Above all, all Pastors of souls will undertake to obtain each year from
their people a pledge similar to the one already alluded to which is given by
their American brothers and in which they promise to stay away from motion
picture plays which are offensive to truth and to Christian morality.
The most efficacious manner of obtaining these pledges or promises is
through the parish church or school and by enlisting the earnest cooperation of
all fathers and mothers of families who are conscious of their grave
responsibilities.
The Bishops will also be able to avail themselves of the Catholic Press
for the purpose of bringing home to the people the moral beauty and the
effectiveness of this promise.
The fulfilment of this pledge supposes that the people be told plainly
which films are permitted to all, which are permitted with reservations, and
which are harmful or positively bad. This requires the prompt, regular, and
frequent publication of classified lists of motion picture plays so as to make
the information readily accessible to all. Special bulletins or other timely
publications, such as the daily Catholic Press, may be used for this purpose.
Were it possible, it would in itself be desirable to establish a single
list for the entire world because all live under the same moral law. Since,
however, there is here question of pictures which interest all classes of
society, the great and the humble, the learned and the unlettered, the judgment
passed upon a film cannot be the same in each case and in all respects. Indeed
circumstances, usages, and forms vary from country to country so that it does
not seem practical to have a single list for all the world. If, however, films
were classified in each country in the manner indicated above, the resultant
list would offer in principle the guidance needed.