Catholic Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph

From: Subject: Catholic Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph Date: Fri, 2 Mar 2007 00:48:30 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="multipart/alternative"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01C75C64.7F4B6140" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3028 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C75C64.7F4B6140 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0001_01C75C64.7F4B6140" ------=_NextPart_001_0001_01C75C64.7F4B6140 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.diocese-kcsj.org/flashLanding.html Catholic Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph ------=_NextPart_001_0001_01C75C64.7F4B6140 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.diocese-kcsj.org/flash_menu/menu.html menu

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Bishop Robert W. Finn
Diocese = of Kansas=20 City ~ St. Joseph

Blessed Are The=20 Pure In Heart
A Pastoral Letter on the Dignity of the = Human Person=20 and the Dangers of Pornography
Kansas City,=20 Missouri ~ February 21, 2007

___

=20 INTRODUCTION = =20

To the clergy, religious, lay = faithful=20 of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and to all people of good = will:

Blessed are the pure in = heart, for they=20 shall see God. =20 (Matthew 5:8): A way of = discipleship =

=20 In the Beatitudes Christ offers us a perfect model for true = Christian living. Even more than the Ten Commandments themselves, = they are=20 a charter for the high moral calling Christ sets for His = disciples. =

=20 Blessed are the = pure in=20 heart, for they shall see God. =20 This one line from the Beatitudes offers a most sublime = beginning point to our reflection. It tells us about = God,=20 ourselves and our ultimate goal. =20 A pure heart is =93blessed=94 or =93happy.=94 Seeing God = and being with Him=20 forever in heaven is God=92s plan for our eternal well-being. The = Old=20 Testament teaches that this purity is required if we are to = approach God.=20 =93Who shall ascend the mountain of the Lord? And who shall stand = in His=20 holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not = lift up=20 his soul to what is false=94 (Psalm 24, 3-4). =

=20 To be pure in heart implies that our love is wholly = directed toward=20 the good of the other person. We are =93single-hearted,=94 and not = divided in=20 our love. Israel =92s first and = most=20 important commandment is to love God with our whole heart, soul, = mind and=20 strength (Deut 6: 4-5). Jesus added definitively that we must also = love=20 our neighbor as our self (Mk 12:=20 29 -31). This pure=20 love =96 as demanding as it may be =96 is the high destiny to = which we are=20 called as children of the Father. Is it possible to fulfill such a = love?=20 Yes. It is possible because God has first loved us (1 Jn 4:10 ). As disciples of Jesus = Christ, we=20 are called to the happiness that comes from a clean and undivided=20 heart. =

Pornography: Epidemic = Attacking Human=20 Dignity

=20 Daily there are challenges to this pure Christian love. For = some=20 months, representatives of our Catholic Diocese have been working = with=20 leaders of other faith traditions to address the serious dangers=20 represented by the steady increase of pornography in our culture.=20 Pornography is not new, but it has become a kind of plague in our = society,=20 reaching epidemic proportions. It is being propagated more widely = than=20 ever. Well beyond magazines, it is widespread on the internet, = television,=20 movies and videos, and now on cell phones and other handheld = devices, many=20 of which are marketed to children and youth. Pornography has = become the=20 secret entertainment of many people of all ages, walks of life, = and=20 economic backgrounds. Use of internet pornography is perhaps the = fastest=20 growing addiction in the world.

=20 Pornography perverts the beauty of intimate love proper to=20 marriage, presenting images of the body and sexual acts for base = pleasure=20 =96 regarding other persons as objects to be used, manipulated, = and sold. It=20 is a multi-billion dollar industry, eclipsing the amount of money=20 generated by professional sports (cf. Chapter II, below). In this way pornography = distorts=20 the proper meaning and purpose of our sexuality and does grave = injury to=20 the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, consumers).[1]=20

=20 Use of pornography is a serious sin against chastity and = the=20 dignity of the human person. It robs us of sanctifying grace, = separates us=20 from the vision of God and from the goodness of others, and leaves = us=20 spiritually empty. Attraction to pornography and its = gratifications is a=20 false =93love=94 that leads to increasing emotional isolation = loneliness and=20 subsequent sexual acting-out with self and others. It depends on = the=20 exploitation of other persons: frequently the desperate or poor, = or the=20 innocent young. Use of pornography has cost persons their jobs, = their=20 marriages and families. Traffickers in Child Pornography may end = up in=20 prison. It has often been associated with and has contributed to, = acts of=20 sexual violence and abuse.

=20 In this pastoral letter, I wish to appeal to you all as = members of=20 the Body of Christ redeemed by His love, to reflect on the dangers = of=20 pornography in our society. We will see how pornography is a = serious=20 affront to our human dignity. I will share some strategies in = response to=20 this problem. I ask = you to=20 join with me in the Diocesan effort to combat this plague by = recommitting=20 ourselves and our families to purity and chastity. In this way we = will=20 live more completely as Christ=92s disciples, growing each day in = the=20 freedom of the children of God. Blessed are the pure in = heart, for=20 they shall see God. =20

CHAPTER=20 I &nbs= p; = ; =20
THE=20 DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON =

Let us make man in our image, = after our=20 likeness. =20 (Genesis 1:26=20 ): The respect due the human = person is=20 rooted in God.=20

=20 As human beings we are created in the image and likeness of = God. The dignity = and respect=20 due to every human person is not assigned by any group of people, = nor=20 granted by a government. Our dignity is not contingent on what we = own, or=20 even on what we do. We cannot buy it or sell it. This dignity and = worth=20 comes from God as a complete and inestimable gift. = =20

=20 How are we like God? We have an immortal soul, and we are = meant to=20 live forever with God in heaven. We are called to be holy as God = is holy,=20 and through Jesus Christ and His Church we may receive the means = to attain=20 holiness. Like God, we have a rational nature, the ability to = reason. However, it is not just = in reason=20 that we find the divine image within us. We are like God because = we are=20 able to love. We = can make a=20 gift of our self to another person. =20

For you have been purchased = at a price.=20 Therefore glorify God in your body. (1 Cor 6: 20 ) New Life in = Christ. =

=20 Even when through sin, man had fallen and seriously injured = this=20 gift of our dignity; God continued to love us and sent us a = Redeemer. We=20 were purchased =96 and at a great price! =

=20 Human life was embraced and elevated in the Incarnation. In = the=20 coming of Christ, =93in the flesh,=94 God united Himself in some = way with=20 every human person.[2] In the Easter or Paschal = Mystery,=20 Jesus=92 passage through death into Resurrection and new life, He = won a=20 definitive victory on our behalf and established for us the hope = of=20 eternal life on high. Through Baptism we share in God=92s life by = means of a=20 divine adoption. In this first sacrament, our purification is = accomplished=20 in the efficacious sign of flowing and life-giving water. God has reestablished = our eternal=20 value. Each of us is challenged: =93Child of God, become fully who = you=20 are!=94

=20 Are we worth dying for? =20 Are we worth being crucified for? God=92s answer is = yes. Our question to = ourselves must be,=20 =93Is God worth living for?=94 =

But from the beginning of = creation,=20 =91God made them male and female.=92 =20 (Mark 10:6): =20 The dignity of human = sexuality=20 =20

=20 This dignity of the human person includes our = sexuality. Our sexuality is more = than our=20 gender. It is part of our person. It gives us the ability to = connect and=20 give ourselves in love to another person. Our human sexuality is = an=20 important means by which we can share in the love and creativity = of=20 God. In marriage, a = man and a=20 woman are invited to establish a complete, exclusive and life-long = union=20 of two individuals as one. This union is the proper relationship = by which=20 it is possible for them to become co-creators with God and to let = their=20 love for one another become fruitful in bringing another human = life into=20 the world. =20

=20 In the misuse of our sexuality human weakness and = selfishness can=20 manifest themselves, sometimes in terrible ways. Human sexuality = is a gift=20 but not a toy. It = is a gift=20 to be respected and directed toward its proper end: loving and = personal=20 communion with others. =20 =

My offenses truly I know = them; my sin=20 is always before me. =20 (Psalm 51:5): = The reality of = sin. =

=20 This vision of who we are in God is a beautiful one. But we know that it is = marked by=20 the bitter, painful reality of sin. =20 The ability to choose to love means that we can choose, = likewise,=20 to hurt or ignore one another. Sin is real and it is = destructive.=20

=20 The original unity of Adam and Eve was fractured by = Original=20 Sin. As important = and=20 fundamental as our human sexuality is, it also provides the means = whereby=20 our fallen human nature expresses itself in deep and sometimes = horrific=20 ways. Adultery, = fornication,=20 prostitution, rape, sexual abuse and exploitation, much of modern = day=20 slavery, crimes of passion and pornography all illustrate this = fallen=20 aspect of our human nature. =20 The dignity of the human person has been wounded and = scarred by=20 sin. When we sin we = become=20 less the person we are called to be in Christ. Sin dehumanizes us. The fact that Jesus was = sinless=20 does not make him less human but more human. Sin makes us less = human. The grace of Christ = restores=20 us. = =20

=20 Having understood the dignity of the human person, we can = better=20 examine what compromises this dignity. Jesus said, =93You shall = love your=20 neighbor as yourself=94 (Mark 12:31 ).

Everyone should look upon his = neighbor=20 as another self, bearing in mind above all his life and the means=20 necessary for living it in a dignified way lest he follow the = example of=20 the rich man who ignored Lazarus, the poor man. Today there is an = inescapable duty=20 to make ourselves the neighbor of every man, no matter who he = is.^{^[3]} =

=20 Simply put, sin separates us from one another and from = God. Sin impairs the = relationship=20 between the creatures, and between the human person and God. Ultimately sin is to be = understood=20 in terms of freedom and love. =20 Sin is an abuse of freedom and a failure to love.

Only in the knowledge of = God=92s plan for=20 man can we grasp that sin is an abuse of the freedom that God = gives to=20 created persons so that they are capable of loving him and loving = one=20 another.^{^[4]} =

Every athlete exercises = discipline in=20 every way =85 to win an imperishable crown (I Cor 9:25 ) The Life of = Virtue. =

=20 Sin separates us from God while virtue seeks to unite us to = God. When we have = discovered=20 God=92s love for us and the high destiny which is ours, we strive = again and=20 again to attain all that God has in store for us. For this purpose = the=20 virtues are a vitally important part of the Christian life. By a virtue we mean =93. = . . a habitual and firm = disposition to=20 do the good.=94^{^[5]} As we grow in virtue, we = seek to=20 become more like God, more holy. =20 Sin can produce a kind of atrophy that weakens and can even = paralyze our moral muscle. = Virtue is a conditioning of our moral muscle that = strengthens us=20 and helps us to maximize our potential. In the moral life there = is an=20 entire constellation of virtues regarding different situations in=20 life. There is a = virtue that=20 calls us to respect and care for our human sexuality. We call it = chastity. =

Create a clean heart in me O=20 God. =20 (Psalm 51:12): =20 The virtue of chastity. =

=20 For some, chastity can have an almost negative connotation. = As part=20 of the cardinal virtue of temperance, chastity calls on us to = moderate our=20 sense pleasures, keeping the use of our sexuality within the = limits of=20 what is appropriate, using this life-giving power for only a = worthy=20 goal.[6]=20

=20 But chastity is a virtue in its own right; it is a = strength. It is not just the = absence of=20 something bad. It = is the=20 presence of something good. That something is respect. The virtue of chastity = repeats=20 acts of respect for others and for ourselves. =

Chastity means the successful = integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner = unity of man=20 in his bodily and spiritual being. =20 Sexuality, in which man=92s belonging to the bodily and = biological=20 world is expressed, becomes personal and truly human when it is = integrated=20 into the relationship of one person to another, in the complete = and=20 lifelong mutual gift of a man and woman. The virtue of chastity = therefore=20 involves the integrity of the person and the integrality of the = gift.^{^[7]} =

=20 Those who treat others as objects might experience some = passing=20 pleasure but they are not going to be happy. Chastity exists not to = prevent=20 happiness but to allow happiness to mature and blossom. Chastity helps us to see = people as=20 they really are. It = helps to=20 ground us in truth. =20

=20 Chastity does not stand in the way of love but rather = exists to=20 protect it. = Chastity=20 expresses love. = Before he=20 became Pope John Paul II, Karol Wojtyla wrote a book entitled, = Love and=20 Responsibility. = This=20 writing emerged through his pastoral work with university = students, which=20 included marriage preparation. =20 While some would say that the opposite of love is hate, he = taught=20 that the opposite of love is use. =20 The idea is that if you do not love someone, you will end = up using=20 that person. This = is known as=20 the Personalistic = Norm. Negatively stated, it = means that=20 one may never use another person as an object for one=92s own = pleasure. Positively stated, it = holds that=20 the only proper response to a person is love. =

=20 Love and Responsibility insists that the structure = of love=20 is that of an interpersonal communion. In this we find a = reflection of=20 the Blessed Trinity as a communion of love. The future Pope insisted = that=20 chastity is always about persons. =20 He argued =93. . . love is an affirmation of the person or = else it is=20 not love at all.=94^{^[8]}=20 The moral virtue of = chastity=20 can only be thought of in association with the theological virtue = of=20 love. Only the = chaste are=20 capable of loving. = To the=20 degree we are chaste we can love others; while to the degree we = are=20 unchaste we will use others. =20 Thus, chastity is both a prerequisite and expression of = love. Chastity is not a no but a yes, a yes to another = person as a=20 person and not as an object to be used. Chastity may involve = saying no,=20 but that no is always in service of a greater positive goal.=20

=20 Chastity is necessary for all Christians, regardless of = their state=20 in life, whether they are single, married, or celibate. All are called to = respect human=20 dignity. All are = called to=20 love. = =20

=20 Those who are single=20 are called to a chastity that respects others and refrains from = sexually=20 acting out in ways proper and exclusive to the married. =

=20 Chastity is also important for those who are married. For them chastity does = not usually=20 mean sexual abstinence but fidelity, and within their marriage, a = deep=20 respect and love, never treating one=92s spouse as an object. In this deep love they = are to=20 reveal the love between Christ and his Church and give an insight = into the=20 very mystery of God. =20

=20 Those who are called to celibacy are also = called to=20 chastity. In = perfect=20 continence they are to love God and neighbor for the sake of the = Kingdom=20 and as a sign of the life to come.

=20 Chastity is important for all Christians and all people of = good=20 will. Chastity = calls us to=20 love as God loves. = It is=20 ordering our sexuality according to the plan of God. Chastity is how we love = others in=20 sincerity and truth.

CHAPTER II
THE PROBLEM OF=20 PORNOGRAPHY

Lust indulged starves the=20 soul. (Proverbs 13:19 ): A real problem.

=20 Our human sexuality is created as something good by God. It = is a=20 gift. It also = suffers from=20 the effects of original sin and so can manifest not only good but=20 evil. Pornography = is one such=20 evil. It assaults = human=20 dignity and commodifies people and human sexuality. It starves the human = soul which=20 has a spiritual dimension which must be nurtured by giving and = receiving a=20 personal love.

=20 While pornography is not a new problem, the development of = the mass=20 media and recent technological advances have made it much easier = to access=20 this deceptive evil. =20

=20 Pornography violates modesty, chastity and truth. Human = sexuality=20 involves modesty = which=20 protects the privacy of individuals regarding what is most = personal and=20 intimate. To invade = this=20 privacy, and unveil what should remain hidden,[9]=20 is an assault on = human=20 dignity. = =20

=20 While chastity exists=20 to serve love, pornography treats another human being (or an = explicit=20 sexual description or action) as an object to be used. It can oftentimes flow = from=20 narcissism and selfishness. It replaces love with use. Remember the Personalistic Norm: People are never to be = used as=20 objects for one=92s own pleasure. =20 People are to be loved. =20 People are not to be treated as raw material to be used by = the=20 emotions, compulsions or addictions of others. To paraphrase John Paul = II, the=20 problem with pornography, in a sense, is not that it reveals too = much of=20 the person (exposed in the image), but that it reveals too little = of the=20 person. = Pornographic images=20 are designed to reveal nothing but the person=92s sexual organs = and sexual=20 faculties; nowhere does the unique personality, the depth of the = person,=20 appear. The = pornographically=20 exposed person is, quite literally, de-personalized: in becoming an = =91object=92 for=20 another=92s use, he or she ceases to be seen for what he or she = is: a =91subject=92 who = deserves love and=20 respect. = =20

=20 Pornography violates truth. It leads people = into a=20 world of unreality, a world of fantasy that isolates them from = other=20 people and the commitments and respect which should govern our=20 relationships. Some persons seek pornography out of loneliness and = a low=20 self esteem. It is a painful irony that their use of pornography = serves=20 only to isolate them more and more from other people. The more invested people = are in=20 this fantasy world, the more detached they become from real = people, real=20 issues and real life around them. Lust isolates. Love unites. Pornography leads people = away from=20 the truth. Chastity = helps=20 people to grow in truth. =20

= Pornography=20 inevitably leads to other grave sins. For example, the use of=20 pornography is frequently coupled with masturbation, another = disordered=20 sexual activity that further turns a person in on himself, = isolating him=20 from others. = Pornography use=20 often leads one to seek other disordered forms of sexual = gratification,=20 which involve the exploitation of others for one=92s own selfish = ends. Pornography does not = remain a=20 =93private=94 vice; by allowing one to view other persons as means = rather than=20 ends, it eventually damages all of one=92s familial and social=20 relationships.

Tears stream from my eyes = because your=20 law is disobeyed. =20 (Psalm 119:136): The numbers. =

=20 Pornography is a real problem and the statistics concerning = it are=20 frightening. The = following=20 facts are numbers compiled within the last several years (sources = noted)=20 by the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and = Families.=20 =20

The scope = and costs=20 of Pornography

=A7 =20 According to 2004 IFR research, U.S.=20 porn revenue exceeds the combined revenues of ABC, = CBS, and=20 NBC (6.2 billion). Porn revenue is larger than all combined = revenues of=20 all professional football, baseball and basketball franchises. The = pornography industry, according to conservative estimates, brings = in $57=20 billion per year, of which the United States is = responsible=20 for $12 billion. Internet Pornography and = Loneliness:=20 An Association? Vincent Cyrus Yoder, Thomas B. Virden = III , and Kiran Amin. Sexual Addiction &=20 Compulsivity, Volume 12.1, 2005.

=20

The Internet=20 accounted for US $2.5 billion of the adult industry=92s = revenues. Dirty Downloads Ready to = Go on=20 iPods, Ron Harris, http://www.macnewsworld.com/,=20 2005

According=20 to a March, 2004 figure, there=20 were 800 million rentals each year of adult videos and DVDs Overdosing on Porn, = Rebecca=20 Hagelin. http://www.worldandi.com/. =

Current = estimates=20 are that $20 billion is spent annually on adult videos (sales = and=20 rentals).

Half of all = hotel=20 guests order pornographic movies. These films comprise 80% of = in-room=20 entertainment revenue and 70% of total in-room revenue. = Sex-Film=20 Industry Threatened With Condom Requirement, Nick = Madigan. =20 The New York Times, 24 August, 2004 .

Cable = pay per view=20 amounted to $2.5 billion.
Magazines=20 accounted for $7.5 billion.

Scope of Internet = Pornography=20

In=20 2004, there were 4.2 million pornographic websites; 372 million=20 pornographic pages.

Daily=20 there were 68 million pornographic search engine requests (25% = of=20 requests). 2003.

Sex=20 is the number 1 topic searched on the Internet. Overdosing on = Porn,=20 Rebecca Hagelin. http://www.worlandi.com/, = March,=20 2004.

Daily=20 there are 2.5 billion pornographic emails (8% of total emails). = 2004.=20

The most = common ways=20 people have accidentally reached pornographic content on the Web = are=20 pop-up windows (55%), misrepresented links (52%), misspelled = URLs (48%)=20 and auto links within emails (23%) Fifty Percent of Workers = Spend=20 Nine days a Year on Personal Surfing at Work. = Cerberian Inc.=20 and SonicWALL, 20=20 July 2004 .

There=20 are 100 thousand websites offering illegal child pornography = (U.S. Customs
Service=20 estimate).

Adult Internet Pornography=20 Statistics

=A7 =20 70% of 18 to 24 year old men visit pornographic = sites in a=20 typical month. 66% of men in their 20s and 30s also report being = regular=20 users of pornography. = First-person: the culture of = pornography, R. Albert Mohler, Jr., Baptist Press, 28 December 2005 = .=20

=A7 =20 20% of men and 13% of women surveyed admitted to = accessing=20 pornography at work. Internet=20 Pornography Statistics. Internet Filter Review, 2004.=20

=A7 =20 There are 40 million US=20 adults who regularly visit internet pornography = websites=20

=A7 =20 One out of three visitors to all adult web sites are = women.

=A7 =20 Women favor chat rooms two times more than men. =

Effects of Pornography =

=A7 =20 40% of adults surveyed believe that pornography = harms=20 relationships between men and women. Consensus Among = American=20 Public on the Effects of Pornography on Adults or Children or What = Government Should Do About It, Harris Poll, 7 October 2005 .=20 www.harrisinteractive.com.

=A7 =20 30 = percent of=20 surveyed adults said their partner=92s use of pornography made = them feel=20 more like a sexual object Marriage=20 Related Research, Mark A. Yarhouse, Psy.D. Christian Counseling = Today,=20 2004 Vol. 12 No. 1. = August,=20 2004.

=A7 =20 One out of every six women grapples with addiction = to=20 pornography. Internet Pornography and = Loneliness:=20 An Association? Vincent Cyrus Yoder, Thomas B. Virden = III , and Kiran Amin. Sexual Addiction &=20 Compulsivity, Volume 12.1, 2005.

=A7 =20 47% of Christians surveyed said pornography is a = major=20 problem in the home.

=A7 =20 As little as six hours exposure to soft core porn = (anything=20 designed to arouse one sexually) is enough to destroy the = viewer=92s=20 satisfaction with his or her spouse; decrease the value of = faithfulness;=20 decrease the ability to be with one person and cherish that = person; and=20 increase the thought that women enjoy rape. Survey 2004 = =20

Children and the Internet=20

=A7 =20 Children use the Internet. 96 percent of kids have = gone=20 online; 74% having access at home and 61% use the Internet on a = typical=20 day. Kids stay connected, USA Today snapshots. 5 January, 2004 = .=20

=A7 =20 In a survey reported in 2000, 21 percent of teens say they = have=20 looked at something on the Internet that they wouldn=92t want = their parents=20 to know. A World of Their = Own. = Newsweek, 8=20 May 2000.

Children Internet = Pornography=20 Statistics

=A7 =20 90% of 8-16 year olds using the Internet have viewed = pornography on line (most while doing homework). 2004 = =20

=A7 =20 Eleven years old is the average age of first = Internet=20 exposure to pornography. 2004.

=A7 =20 Among underage viewers of pornography, children 12 = years old=20 to 17 years old are the largest consumers of Internet pornography. = 2004.

=A7 =20 A survey = of 600=20 households conducted by the National Center for Missing & = Exploited=20 Children found that 20% of parents do not know any of their = children=92s=20 Internet passwords, instant messaging nicknames or email = addresses. Only 5% of = parents=20 recognized the acronym POS=20 (parent over shoulder) and only 1% could identify WTGP (want to go = private?), both of which are used frequently by teens when instant = messaging Ads target = online=20 victimization of children. =20 USA = Today, 20 May=20 2004.

=A7 =20 Incidents = of child=20 sexual exploitation have risen from 4,573 in 1998 to 112,083 in = 2004,=20 according to the National Center for Missing & = Exploited=20 Children Reports of child = exploitation up. =20 USA Today=20 Snapshots, 17=20 February, 2005 . = =20

=A7 =20 Child = Pornography=20 generates $3 billion annually. Internet Filter Review. = 2004. = =20

The path of sinners is smooth = stones=20 that end in the depths of the nether world. =20 (Sirach 21:10=20 ): The bitter fruit of=20 pornography. =

=20 The statistics are staggering. But behind all this there = are not=20 just numbers, there are people whose lives are harmed, and whose = eternal=20 salvation is jeopardized. =20 There are those exploited by pornography, those who use it = and then=20 the family and associates of both groups. Pornography affects = lives, moral=20 strength, relationships, marriages, the lives of children, = community life,=20 and even such things as property value and community safety. =

=20 Sometimes those who use pornography claim, =93I=92m not = hurting=20 anyone.=94 = Pornography, like=20 all sinful behavior, offends the one sinned against, the one who = sins and=20 God, the source of all truth. The destructive work of the devil, = who=20 Sacred Scripture calls =93the father of lies,=94 is to distort in = us our sense=20 of what is good. He tells us that others are for our use and = enjoyment;=20 that satisfying our cravings will make us happy. But the = =93happiness=94 is=20 fleeting. We are spiritual beings sharing God=92s own life, and = this=20 enticing adventure has no spiritual substance. It leaves us = deceived,=20 ashamed, unfulfilled and confused.

=20 Within the person, pornography wreaks harm physically, = emotionally=20 and spiritually. = Pornography=20 can become as physically and chemically addictive as alcohol, = drugs or=20 gambling. The = graphic images=20 of pornography burn themselves into our sense imagination. The more deeply and = frequently=20 this happens, the harder the road to freedom will be. Like other addictions, = pornography=20 is a progressive affliction. =20 It takes more and more graphic presentations to achieve the = desired=20 effect. As this = continues it=20 can lead to acting out and to crime.

=20 Pornography stunts a person emotionally. Those addicted may = withdraw from=20 friends, family and even their own spouses. Pornography leads them = into a=20 world of unreality with idealized, unrealistic figures who do not = engage=20 one in a truly human manner. =20 As people withdraw, their interpersonal skills and = relationships=20 weaken. They look = at others=20 as objects rather than as people with the capacity for friendship = and=20 love. They become preoccupied with every situation and person they = encounter: will it provide for me the gratification I seek? If one is seriously = mired in=20 this vice, the addictive behavior often persists even after it = leads to=20 obviously damaging consequences, e.g., destruction of a marital=20 relationship or loss of a job from viewing pornography at = work. In a real sense, one can = become=20 enslaved to pornography in a manner analogous to drug = addiction. As with other = addictions, the=20 viewer requires more and more explicit, disordered material to = achieve the=20 same effect; this produces a downward spiral that becomes = progressively=20 more difficult to correct.

=20 The spiritual life is about growing more in the image of = God. Pornography makes us = less like God=20 as it leads people to treat others as objects and not as = unrepeatable=20 gifts of God. = Pornography=20 leads one not to make a greater gift of oneself in love, not to = serve but=20 rather to be served. In the end one becomes caught and enslaved in = hurtful=20 habits rather than virtue.

=20 Viewing pornography for this distorted venereal pleasure = is,=20 objectively, a mortal sin. It is seriously contrary to the life = God=20 intends for others and ourselves. It kills the life of sanctifying = grace.=20 If we are in serious sin we must not approach Holy Communion until = we have=20 received sacramental confession. Often we are too ashamed to come = to the=20 Sacrament of Reconciliation and we wander further away from the = life of=20 God. Our ability to function as a living member of the Body of = Christ is=20 impaired. Because this scenario is so widespread today, we must be = concerned about the state of our parishes and families. Still, = because=20 God=92s initiative of grace remains at work, we must not despair. = At any=20 time, He stands ready to assist us. We must entrust ourselves to = His mercy=20 and return to the Sacrament for forgiveness and a new beginning.=20

=20 Pornography harms others. It exploits other people, usually = women=20 but also men and children. = To=20 engage in pornography is to support this terrible and scarring=20 exploitation. To = participate=20 financially in this contributes to an industry that perpetuates a = grave=20 moral evil. = Slavery,=20 including sexual slavery, is a real and growing problem = today. One reason it grows is = because=20 there is a demand for it. =20 Furthermore, after engaging in pornography, the user is = more likely=20 to look upon other people as objects. As pornography use = progresses=20 marriages can falter and collapse. =20 This results in shame, heartbreak and misery for the = spouses and=20 for children who can carry emotional scars into adulthood and = their own=20 marriages. Children = and young=20 people who are exposed to pornography experience assaults on their = human=20 dignity and roadblocks to authentic human development. As pornography = increases, so does=20 crime. Sex offenses = are 506%=20 greater in Phoenix ,=20 Arizona areas where = Sexually=20 Oriented Businesses are located.[10]=20 Pornography is not harmless; it is a grave, dehumanizing = evil. =

=20 In all this, pornography offends God. It misuses His gifts of = freedom,=20 the human body and love. = We=20 are the artwork of God (cf. Eph 2:10 ) and pornography defaces His=20 masterpiece. =20

Go not after your lusts, but = keep your=20 desires in check. =20 (Sirach 18:30=20 ): The Internet and modern=20 technology. =

= ;=20 The volume = of Internet=20 pornography is growing exponentially. It seems to be anonymous = and=20 accessible. It can = easily=20 ensnare the unsuspecting, including children and young = people. Moreover, it can be = particularly=20 addictive. The sense images and sexual gratifications they trigger = leave=20 an impression in the memory. The fantasies can be recalled and=20 perpetuated. They tempt us to take another look. With repeated = use, the=20 viewer of pornography builds up tolerance to its effects: there is = a=20 progressive need for more stimulating images. Pornography use = causes=20 intense physical changes in the body and brain, which reinforce = the=20 disordered thoughts and behaviors. =20 With repeated use, the obsessive thoughts and compulsive = behaviors=20 associated with pornography become increasingly difficult to = interrupt or=20 resist. = =20

=20 Internet pornography does not require the public purchase = of new=20 material. Instead, = pictures=20 can be changed and many more can be accessed. One need not go = into public=20 to obtain pornography anymore. =20 Also disturbing now is the ready availability of these = images=20 through iPods and cell phones. =20 Children whose parents correctly restrict computer access = in=20 private rooms of the house, now may obtain images through handheld = devices, away from supervision.

=20 The culture around us that so readily provides an = environment and=20 market for these kinds of evils is a significant contributing = factor to=20 the problem of pornography and other sins. The technology itself = is not=20 evil. The problem lies in the abuse of technology and its use in = evil=20 ways. Like = dynamite, it is=20 something powerful that demands proper handling. It can be used to = either=20 serve or assault humanity. =

=20 We live in a culture that is increasingly dark and = death-dealing.=20 We can easily begin to absorb these negative influences =96 taking = them in=20 like a plant absorbs, through its roots, what is in the soil or = =93culture=94=20 in which it is planted. We become numb and we don=92t even realize = that we=20 are slowly being poisoned. This problem is serious and it demands = our=20 response.

CHAPTER III
RESPONDING TO = THE=20 PROBLEM &nbs= p; = ; =20

What is your = name? =20 (Mark5:9): =20 Facing and naming the=20 problem.

=20 This real and serious problem demands of us a real and = serious=20 response. It is = easier to=20 turn away and pretend it does not exist, but it does exist, and we = must do=20 what we can. = We should=20 not wait for the abduction, rape or murder of a young girl or boy = in our=20 family, another ruined marriage, a job lost, or another child=92s = life being=20 devastated to get us concerned about this issue. The stakes are just too = high.=20

=20 The first step in solving any problem is to point it out, = to name=20 it. While = exorcizing the=20 Gerasene demoniac, Jesus asked, =93What is your name?=92 (Mark 5:9). In Semitic thought to = know the=20 name is to begin to have some power over it. We find a modern = equivalent of=20 this in the Twelve Step Spirituality of such groups as Alcoholics=20 Anonymous. The = first step in=20 this transforming spirituality is to admit that in the face of = one=92s=20 addiction one is powerless. =20 People do not address problems that they refuse to = admit.

&n= bsp;=20 A major character weakness in heterosexual pornography use = can be=20 selfishness or narcissism. Same sex pornography can be strongly = influenced=20 by a weak male confidence, loneliness and a poor body image. = Realizing=20 these contributing factors can help a person begin to look for the = ways to=20 redirect his or her =93relationships=94 in a more generous and = healthy=20 manner.

=20 The evils with which we struggle often keep us bound up in=20 silence. = Particularly with=20 something like pornography, the fear, embarrassment and shame can = be=20 intense. = Someone with a=20 deep spiritual insight into all this was St. Ignatius Loyola. He noted:=20

When the enemy of human = nature tempts a=20 just soul with his wiles and seductions, he earnestly desires that = they be=20 received secretly and kept secret. =20 But if one manifests them to a confessor, or to some other=20 spiritual person who understands his deceits and malicious = designs, the=20 evil one is very much vexed. =20 For he knows that he cannot succeed in his evil = undertaking, once=20 his evident deceits have been revealed.^{^[11]} =

A prerequisite for use of = pornography=20 is some sort of silence. = To=20 break this silence by speaking to another person can be = frightening, but=20 also liberating. = =

I said: =91I will confess my = offense to=20 the Lord.=92 And = you, Lord,=20 have forgiven the guilt of my sin. =20 (Psalm 32:5): =20 The Sacrament of=20 Penance.=20

=20 Acknowledging the problem for ourselves is an important = first step.=20 As St. Ignatius noted, this can be done in the Sacrament of = Penance. This sacrament is a rich = source of=20 God=92s strength and spiritual health. =20 It is the normal means for us =96 instituted by Christ and = provided=20 by the Church =96 to be reconciled and receive spiritual healing. = Stately=20 simply, pornography is sinful and the Sacrament of Penance removes = sin. This sacrament = puts us=20 in touch with the depth of God=92s merciful love. It removes what is = bad. It=20 strengthens us with what is good, with God=92s grace. =

=20 The fruits of this sacrament are many. The Catechism notes that = it=20 restores us to God=92s grace and joins us in friendship with = God. It brings a spiritual = resurrection=20 drawing us into the Paschal Mystery as we die to our sinfulness = and rise=20 to new life in Christ. =20 The Sacrament of Penance reconciles us to the Church and=20 revitalizes the life of the repentant sinner.^{^[12]} =20

=20 For anyone struggling with pornography, the Sacrament of=20 Reconciliation offers an infallible source of healing grace. Jesus spoke of the joy = in heaven=20 over one repentant sinner (Luke 15:10 ); when worthily celebrated, this = sacrament=20 causes the angels to rejoice. =20 In this sacrament, we encounter Christ the Divine = physician. When=20 we open our wound to Him, He can begin to heal us with His = grace.=20

Which of you wishing to = construct a=20 tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if = there is=20 enough for its completion? (Luke 14: 28 ): =20 What can we do? =

This = pastoral=20 letter is offered as part of a comprehensive effort within the = Diocese of=20 Kansas City-St. Joseph to make progress in the battle against = pornography=20 and its destructive effects in individuals, our families, and our=20 society. The tactic = we are=20 taking is only secondarily one of legislative advocacy against the = purveyors of pornography. The injustice against the actors or = participants=20 in pornographic media deserves to be addressed and corrected. I = encourage=20 and support those who =96 in accord with their office and = competence --=20 succeed in turning back this plague. We know this demon is = =93legion,=94 and=20 still we persevere in hope.

=20 Our effort and my purpose in writing is primarily to help = us all=20 grow spiritually stronger in our fight against pornography. We = must help=20 each other in a way of discipleship that is grounded in chastity = and that=20 purity of heart which helps us see God. =

We are contending not = against flesh=20 and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the = rulers=20 of the darkness of this world.