Staying Sensitive About Blasphemy In The Media
By Mary Engelton | Read the full St. Michael Prayer here
Sex. It’s been selling for a long time, so much so that for the most part, I want to say many of us are able to turn a blind eye to it. We’ve become used to women’s naked bodies being used to sell cars, burgers, vitamins, whatever. Should we be shocked when borderline pornographic images are used in advertising? Obviously. Although we might have become desensitized to it.
I’m ashamed to say that I’ve noticed myself doing this to blatantly blasphemous and possibly satanic images used in the media when it comes to our faith. My husband isn’t shocked by it, but he’s always been able to be disgusted and repulsed whereas I am often simply annoyed and go on about my day. “It’s persecution,” I say with a shrug. “It’s discrimination. It’s offensive. It’s a war. It’s how the world is.”
Wrong. We should be outraged by it, moved to action (what action? Help me figure it out! But my guess is penance for the reparation for the sins of the world has something to do with it). It’s a sign of our times, and we need to stay sensitive to the flashing red warning signals our culture is bleeding out. Take a minute and look at some of the photos below.
That’s Madonna in a photoshoot for the February 2023 issue of Vanity Fair. The front page she is mocking the Blessed Mother. This isn’t something to turn a blind eye to.
Do you know who that is above? Just one of our favorite childhood stars from Disney channel: Demi Lovato, now sporting bondage on mattresses that compose the Cross. This is the cover of her new album released in late 2022.
Here’s Kourtney Kardashian in a dress she wore on her wedding day in July 2022 (this was after she had a ceremony that used Catholic statues and altars as a prop).
Up above we see Sam Smith’s performance from the Grammys in February 2023. Various magazines released articles titled, “Sam Smith Brings Satan to the Grammys” and “Sam Smith’s ‘Unholy’ at Grammys Inspires Satanic Panic.”
Up above? Maybe not satanic but certainly blasphemous. In October 2022 Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly dressed up like…this for Halloween. In this photo on her instagram, Megan's kneeling down in front of MGK, who is dressed in a red and black outfit that is meant to mimic a priest and he's holding a cup of wine in one hand. In his other hand he's placing a piece of bread in Megan's mouth. MGK is also holding onto a chain that is secured to Megan's throat. "On Sundays we take communion," she wrote in the caption.
Ok, we’ll wrap it up because we hope we’re getting the point across, but a final word about the images above: not only are satanic messages being spread from influencers and celebrities, but it’s sinking its teeth in various forms of influential media, such as the top of the fashion world. Two years ago, rapper and singer Lil Nas X launched a controversial pair of "Satan Shoes" featuring a bronze pentagram, an inverted cross and a drop of real human blood, but what’s most concerning to us is how they sold out in under a minute. If we think these influences will stay at the top, they won’t and they don’t: they trickle down to influence our society at large.
Though the independent design was on a Nike shoe, Nike distanced themselves from it; however, just a few months later, Converse (which is owned by Nike), used satanic imagery to promote their latest Converse Chuck Taylor high-top.
Final Thoughts
As we enter Holy Week, let’s make a real effort to ask the Lord’s forgiveness. When we receive the Eucharist, we receive Him on behalf of the entire world. When we go to confession, we bring His mercy into the world. Hillsong paraphrased Nehemiah 1:4 best when they sing, “Break my heart for what breaks yours.”
Don’t become desensitized and stay vigilant.
“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
