Catechism Through Zootopia

Zootopia follows the story of a rabbit named Judy Hopps as she fulfills her dreams of becoming a police officer despite the challenges, which included seemingly physical limitations, prejudice and politicking. Although this is definitely a secular movie, my heart rejoices in the fact that there are many scenes and themes in the story that can be used to highlight Catholic values and Catechism.

Catechetical Moments from Zootopia
Let me summarize the points for those who do not want any spoilers.

1. Following Your Dreams and the Source of Real Joy
Some people follow their dreams to find joy, some people abandon their dreams to find joy. Which is right? The right one is to follow God’s dreams for us.

2. We Can Overcome Our Tendencies to Do Evil
Although human beings have a wounded nature, we were given the capacity to resist against temptation and to choose to do the right thing.

3. Everyone Can Change for the Better and hence, Deserves a Second Chance
Even those who have done bad things can become kinder and better as time goes by. Even prisoners can change and become better, and therefore, there is no need for capital punishment.

Spoiler Alert: Some examples used may not have been shown in any trailers. As much as possible, I will try not to be too detailed but please be warned. Alternatively, I invite you to bookmark this page to read it after watching the movie.

Catechetical Moments from Zootopia (Expanded)

1. Following Your Dreams and the Source of Real Joy
Some people follow their dreams to find joy; some people abandon their dreams to find joy. Which is right? The right one is to follow God’s dreams for us.
 
In the beginning of the movie, we see Judy’s parents trying to convince her to stay at Bunnyburrow. Her mom even said that it’s perfectly alright for Judy to give up on her dreams just like they did, because even when they did, they still found joy. Where do we find our joy? Is it on chasing after our dreams or when we give them up?
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​We find our joy when we chase after God’s dreams and when we give up our dreams to him.
In the book The Confessions of Saint Augustine, St Augustine declared, ‘For you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.’
 
Let God’s dream be your dream.

Get a copy of The Confessions of St Augustine at Amazon.

2. We Can Overcome Our Tendencies to Do Evil
​Although human beings have a wounded nature, we were given the capacity to resist against temptation and to choose to do the right thing.
 
Predators and preys live in harmony in Zootopia, this is despite the fact that the predators are wired to hunt the preys. While the movie does not show how it came to be, I think this scene is good at teaching about the wounded nature of man and the grace we received to overcome concupiscence.
 
Man was made good. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), ‘The first man was not only created good, but was also established in friendship with his Creator and in harmony with himself and with the creation around him, in a state that would be surpassed only by the glory of the new creation in Christ.’ (CCC 374). However, as a result of the original sin, our nature was wounded and we are subjected to concupiscence – our inclination to sin.
 
Like the predators, we can only overcome this inclination to sin, by the grace of God. We do not have to surrender to our sinful desires. We can fight them, and we can be victorious through God.
 
Let us be confident of what God promised in Romans 5:20

where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more

3. Everyone Can Change for the Better and hence, Deserves a Second Chance
Even those who have done bad things can become kinder and better as time goes by. Even prisoners can change and become better, and therefore, there is no need for capital punishment.
 
In the movie, Gideon Grey, a red fox from Bunnyburrow used to be a bully when he was younger but he eventually made amend with those he bullied. He even managed to earn the trust and respect of Judy’s parents. He serves as a great reminder to us that people change, and they can change for the better.
 
Today, there are still countries that continue to use capital punishment. The Catholic Church strongly opposes against the use of capital punishment because it believes in mercy and repentance. Everyone can change for the better. If a person is killed, he is effectively denied of a chance to repent and make amends.
 
In this regard, however, the Catholic Church does not unconditionally exclude recourse to death penalty.
 

​According to CCC 2267:
 
Assuming that the guilty party's identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor.
 
If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people's safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person.
 
Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm - without definitely taking away from him the possibility of redeeming himself - the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity "are very rare, if not practically non-existent."
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Know your faith. Get a copy of The Catechism of the Catholic Church at Amazon.

​Looking at our technologies now, I am convinced that we have what is necessary to prevent crime. For me, death penalty is a quick-fix solution to deter crime. This is quicker than providing good education to everyone, than creating dignified jobs, than ensuring proper distribution of goods.
 
Everyone can change for the better, especially if they are given the proper environment. Let’s aim to create that proper environment together. 

Overall, I find that the movie does not only have entertainment value but it has nuggets of gold. What I especially liked is the fact that we can draw out lessons that align with the teachings of the Church. I really liked the movie and I hope that this write-up helped you appreciate it better.