nothing about, like games and sex.

  • wild_world_girl

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:46 pm PT

    This site is lame, in all of this I have had a post rescinded for racism/threats. I guess we know what side the GS mod's bread is buttered.

    I guess spreading the truth about religion and priests' sex lives is not OK on this forum. Maybe they should refrain from posting news about the pope if they don't want the truth spoken.

  • togo2828

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:46 pm PT

    Its official this Pope is a Nazi and thats my opinion

  • Faelas

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:45 pm PT

    "wallacebreen
    Look Faelas, I don't want to start an argument or something. I understand that you two are expressing your opinions, but some of your ideas are insulting. "Living forever would suck", "2000 year old book of madness"? That's pretty insulting to Christians. There's nothing wrong in believing in God or in Heaven. And I have nothing against atheists. Some of my best friends are atheists. And even though I'm a Christian and I respect the Pope, I don't really agree with what he said. I'm a Christian AND a videogamer. Problem is there are too many idiots out there who start killing others after playing GTA.
    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:40 pm"

    Now the "living forever would suck" is born out of the opposite comment of someone saying that dieing would suck. Look. One of my best friends is a Muslim. Parts of my family is Christian. I respect their beliefs. And they respect mine. As I respect you. Now reason why I said book of madness is because I think so, not that YOU think so. I'm just telling what I think. It's a comment board, people must respect meanings, good or bad in their eyes. There is so much anti atheism here that I could have puked if I was as sensitive as you. But I know that this is a place for arguments, and To give some you must take some. I feel sorry for people who has bound themselves to a set of rules, just because of something they heard about at school, or what their parents told them.

  • HyperMetaDragon

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:45 pm PT

    Go home, you stupid Pope. I don't give a rats *** what you say, the videogame industry is here, and it's here to STAY.

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:45 pm PT

    Best friends with Jack Thompson?

  • Dill-Man

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:45 pm PT

    i didn't know the pope played video games!!!!

    im totally converting to catholicism!

    Everyone should read this, everyone needs a history lesson here it seems. Religion is great in many ways, it teaches people humanatarinsm and basic values and morals, it also helps millions of people around the world, thats why im a member of a church.

    thats good, but The Church is outdated, also many main principles of christianity were done for political purposes rather than religous purposes, such as claiming Jesus the Son of God, at the time many true christians did not believe him to be the son of God but thought him as a prophet, but Constantine say the rising power of Christianity and proclamined Jesus the "Son of God", much of the bible was also changed for political purposes. The Vatican and the Pope are also very outdated, the Pope was created to really be a puppet of the kings and aristocrats of Europe by pressing their needs through the Pope when they could other wise not. The Crusades for example were not really something the Pope thought to do, the European kings and aristocrats bribed and threatned the pope to announce Crusades for the sake of creating nationalism and so they could gather riches in the Middle East in the name of God. The use of the crusades making nationalism could alough kings to say, raise taxes, while the people thought to themselves, well it is for the sake of my country and god, and made them less likely to speak out. Although the Pope today isnt neccessiraly a puppet today, the system was made for a purpose and humans as a whole, i should think, have passed this purpose of takeing advantage of the poor and uneducated through religion. Im not saying we should eradicate the Pope and The Church, because like i said, religion is a great thing and has helped many people; all im saying is that it could use a little modernization, because 33 AD (or whatever date you think the actual first pope came) is a lot different that 2007

  • dragonbreathrw

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:45 pm PT

    This just proves something - A few years ago there was a massive uprising about the fact that this pope was an ex-nazi. He said he was forced into it by Hitler and he would have never comitted the acts generated by the party. However, if any of you would actually listen to me you'd see that this is directed against those who believe in the Eastern religion side of things. Once a nazi always a nazi now he just has power.

  • redxwarriorxxx

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:45 pm PT

    victorer I'm not dumb in fact I love science. It has law that can't be broken like the law of Gravity and that is very agreeable is it not? The Second Law of Thermol Dynamics says everything breaks down to it's simplist form (you freeze water to make ice you melt the ice to get water you heat the water to get gas or water vapor). The THEORY of evolution says you grow in complexity and not break down. It dies under the laws of science. You don;t know it but on a atomic level you are breaking down not growing in complexity.

  • Heinkel-111

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:45 pm PT

    Vineyard? VINEYARD! promoting alcoholism

  • BxBombr91

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:45 pm PT

    WILD_WORLD_GIRL - Will you please shut up. I'm not bashing you for your beliefs or anything. But I will assume that you have friends who are of the Catholic Faith, Jew, Muslim or whatever. So why are we all arguing about this? We all believe what we believe and arguing with the other about his ways won't change him and he/she will not change your beliefs. So quit bickering back and forth. We're all different and are entitled to our own beliefs, that's what makes America great now let's stop bickering. If you agree with the Pope, don't let your 10 year old son play San Andreas, if you don't go play Gears of War, and let your children play it too. It's not that big of a deal. The Pope is doing what you've all been doing this whole time. Stating what HE believes when it comes to violent games and films. It's not a big deal relax. I'm Catholic, I've played M Games since I was 10, and I'll let my children do it too and they can do it without carjacking and shooting up people in real life.

  • wallacebreen

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:45 pm PT

    I'm glad to see someone like SuperSpideyJedi. I agree with everything you said, dude

  • frankfurter209

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 2:45 pm PT

    GameSpot, why oh why would you post this story? I saw the title on the side of the page and I thought, "Oh, god, the comments section must be insane". Well, amazingly enough, everyone is trying to ram their opinions down each other's throats. It turned into a "Is God Real?" debate in all of 5 seconds. Next time, disable the comments section or just don't post the story.

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