http://www.whattheyplay.com
This family website lists current video games by title and platform, and provides ratings and descriptions so that parents and responsible teens can be informed consumers of entertainment software.
"What They Play" uses the rating system by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB); ratings are: EC (Early Childhood), E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone Above 10 Years Old), T (Teen), M (Mature), AO (Adults Only), RP (Rating Pending). The ratings are given from the perspective of caring parents, and are based on types of violence, use of alcohol/tobacco, and other potentially objectionable content.
Know what your kids are playing! Be aware of what you yourself are playing!
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The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society in economics and politics, in law and policy directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. Marriage and the family are the central social institutions that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined. We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable."
-- from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website:
http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/projects/socialteaching/excerpt.shtml
I had a chance to put this Catholic teaching into practice by participating in California's Catholic Lobby Day this past Tuesday, April 28, 2009, in Sacramento. Catholics from across California learned about the issues, celebrated Mass (with 7 bishops!), processed to the State Capitol building, held a rally, and then broke into small groups to meet with the individual legislators (or their chiefs of staff) and explain our viewpoint as derived from Catholic morality. Learn more at the website of the California Catholic Conference (the organization of all California bishops that performs legislative advocacy): http://www.cacatholic.org/
Every state has a Catholic Conference. To find yours, go the the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website and find your diocese and bishop; the bishop's office will know: http://www.usccb.org
Our society tends to undermine the family, so we as Catholics need to encourage fellowship and strengthening of family bonds. What better place than around the dinner table?
1. "Cooking with the Saints" by Ernst Schuegraf is a fun book for whole family to learn about the Saints; teach your kids and make tasty food. I found the book in print on the webpages of Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Borders.
2. "Grace Before Meals" (http://www.gracebeforemeals.com) is a website by Father Leo who is dedicated to strengthening families through food and fellowship. Father Leo has videos of his cooking show, recipes, tips for conversation around the table, and much more! Cool!
An online video cooking show by a priest! What fun! See: http://www.gracebeforemeals.com/videos.php
3. "Healthy Catholic" is a Catholic video podcast to help us have a healthier lifestyle: http://sqpn.com/category/video/healthy-catholic/
