Evening star., 1936-07-03
CATHOLICS PRESS
MOVIE CRUSADE
Pope's EncycIicaI Adds I'm
petus to Drive for
"Decency."

=. =. The worldwide crusade for decency
IN motion pictures gained force today
rs a result of the Pope's encyclical
calling for international action by
Catholics to boycott films considered
Indecent.
In Castel Gandolfo, italy, Pope Plus
xI approved plans for Catholic
Press Committee to organize an In
ternational Catholic Motion Picture
Congress in Rome.
This organization, the Associated
Press reported, was the first practical
step in enforcing the Encyclical Vigil
lanti Cura. which was addressed Ito
all men who are right-minded and
solicitous for the public veal"
The papal pronunclamento was con-
sidered compliment to the American
hierarchy, which organized the Legion
of Decency here at meeting In No
vember 1898.
Committee to Report.
The committee of bishops directing
the crusade in this country will re-
port at the coming November meet
ing to the hierarchy and discuss pos
Sible steps to make more alright
united Catholic campaigning for NOR
Ality in motion pictures.
$ From Hollywood came word that
Will Hays considered the Popes letter
b tacit Endorsement of the picture in
dustry's own censorship plan. Hays,
filnn car, declined to comment until
he had read the complete text of the
encyclical.
' Observers pointed out that the main
steps outlined by the Pope for con-
trolling the morality Of the movie al
ready are being followed in this coun-
try by the Legion Of Decency, which
the Pope complimented thus in his
letter:
I'VE express our gratitude to the
hierarchy of the United States OF
America and the faithful who CO.
operated with them for the impor-
tant results already achieved under
their direction and guidance by the
Legion of Decency."
The legion, with headquarters in
New York. has an elaborate system
of analyzing every picture released,
and its criticisms are sent all over
the country through church publica-
tions.
Two lists are published. The larger
contains four claSsifications-unob-
jectionable for general patronage, un-
objectionable for adults, Objectionable
In part and condemned.
At the head Of the Bishops Decency
Committee is Archbishop John T.
'McNicholas of the Archdiocese of Gin
,cinnati. Serving with him are Bishop
John ]. CantWell of Los Angeles and
San Diego, Bishop Hugh c. Boyle
of Pittsburgh and Bishop John T.
Noll of Fort Wayne, Ind.
Their crusade swept through the
country in 1884, enlisting the support
of many Protestant and Jewish or
ganizations and reaching its height
in July of that year, when $4,000
Catholics from all over Northern Ohio
stormed Cleveland Stadium to take
q mass pledge against immoral films.
Pledge Is Approved.
This pledge, which was approved
in April, 1884, by the Bishops Com
rnittee, in session here, read:
Il wish to join the Legion of De-
cency. which condemns vile and un-
wholesome moving pictures. I unite
with all who protest against them as
a grave menace to youth, to home life,
to country and to religion.
Il condemn absolutely these salacious
motion pictures which, with other de-
grading agencies. are corrupting pub
lie morals and promoting a sex mania
In our land
Il shall do all that can to arouse
public opinion against the portrayal
of vice as a normal condition of af-
fairs, and against depicting criminals
of any class as heroes and heroines,
presenting their filthy philosophy of
life as something acceptable to decent
men and women.
Il unite with all who condemn the
display Of suggestive advertisements
on billboards. at theater entrances
and the favorable notices given to
Immoral motion pictures.
considering these evils, I hereby
promise to remain away from all mo-
ton pictures except those which do
not offend decency and Christian NOR
alitv"