Taking Gods Name In Vain

[Croat]

I would like to know is it a sin to watch some good movies which unfortunately have characters who take Gods name in vain? I am a devout catholic and this will not scandalize me.

[cappie]

Once you are an adult and solely responsible for your own moral choices, you are responsible to inform your conscience on what the Church requires. The Church does not require a person to avoid all movies that contain instances of taking the Lord's name in vain, although individual Catholics may choose to do so out of respect for the holy name of Christ.

here are some considerations: Movies, like other works of art, are rarely perfect. Even an otherwise charming and wholesome movies can contain instances where a character uses the Lord's name in vain. But just because something is imperfect does not mean that it must be shunned. Christ scandalized his contemporaries by enjoying the company of sinners and tax collectors. In the same manner, so long as a movie is not so problematic as to be beyond artistic redemption, the Church does not require us to shun the imperfect works of our fellow sinners.

Sometimes problematic elements serve characterization. In a movie which depict soldiers in a war situation, it would be strange if the soldiers minced their profanity (e.g., using "Shucks!" instead of something stronger). In order to portray, as realistically as possible, ordinary soldiers in desperate situations, the movie chose to include real profanity. One can disagree with the idea that all soldiers cuss in battle, but it is realistic to imagine that some do.

[CatherineM]

If you are an adult, and it doesn't scandalize you, it's okay. It's frankly hard these days to go anywhere and not hear this kind of cursing. If you were a child that parroted things you heard, or had a delicate constitution, then it would be a different matter. There are lots of things in movies that I wish they wouldn't show. Some movies I avoid, some I watch but kind of zone out during the bad parts. I enjoy watching movies too much to avoid every movie with parts I don't like.