WASHINGTON (November 4, 1997) -- Magnetic cards advertising 1-800-311-4CCC, the Catholic Church's Movie Review Line, are being distributed by the Catholic Communication Campaign in time for the annual holiday movie blitz.

The toll-free movie review service provides pre-recorded movie reviews of the week's leading box office attractions and offers insight into the quality of new films.

The magnets, which stick to metal surfaces such as refrigerator doors, promote use of the movie review line and explain the Church's movie classifications.

The Catholic Church, through the Bishops' Office for Film and Broadcasting, evaluates all mainstream theater releases according to their suitability for general patronage; adults and adolescents; adults; or adults, with reservations. The office also designates some movies as morally offensive.

"Families might consider this our Christmas gift to them -- help in deciding which movies will enrich their family life or which promote ideas contrary to Christian values," said Bishop Thomas Costello, Chairman of the Bishops Communication Committee which oversees the CCC.

"Parents must realize that what their children see at the theater is their call," Bishop Costello, said. "As theaters release dozens of new movies for the holidays, we wanted to gear up efforts to help parents decide what their children will see on the movie screen. Parents seldom can see movies before their children see them, so the Bishops' Office for Film and Broadcasting does that for them."

The Movie Review Line offers an assessment of a movie's suitability as well as an analysis of its story line and moral values. Callers also hear about a recommended "Video of the Week" for family viewing.

The movie review line is made possible by the support of Catholic parishioners through the Catholic Communication Campaign collection, taken up nationwide each year, usually in the spring.

The magnets are being made available free of charge through local diocesan communications directors or by writing directly to the

Movies reviews also can be accessed through the U.S. Bishops' Web page at http://www.nccbuscc.org.

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