How parents, priests, religious, educators and mental health professionals can tackle the plague of pornography, which has become widespread, and damaged many.
The document is a Pastoral Response to Pornography Use, developed by the committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in November, 2015.
The reason for this document is the urgency of the situation. Pornography seems to have its tentacles all over, and infected many minds and damaged many marriages. Even secular psychologists and counsellors are convinced of the serious and lasting damage it inflicts.
The document deals with these issues:
- An overview of the Church’s teaching on sexuality, the human person, and chastity
- An explanation of why pornography is sinful and harmful
- A survey of the wide-reaching effects of pornography in our culture
- A closer look at the effects of pornography on men, women, young people, and children
- A word of hope and healing to those harmed by pornography
- An appendix with a link to targeted resources for particular audiences.
What is Chastity?
Chastity is “a virtue that allows us to do what is right, good, and truly loving in the areas of relationship and sexuality.” It integrates our internal desires for sexual pleasure into our overall pursuit of moral excellence and holiness. “All of us in life have gone through moments in which this virtue has been very difficult, but it is in fact the way of genuine love, of a love that is able to give life, which does not seek to use the other for one’s own pleasure.” Chastity affirms the whole person, body and soul, over and above his or her sexual qualities. It helps us to recognize the great goodness and profound meaning of human sexuality and authentic sexual desire as ordered to the love of man and woman in marriage.
Lust, instead, is an inordinate desire for sexual pleasure apart from the true meaning of sexuality and marital love. It uses another person as a means for sexual gratification.
Every one of us is a gift, with inviolable dignity – wonderfully made for a relationship of love with God and with others. Our bodies communicate the beautiful meaning and dignity of our very selves. Hence, our bodies should be treated with great respect and not meant to be used but loved.
What is Pornography?
Pornography, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “consists in removing real or simulated sexual acts from the intimacy of the partners, in order to display them deliberately to third parties. It offends against chastity because it perverts the intimate giving of spouses to each other. It does grave injury to the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others. It immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world.”
Producing or using pornography is gravely wrong and a grave sin against human dignity. It is a mortal sin if committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent. Pornography consists in visual images (real or virtual and computer-generated); and in written or audio forms (erotic literature, phone conversations, online video chats, etc.). Pornography is neither an art nor is it to be represented as a harmless pastime (‘adult entertainment’ or ‘gentlemen’s club’). It dehumanises the persons depicted, making them into objects of use. Pornography hurts and brings feelings of shame upon the viewer and breaks down trust.
Pornography is a dark “sign” of the modern world. Today, online pornography is instantly accessible, seemingly anonymous, mostly free, and has the appearance of being endlessly novel – pornography is in the home, at work, and often literally at one’s fingertips with the prevalence of mobile devices. The Internet pornography is intoxicating and seducing viewers to keep clicking. Unlike a magazine, the internet has no final page.
The Harm Done
Pornography use hurts the user by potentially diminishing his or her capacity for healthy human intimacy and relationships. It presents a distorted view of human sexuality that is contrary to authentic love, and it harms a person’s sense of self-worth. Occasional use can turn into more frequent use that can then lead to an addiction to pornography, which is a growing problem. It can increase isolation between people because of the feelings of shame and self-reproach it generates. It breaks down trust between family members, and it damages the ability of parents and other adults to be virtuous role models for children.
There are many victims of pornography. Every person portrayed in it is beloved by God our Father and is someone’s daughter or son. Their dignity is abused as they are used for others’ pleasure and profit. Pornography has connections to sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation worldwide. Many sex trafficking victims (mostly women and girls) are forced into prostitution, which may include pornography as “training” or as their “product.” All child pornography is automatically trafficking and a crime, because it involves the sexual exploitation of a minor for commercial gain and it is against the child’s will due to the inability to give consent. The actors in pornographic films also face serious risks, such as contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and high rates of drug and alcohol abuse.
Pornography is a big business. Estimates of revenue stretch easily into the billions of dollars every year. The pornography industry is aggressive, savvy.
Both science and personal testimonies confirm that many people who start by occasionally viewing pornography later become compulsive viewers who feel trapped in a cycle of fantasy, ritual, acting out, and despair. Viewing pornography has a similar effect on the brain as cocaine does on a person with a drug addiction or as alcohol on a person with an alcohol addiction. … Addictions are very hard to overcome, and help is needed to regain one’s freedom. We invite the many men and women who suffer from addiction to pornography to trust in the Lord’s mercy and seek appropriate help, support, and resources.
Data indicates that children repeatedly exposed to pornography are more likely to sexually harass or molest other children, imitating the behaviour they have seen.
Tragically, children and youth are also victimized by being forced or coerced into participating in the production of child pornography. Child pornography is illegal, abusive, and a form of human trafficking because of a child’s inability to consent. There are many reasons why a child might become a victim of child pornography, including extreme poverty, deplorable neglect by his or her parents or guardians, or manipulation by child pornographers.
Children and youth exploited in this way face serious side effects and need plentiful resources for emotional, psychological, and physical healing. Most of all, they need to know that the abuse was not their fault or choice, no matter how their abusers deceived them.
If your pornography use has become an addiction, it is even more crucial that you have accountability and the support of professionals who can assist in identifying and healing any emotional wounds that may lie at the root of pornography use.
Tips for Different Groups
To those exploited by the pornography industry: You are loved and cherished by God! The Church reaches out to you. No matter what you have experienced in your past, you are worthy of forgiveness, respect and love. Know that there are support groups and resources available to help you.
To those guilty of exploiting others through the production of pornography: The Lord, in his great mercy, is calling you to turn away from your sins and follow him. No sin is too great to forgive! Repent, convert and put an end to your involvement in spreading the destructiveness of pornography. God can use your previous mistakes to help others.
To men and women who use pornography: You are beloved children of the Father. Do not let the obstacles of denial, shame, fear, despair, or pride keep you from relying on the Lord’s mercy. Make a daily choice to free yourselves from pornography. Ongoing support such as counselling, spiritual direction, coaching, accountability groups, couple to couple groups, conferences and retreats for men and women are of great help as you seek freedom.
To those who have been hurt by their spouse’s pornography use: You are greatly loved by God our Father! You are not alone! The Church wants to help and encourage you and asks those brave enough to acknowledge their own experience with this issue to help other hurting spouses in the community.
To all parents: It is your great responsibility to teach your children the true meaning of human sexuality, enabling them to see its beauty as an expression of total love. Be vigilant about the technology you allow into your home and the prevalence of sexual content. Educate yourselves about filtering software that can assist in protecting your home. Foster openness and trust and be the first models of mercy and forgiveness when dealing with a child who has seen or uses pornography.
To all who work with children and youth: Children are vulnerable to all influences, good or bad. Teach them the meaning of chastity by modelling. Teach young people that certain types of websites or programs are inappropriate and sinful.
To young people: Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and you were made for greatness. If you have already engaged in pornography use, choose now to turn away from it. Ask for help or guidance from your parents or from a trusted adult, family member or pastoral minister.
To pastors and clergy: Do not be afraid to acknowledge this and to seek help immediately if any of you is struggling with pornography. Provide help and healing to men and women who are victims of pornography through the Sacraments and trustworthy counsellors and support groups in the local areas. Above all, let us live in our own lives the witness of a joyful and pure heart.
To all people of good will: May we work together to remove pornography from its prominent and privileged place. Let us counter its numerous injustices and build a culture that honours the true dignity and meaning of human sexuality.
God’s grace and concrete help are always available. Healing is always possible.
Helpful Pamphlets
The US Bishops also recommend five pamphlet-length resources related to the main statement, in both English and Spanish. The English pamphlets can be purchased from the USCCB Store. [USCCB = United States Conference of Catholic Bishops]. Each pamphlet’s full text is available online:
- “Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography – Abridged Version”
- “Pornography’s Effects on Marriage and Hope for Married Couples” by Sam and Beth Meier
- “Raising Chaste Children in a Pornographic World” by Ryan Foley
- “The Role of Priests in Ministry to Those who Struggle with Pornography” by Fr. David Songy
- “‘Wash Me Thoroughly’: Healing from Pornography Use and Addiction” by Daniel Spadaro
Summary by Sr Theresa Phawa FMA
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