The Danger of Porn to Teenagers

by Letters Editor · November 2, 2016

What was promised to satisfy a God-given yearning and desire has become a toxin set to destroy the very longing people have: to love, be loved and to be united in love to another person.

From Marie-Anne TeBrake, Johannesburg– I write in response to your feature article on the porn crisis (October 5). This article should have had front-page priority!

Why are we, as Church, so quiet on this issue? As a counsellor and as a result of my work with Theology of the Body, I see many individuals and couples who have come to realise through Pope John Paul II’s teaching on authentic love that porn is one of the contributing causes of their brokenness and unhappiness.

It’s not an exaggeration when the article quotes that children as young as eight years old are being exposed to this poison.

I have seen parents who have found their children dabbling in these vile images that the other parent has left on an electronic device.

Parents, watch what you watch — our children are more techno-savvy than you realise.

They learn from their friends how to search your Google history and what to look for. What starts out as a game or a challenge becomes a secret nightmare in the lives of these kids as they approach adulthood.

Parents, you do have every right to check what your children are watching on their tablets, cellphones and computers.

That is a condition I set when buying my teen a techno-gadget: I can check it out whenever I want to. It works. Protect the young to reduce the risk of sexual addiction!

Priests, what do you do if you have your own issues with porn, as the article mentions? Who are you referred to for your own healing and rehab? Porn can become an addiction and as well as spiritual healing, rehabilitation therapy must be considered.

More importantly, to whom can you refer those who come to you confessing this sin? Ensure the online solutions are reputable, like those mentioned in your article.

Yes, there is much work to be done in South Africa. I agree that priests should start to address the porn crisis with their parishioners in order for them to feel comfortable enough to seek healing, as Fr Kilcawley suggests in the article.

This approach was taken when HIV/Aids reared its head in the early ’90s: the Church started to talk about sex.

Let’s move on…there’s lots to talk about and “beautiful things happening, we just need to know about them”.