Tv Protest

For years, while many conservative Protestant denominations have railed against the evils of television, the more liberal churches have decried the dangers of censoring the home screen. But last week, perhaps in a belated response to a growing mood of protest among parishioners, the National Council of Churches joined the critics. It issued a report that declared: "The quality of life in our society is threatened by the amount, intensity and graphic persuasiveness" of violence and sexual violence on television. The prime concern: cable TV. The document was based on a two-year study by Editor James Wall of the Chicago-based Christian Century and a panel including communications officials from Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian and United Methodist churches and the United Church of Christ. The group concluded that research shows an "undeniable" correlation between media violence and aggressive behavior. Among its recommendations: mandatory ratings and descriptions of violent content in program promotion, lockboxes for cable installations so parents can control viewing, and separate channels for cable systems that now mix general fare with R- or X-rated films.

Some of these restraints are already observed by the industry (HBO, for example, notes violence in all its program guides, runs no R-rated movies before 8 p.m. and forbids X-rated films). Other recommendations, like lockboxes, may prove impractical. CBS called the church report "frightening." But Wall hopes that by taking up the issue, N.C.C.-inspired groups can "take this battle away from the new conservative right."