By JOAN NEWTON
IT is not fashionable to talk about sin these days, but, if there ever could be a time when this unmodern idea should be given a little publicity, it is during Lent. Sin was the theme of the Lenten Service last Sunday (Home) broadcast from St. Mary's Training College. Strawberry Hill. Not only sin. though, but repentance. too.
In a series of very neat little discourses Mgr. R. L. Smith spoke about sin, what it really is, and
how we must take some measure of responsibility for our own wrong-doings and not blame them on environment or heredity. Then after sin must come sorrow, and he explained the meaning of the different forms of sorrow for sin which we profess when we make the Act of Contrition.
ON ATV Michael Redington has
been attempting a series on "The Seven Deadly Sins". This is a praiseworthy but not altogether successful effort.
So far we have had anger, gluttony, sloth, and lust. In the descriptions of these sins it has been mainly the social ill-effects of the sin which have been stressed.
God and the Redemption have played a very small part and there has not once been the suggestion that these sins offend Him and that for love of Him we should try to avoid them. Even so, there is the chance that the series might have some small impact on thoughtless pagans.
IT is now nearly close on seven years since I started writing these notes. In that time there has been quite a change in the scope and techniques of radio and TV, Commercial TV, with its secondary effects on the BBC, has made television particularly controversial and stimulating to write about.
The editor has now decided it is time I relinquished the writing of this column, so it is with great sorrow that I do so for the last time. I only hope that I have made some of you realise that television and radio are both good in themselves and can be put to great use in the life of the family.
I have made a great many friends during these last six years and hope that some of you will still write to me with your views about family looking and listening.