CHURCH PANEL SEEKS U.S. ACTION : TV FARE IS LABELED ‘MORAL POLLUTION’

Sex and violence on television foment “anti-social and aggressive behavior” that seriously threatens the quality of American life, an investigation by the National Council of Churches has concluded.

A special committee of the interdenominational group recommended that the federal government act to protect the public from what it called “moral pollution” from a dominant influence in modern society.

With “excessive portrayals of violence” steadily increasing, “concerned citizens feel helpless before a media system that is seemingly out of control,” the report said.

It dealt with films and network and cable television, singling out television as “the most pervasive of all media.”

The “vicious character” of program content can be reduced without crippling the industry’s potential or profits or abridging legitimate freedom of expression, it said.

The 48-page report criticized deregulation of broadcasting and charged the Federal Communications Commission with abandoning public trusteeship of the airwaves, allowing market forces alone to determine the output.

It said the FCC must be required, by congressional action if necessary, to “reassert its oversight of the broadcasting industry on behalf of the public interest.”

Otherwise, “there is no way that the public can expect an industry that is engaged in a constant ‘business war’ over ratings to take seriously its social obligations to reduce the amount of violence,” the report said.

In response, George Schweitzer, vice president of communications for the CBS Broadcast Group, said, “This is a disappointing and frightening document which advocates a blatantly repressive policy toward the most popular source of entertainment and most trusted source of information in the free world.

“Further, it would turn the FCC into a mechanism for direct governmental review of the editorial process with powers far beyond its existing mandate and with unforeseeable consequences to some of our more cherished traditions,” he said.

The nine-member inquiry committee, headed by the Rev. James M. Wall of Chicago, editor of the Christian Century, was set up by the communications commission of the National Council of Churches in 1983.

The report cited findings by governmental commissions, the U.S. surgeon general, the National Institute for Mental Health and university researchers, as well as testimony at hearings in New York, Los Angeles and Washington.

There has been much disagreement over links between TV and movie violence and violent behavior. Research has been conducted supporting both sides of the controversy.

The National Council of Churches report concluded that:

--Laboratory and field studies show a link between “viewing violence on television and subsequent aggressive behavior.”

--Violent sexual material stimulates aggression toward women and children and sexual violence.

--Music video, combining erotic relationships, teen idols and violence in a “repetitive context” has a “serious negative effect” on young people.

--Frequent TV viewers develop a “greater sense of insecurity and apprehension” about the world--a “mean world” syndrome heightening fears and feelings of vulnerability that foster violence.

“Television is the most pervasive of all media,” watched an average six hours a day in 98% of American homes, with children spending more hours watching TV than they spend in school, the report said.

“Television has become the Great Teacher,” it said.

Declaring that sexual and other violence leads to anti-social, aggressive behavior by children, teen-agers and adults who watch it, the report said the effects of such violence “seriously threaten the quality of American life.”

The broadcasting and film industries parcel out responsibility piecemeal so that no one is ultimately responsible for objectionable programming, it said.