Why is Fr. Barron endorsing a profanity filled fornication movie?

I just don’t understand Fr. Robert Barron at all.  I know of Fr. Barron from his appearances on EWTN, his assorted DVD's and his "Word on Fire" series.  I did not expect to see him support a teen movie that clearly goes against Catholic teaching for Catholic parents.

As a Catholic parent, I read A LOT about what the Church teaches and has taught on Catholic parenting.  One thing is very clear, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ALLOW YOUR CHILDREN TO BE SUBJECTED TO (this includes books, movies, television shows, video games etc.).

So when I saw Fr. Barron make a Youtube video ENDORSING the movie "The Fault in our Stars" I was not only shocked but extremely disappointed in Fr. Barron.  This is another example of the Church teaching one thing and a priest doing the opposite.

How can a priest put his stamp of approval on a movie that 1) takes the name of the Lord in vain, 2) depicts fornication (two teens having sex), and 3) uses terms like “a$$hole” and “bulls**t” and “freaking douche”?  

Is this what Fr. Barron (according to his Youtube video) wants our Catholic youth watching?  Really?

The movie “The Fault in our Stars” is about two teens dealing with cancer and what, if anything awaits them (all of us) after death.  But the issue I have is what else is included in the story- as mentioned above.

Movie clip: 

Here is Fr. Barron’s Youtube video endorsement of the movie:

Christian review of “The Fault in our Stars” by Christian magazine Thriving Family writes:

Authority roles:  Both Hazel's and Augustus' parents are loving, caring, and long suffering. Augustus' parents make him watch television in the living room rather than in the basement when he first brings Hazel to his house. Hazel's mother has devoted herself to taking care of her daughter. She insists Hazel attend the support group when she thinks Hazel is depressed. Later, Hazel discovers that her mother has been taking courses from a college and that she will soon get her degree in counseling so she can help other families in similar situations to theirs. Although Hazel's mother accompanies them to Amsterdam, she has no hesitation about leaving Hazel and Augustus alone. In fact, they have sex in his hotel room while she explores the museums.

Profanity/Graphic violence:  The dialogue is laced with profanity. H---, b--ch, bulls--t, b--tard and a variation of the f-word are used. A-- is used alone and with bad, hole and clown. God's name is used alone and with d--n and oh my. The phrase sweet holy Lord is used as well as sweet Jesus Christ. Other objectionable words are p---, p---ed, sucks, freaking douche, dumbbutt crap, gosh dang, boobs and boobies.
The only violence in the book is in the descriptions of the video game that Augustus and Isaac like to play. There are some fairly graphic descriptions of Hazel's and Augustus' illnesses. When Hazel is in the ICU, Augustus describes the black cancer fluid being drained from her lungs. Augustus soils the bed and vomits on himself as his body deteriorates.

Kissing/Sex/Homosexuality:   Isaac and his girlfriend kiss outside the church after a support group meeting. Hazel can tell that Isaac is feeling his girlfriend's breast while they kiss. Hazel's friend alludes to wanting to have sex with Augustus. Hazel looks up pictures of Augustus' old girlfriend on the Internet and sees several of the couple kissing. Augustus jokes that he thinks his grand gesture of including her in his wish should have gotten him laid. Augustus and Hazel kiss passionately in Anne Frank's house. Later that afternoon they have sex in his hotel room. It is intimated they have sex the following morning as well. When Augustus learns that Isaac has a computer program that will read his emails, he tells him that he'll send Isaac porn. After Augustus dies, Hazel and Isaac play his favorite video game but tell the characters to do sexual things like hump the wall instead of actually trying to win the game.

For me, this is NOT something a Catholic priest should endorse.

I am very disappointed in Fr. Barron for the grave scandal his endorsement might give to our youth.

Catechism: #2353 -Fornication is carnal union between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of persons and of human sexuality which is naturally ordered to the good of spouses and the generation and education of children. Moreover, it is a grave scandal when there is corruption of the young.

In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner



PS - fans of the book who want to tell me about the "love" the book and movie depict can save your rantings and hate mail- you won't change my mind.  Anyone who fornicates and doesn't repent is GOING TO HELL.  
Fornication depicted in books and movies is CORRUPTING society. That isn't love, it is hate. Catholic priests, laity and parents NEED to teach that reality, not the misguided lie that 'if its love God is ok with it'.  If you love someone, you don't fornicate with them.  God is NEVER ok with fornication- its a mortal sin that sends people to hell.  Period.

Movie Review Source:  http://www.thrivingfamily.com/Family/Media/book-reviews/f/fault-in-our-stars.aspx

EWTN Press Release: "Catholicism: The New Evangelization"

EWTN Presents The World Television
Premiere Of Fr. Robert Barron’s
‘Catholicism: The New Evangelization’

Preceded By a Special ‘EWTN Live’ Featuring Fr. Barron

Irondale, AL – When someone tells you the Catholic Church’s stance on abortion, homosexuality or euthanasia is wrong, when someone makes fun of your religion, when someone mocks a religious practice you hold dear, how do you respond? How should you respond? Can you really challenge someone’s deeply held beliefs or will you just make them mad? These questions are at the heart of an intelligent and engaging new documentary by Father Robert Barron entitled, “Catholicism: The New Evangelization.” (Not to be confused with Father’s popular 10-part epic, “Catholicism.”)

Most Catholics have heard of “the New Evangelization.” But few actually know what it means, how to do it effectively, or why it’s so critical.  Get the answers you want and need when this program premieres at 9:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Dec. 18 – exclusively on EWTN. The program will encore at 1 p.m. ET, Saturday, Dec. 21. (Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.)

Travel around the world in 90-minutes, beginning in Melbourne, Australia, and meet many people who are engaging our increasingly secular culture the right way; that is, they are not just making people mad, they are actually changing hearts and minds and making a difference. Learn how they do it and how you can too!

The documentary is preceded by a special “EWTN Live” with special guest, Fr. Barron! The program airs at 8 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Dec. 18.

You will want to enjoy this program, a not-to-be-missed EWTN Event, again and again. Watch it, learn from it, and then purchase it from EWTN Religious Catalogue at http://bit.ly/1kgbZ3Q, so you can share it with family and friends – it’s that good!

Also look for Fr. Barron to be the keynote speaker, along with Father Larry Richards and Father Timothy Gallagher, at EWTN’s Family Celebration Aug. 16-17 in Birmingham, Ala.

EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 32^nd year, is available in over 230 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories. With its direct broadcast satellite television and radio services, AM & FM radio networks, worldwide short-wave radio station, Internet website www.ewtn.com, electronic and print news services, and publishing arm, EWTN is the largest religious media network in the world.