Commentary » Leadership In Youth Ministry

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• Self Care
• Christian Witness
• Professional Duty
• Avoiding Scandal
• Signs of a Professional in Youth Ministry
• General Tips for Leaders
• Diocesan Certification
• Youth Ministry and the Law
• Liability Guidelines
• Confidentiality
• Copyright Laws
  • Print
  • Movies
  • Why is Copyright Infringement a Concern?
  • TV Broadcasts
• For the Sake of God's Children: Diocesan Guidelines
• Supervision and Supervisors
• Cleared Adults and Volunteer Covenant
• Visiting Instructors/Camps
• CYM ID Badges
• Code of Conduct for Youth
• Permission, Medical Release Consent Form
• Attendance, Arrival, and Dismissal of Events
• Medical Injuries and Emergencies
• Injury/Incident Report
• Off-site Parish Youth Ministry & Site Selection
• Water & Physical Challenge Activities
• Hotel Rooms, Camp Settings, and Private Homes
• Inspecting Bags and Collecting Personal Electronic Devices
• Water Parks and Amusement Parks
• Movie and Video Game Ratings
• Drivers and Insurance
• Passenger Vans and Rental Vehicles
• Water Craft and Non-Automobile Accidents
• Emergency, Security Plans, and Corporal Punishment
• Diocesan Events

 

Movie and Video Game Ratings

Last Revised on January 13, 2012

Movies Ratings

When showing movies to young people (up to the age of 18), only G, PG, and PG-13 rated movies are appropriate. Movies that are rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America are inappropriate for use in ministry. No movie should be shown unless the group leader or event coordinator has previewed the movie in its entirety prior to showing the movie to young people. Movies that pervert the faith or are blatantly immoral must be avoided.

Adult leaders must follow the guidelines outlined at the end of this section regarding copyright laws when showing movies in ministry.

Video Game Ratings

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings are designed to provide concise and impartial information about the content in computer and video games so consumers, especially parents, can make an informed purchase decision. ESRB ratings have two equal parts: rating symbols suggest age appropriateness for the game and content descriptors indicate elements in a game that may have triggered a particular rating and/or may be of interest or concern.

To take full advantage of the ESRB rating system, it's important to check both the rating symbol (on the front of the box) and the content descriptors (on the back).

Only games with the ratings of Early Childhood, Everyone, Everyone 10+, and Teen are appropriate for use in ministry.

No matter how popular, games with the ESRB rating of Mature, Adults Only, or Rating Pending are not appropriate for use in ministry.

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