UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-2008 Public advocacy by the Roman Catholic Church and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in the twenty-first century Michele L Cannella University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Cannella, Michele L, "Public advocacy by the Roman Catholic Church and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in the twenty-first century" (2008). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 2341. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/mfyp-xhrn This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. PUBLIC ADVOCACY BY THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY by Michele L. Cannella Bachelor of Arts University of Nevada, Reno 2005 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Master of Arts Degree in Communication Studies Department of Communication Studies Greenspun College of Urban Affairs Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas August 2008 UMI Number: 1460461 INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, If unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI UMI Microform 1460461 Copyright 2009 by ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 E. Eisenhower Parkway PO Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Thesis Approval The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas June 23 ■ 20 08 The Thesis prepared by Michele L. Cannella Entitled Public Advocacy by the Roman Catholic Church and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in the Twenty-First Century is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Communication Studies inatfion Comrmtiee Chair Dean of the Graduate College Examination Committee Member Examination Committee Member x . Graduate College Faculty Representative 1017-53 11 ABSTRACT Public Advocacy by the Roman Catholic Church and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in the Twenty-First Century by Michele L. Cannella Dr. Joseph Valenzano III, Examination Committee Chair Assistant Professor University of Nevada, Las Vegas The Roman Catholic Church has engaged in moral criticism throughout history and continues to do so today through movie reviews published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The history of the Roman Catholic Church’s censorship of moral content includes controlling the amount and type of media available. This rhetorical analysis of both the USCCB and New York Times movie reviews for the top ten grossing movies of 2006 discusses rhetoric as an expression of meaning that emerges through a texts’ historical and cultural situation. Both sets of reviews are found on the Internet and this analysis argues that they contribute to the Roman Catholic Church’s ongoing attempts to influence morality in the absence of moral criticism in popular culture media. Ill TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT............................................................................................................................ iii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION...................................................................................... 1 Religious Communication..................................................................................................2 Texts and Method ................................................................................................................5 Chapter Outline.................................................................................. 9 CHAPTER 2 THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CONTEXT........................ 15 Censorship by the Roman Catholic Church .....................................................................18 The First Amendment and Public Advocacy...................................................................24 The USCCB as Advocate ..................................................................................................29 CHAPTER 3 MOVIE REVIEW ANALYSIS...............................................................39 New York Times Secular Standards.................................................................................. 42 USCCB Moral Standards.................................................................................................. 50 Conclusion............................................................................................................. 56 CHAPTER 4 THE DA VINCI CODE ANALYSIS.......................................................64 The Da Vinci Code Controversy.......................................................................................66 New York Times Review of The Da Vinci Code............................................................. 68 USCCB Review of The Da Vinci Code...........................................................................75 Conclusion......................................................................................................................... 82 CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................90 Religious Communication...............................................................................................91 Hermeneutics.................................................................................................................... 92 Homiletics......................................................................................................................... 94 Future Research................................................................................................................96 APPENDIX 1 2006 GROSS SALES CHART ...............................................................99 APPENDIX 2 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) The New York Times.......................................................................................................100 APPENDIX 3 Night at the Museum (2006) The New York Times............................. 102 APPENDIX 4 Cars (2006) The New York Times.......................................................... 104 APPENDIX 5 X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) The New York Times......................... 107 APPENDIX 6 The Da Vinci Code (2006) The New York Times.................................109 IV APPENDIX 7 Superman Returns (2006) The New York Times.................................. 112 APPENDIX 8 Happy Feet (2006) The New York Times............... 115 APPENDIX 9 Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006) The New York Times.........................117 APPENDIX 10 Casino Royale (2006) The New York Times.........................................118 APPENDIX 11 The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)The New York Times.....................121 APPENDIX 12 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) USCCB 123 APPENDIX 13 Night at the Museum (2006) USCCB...................................................125 APPENDIX 14 Cars (2006) USCCB ...............................................................................126 APPENDIX 15 X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) USCCB ...............................................127 APPENDIX 16 The Da Vinci Code (2006) USCCB ........................... 129 APPENDIX 17 Superman Returns (2006) USCCB................................................... 132 APPENDIX 18 Happy Feet (2006) USCCB................................................................... 134 APPENDIX 19 Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006) USCCB ..............................................136 APPENDIX 20 Casino Royale (2006) USCCB..............................................................138 APPENDIX 21 The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) USCCB...........................................140 BIBLIOGRAPHY................................................................................................................. 141 VITA...................................................................................................................................... 149 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Throughout history, religions have sought to spread their message to those who had not heard it. People expect missionary work and preaching to look a certain way and take on a certain form; a missionary in an impoverished country teaching children about religious beliefs. People also expect to hear sermons at a religious service; however, the advent of the Internet allowed religious organizations to move online to preach. Religious groups have the opportunity to cormect with people in their homes and