Pornography

There is no doubt that we are living in a pornographic culture. The average age of exposure to pornography has been declining and now stands around 11 years old. My own first exposure to pornography was at age 14 in eighth grade. Since then in y all boys high school, at my Catholic college, and in my daily life here in Los Angeles, there is little doubt that the way women (and men) are objectified lies at the heart of the sexual revolution. Pornography is a poison pill that leads to abuse, rape, harassment, alienation, moral degradation, depression, loneliness, and a host of other problems.

As the APA says:

“We found that the younger a man was when he first viewed pornography, the more likely he was to want power over women,” Bischmann said. “The older a man was when he first viewed pornography, the more likely he would want to engage in playboy behavior.”

The Catechism presents Catholic teaching on pornography as:

It [pornography] offends against chastity because it perverts the conjugal act, 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. It is a grave offense. Civil authorities should prevent the production and distribution of pornographic materials. (2354).

Knowing the prevalence and the harm of pornography; what is our call as Catholic principals?

I am exploring various resources but so far am not sure how to address it. As a parent, I recommend the close monitoring of devices, its charging in another room, and limited exposure to media. Even that is not enough. Several weeks ago, we were getting our passport photos taken and the tv in the camera/photo shop was playing music videos which simply amounted to soft-core porn. Of course my four year old and two year old saw this. The clerk was unconcerned. How can this be okay?

In our school, I know that the young men and women of our middle (and probably younger) have exposure to this same issue. When students are discussing the shows they see on Netflix, HBO, YouTube, et al. - I know there are hardcore R ratings amongst them.

Ultimately, like many things, the problem rests in the home. BUT as a community, we are called to support each other and build the kingdom of Christ. Is there anyone out there who feels like they have a successful approach towards pornography as a parent, teacher, or principal?