The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), creator and trustee of the motion picture ratings system, recently celebrated its thirtieth birthday. MPAA Founder and President, Jack Valenti devised this system to replace the Hayes Code, which did not approve of films that contained excessive portrayals of sex, violence and profanity.

Valenti's group is also responsible for bringing sex, violence and profanity to the silver screen with the advent of the R rating. It has given us films like "A Clockwork Orange," the story of a gang of hoodlums that torture, rape and murder innocent citizens in their homes. Or, "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice," a frisky tale of two couples who flirt with open sex and wife swapping. Then there's "Blow Up," the first film released by a major studio containing nudity. And things haven't improved over the past three decades. A recent study commissioned by The Dove Foundation shows that over 54% of all major movies released during the past ten years are R-rated.

The division of MPAA charged with reviewing films according to the ratings system is the Classification and Ratings Administration. CARA is made up of eleven parents from Los Angeles. Their decision are based upon a few vague guidelines. For example, movies with the F-word are supposed to automatically receive at least a PG-13. But, several films like "Benny and Joon" released in 1993, contained the F-word and were rated PG. CARA officials boast that there are no automatic rules regarding nudity or violence.

Apparently CARA does not consider Biblical profanity, such taking the name of God or Jesus Christ in vane, or damning someone, to be as serious as other verbiage. Such words are frequently found in PG films, as are vulgarities referring to genitals, or defecation and other scatological subjects.

The moral content in films has continued to slide downward towards what I call, "Moral Limbo: seeing just how low you can go." Valenti professed that any changes in the movie ratings "reflect the changing morays of society." That’s like saying, "today a pound is equal to sixteen ounces – tomorrow, maybe fifteen."

The MPAA inoculates itself and the filmmakers it represents from any moral responsibility for its actions with a simple caveat found in the PG rating definition which says, "Parental discretion is advised." I cannot stress enough the importance of heeding the MPAA's own warning. The very existence of The Dove Foundation is based upon a fundamental mistrust many have for the movie ratings. Many supporters of The Dove Foundation claim they have found a safe haven in the Dove Seal. It represents a standard that does not change. Dove's criteria for reviewing movies and videos are the same today as it was in the beginning in 1991.

And yet to hear Valenti tell it, the American public is downright elated with his system. He quoted a 1998 survey that reported 74% of those polled found the ratings very or fairly useful. Even the National Association of Theater Owners President, William Kartozian says the code has become an essential part of the entertainment business . . . "part of the fabric of the industry," he concluded.

Where are the masses that feel the MPAA has lost its moral compass? Where are the parents who feel they can no longer trust their children to see a PG movie without some prescreening? I assume I am addressing at least some of them in this column.