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18 Feb 2026

 

Porn And The Good Life

The word “pornography” derives from descriptions of prostitution on ancient walls. In our “modern” world today, studies tell us that 75% of our children are exposed to porn by the age of seventeen. Many youngsters first view porn between seven and thirteen.

Most children are exposed to porn by accident, which is scathing testament to pornography’s easy availability … and to the moral indifference and psychological ignorance of our culture.

Research also informs us that viewing porn is as harmful to the brain as hard drugs. For many users, addiction to porn in the result, involving (for starters) corruption of the imagination and imagery, disrespect for the dignity of sex, and more - much more.

In addition, addiction to porn pursues some children into their adult years. Addiction to porn has ruined countless marriages with its blatant disregard for the Virtues of Trust, Perseverance and shared Courage which marital fidelity demands. Clearly, pornography is psychologically unhealthy, morally indefensible, potentially addictive, without redeeming value of any sort. No individual soul nor intellect is bettered by porn.

Free Speech ?

Even if we set aside religious and moral considerations, porn is still ruinous for users and for unthinking participants.

One specious argument says porn is “free speech.” This ignores the harm porn does to the mental and moral health of users and to the stability of every community … and to our children.

Underlying “free speech” arguments are the distorted ideas that:

1. “freedom” in human affairs is an end in itself and that law stands apart from the people it supposedly protects;


2. “freedom” may be exercised without considering its deleterious outcomes on individuals and on society;


3. “freedom” requires no limits or restraints on its exercise, even when it harms our children.

Academic Freedom ?

Some professors of “higher education” bestow upon porn the fallacious legitimacy of “academic freedom.” In fact, “academic freedom” is strictly limited within academic fields. College defenders of porn reveal several disturbing factors, including:

1. the hubris of some academics who hold that their specialized knowledge nullifies Common Sense;


2. the absurd belief that “academic freedom” trumps our moral responsibilities to one another;


3. so-called “academic life” is superior to our moral obligations at the core of human nature.

It is crucial to remember that true “freedom” is not our unrestricted right to do as we please when we please. True freedom is the unrestricted right to do what we must do for our moral and social good and that of other persons.

Censorship ?

Censorship is not the issue. Our culture is not best served by canceling unwelcome ideas through the exercise of what may be seen as arbitrary power and control. My concern is the choices people make … choices to improve our culture by improving ourselves.

Thus, we will reject porn in our lives:

• If we are to honor true academic freedom, with its limits of authentic application;


• if we are to honor Gospel mandates;


• if we are to honor the Constitutional intent of “free speech,” with its acknowledged limitations;


• if we are to honor human dignity, starting with our own;


• if we are to honor the sacred nature of sex as the expression of life-long Love and Intimacy of husband and wife.

It is true: our moral lives and our behavior are inextricably entwined. God’s intentions for us are clear. And, if that doesn’t suffice, then let us always remember our children.

Parents And Their Little Ones

A child’s moral character is formed by parental example. Parents are guardians of their child’s innocence. The unspoken example of parents has profound impact on every child’s character.

Effective parenting is a serious challenge today. Our children grow up in a world awash with cynicism and moral indifference; a world in which God and His Divine Mysteries are often treated as sentimental fiction.

Moreover, there’s widespread disregard for the Virtues of Modesty, Custody of the Eyes and Matrimony. Denial thrives. “Soft-core” porn is common. Purveyors of “hard-core” porn have a paralyzing foothold even on the Internet and AI.

Nonetheless, protecting children from porn is a critical responsibility of parents … really of all adults. Parents and their surrogates (schools, churches, society at large) must assure that children are not corrupted by porn, which is harmful to body and soul, mind and imagination.

Making Sense

The fact is that ignoring the existence of our Creator and His Commandments is indeed a logical contradiction. Why? Because modern science – indeed, all of Nature depends on Creation’s mysterious entities which are never directly seen or measured.

For example, dark matter, dark energy and space-time linkage are inferred by their effects, not by direct observation. Science is defined by unseen realities which are mysteries all.

Physicist Michael Guillen points out that invisible forces shape the billions of galaxies in Creation. Why, he asks, are metaphysical possibilities dismissed outright? The fact is that Physics accepts unseen realities when evidence insists … as it does constantly.

Discomfort among those who deny God arises from the inexorable implications that humanity is part of the Created Universe. Conclusion: we are products of our Creator.

Since this is true, the same inescapable logic pushes us beyond material explanations and disdain into the world of metaphysical Reality where God and His Revelation reign supreme and make total sense even to agnostics.

We are pushed into the world of Divine intervention in human affairs. It is a world in which our moral dignity is clear; a world in which God’s Commands insist we revere our dignity and remember our created state; a world where Virtue is fundamental to our behavior; a world where God’s Revealed Will is supreme.

We are not, therefore, free to ignore our Creator’s intentions by the use of porn or any of the moral absurdities (e.g., abortion or transgenderism) which false freedoms encourage.

The Point Of It All

Truly, we are citizens of God’s world, not our own … a world of Divine Mystery wherein our dignity as God’s children is paramount, our responsibilities clear, our lives focused.

We are born not to despoil our dignity nor to seek the corrupting isolation which false freedom foists upon us. We are given life to live in harmony with the wishes of our Creator, Whose Divine Image rests within our souls and Whose Will is clearly revealed.

The cultures we create and the lives we live must not be littered with frivolous self-indulgences. We must pursue Reverence and Wisdom, and eventually understand that True Love always requires the Virtues of Self-discipline and Sacrifice.

Let us always remember that our highest human goal is to express the Goodness in our souls, inspired by the Love of God and the selfless example of Jesus. This is, above all else, the point and purpose of our lives.

For these reasons, then, is it not obvious that porn simply does not belong in our lives?

• From a purely secular point of view, porn does harm to all whom it seduces. It does not belong in our lives.


• From a religious point of view, porn simply does not belong.


• From an authentically higher educational point of view, porn does not belong in our lives.


• From a cultural point of view, porn does not belong.

It is that simple.