Bishop Richard J. Malone of Buffalo, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family and Youth

One of the many fruits of the Fall General Assembly of the U.S. bishops in Baltimore is a newly approved statement on pornography that examines its effects on men, women, marriages and families and provides catechesis as well as words of hope and encouragement to those who are struggling with pornography use or are trying to help loved ones escape the grips of this modern-day scourge.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) approved a formal statement, “Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography,” at their annual Fall General Assembly in Baltimore on November 17.

The statement was approved by the full body of bishops, with 230 votes in favor, 4 against and 1 abstaining.

“My brother bishops’ approval of this statement shows our collective concern for the widespread problem of pornography in our culture today,” said Bishop Richard J. Malone of Buffalo, New York, chairman of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family and Youth (LMFLY), which led the statement’s development.

“As the statement says, virtually everyone is affected by pornography in some way. So many people –including within the Church– are in need of Christ’s abundant mercy and healing. My hope is that the statement can serve as a foundation and catalyst for increased pastoral attention to this challenge at the national and local level.”

The formal statement provides a basic catechesis on human sexuality and chastity, an explanation of why the production and use of pornography is a sin, an overview of its effects in our society, a closer look at its effects on men, women, children, young people, marriages and families, and a word of hope and encouragement to those who have been harmed by pornography use or in its production.

“Pornography, though not new, is a particularly dark ‘sign’ of the modern world, one that harms countless men, women, children, marriages, and families,” the statement reads. “It is so pervasive in sectors of our society that it is difficult to avoid, challenging to remove, and has negative effects that go beyond any one person’s actions. At the same time, as with any sin, pornography’s prevalence in our society is rooted in the personal sins of individuals who make, disseminate, and view it, and by doing so further perpetuate it as a structure of sin.”

Calling it a “grave sin against human dignity,” the statement explains how the use and production of pornography “dehumanizes” the people depicted, some of whom are consenting to participate in it “out of desperation for money or out of an impoverished sense of self-worth.”

The statement’s main audiences are Catholic leaders and parents, but it is also intended to be helpful for those who struggle with pornography use and all people of goodwill who want to work together for a culture of purity and respect for all women and men. A printed version in English and Spanish will be available in early 2016 along with supplemental materials and resources for priests, parents and young people.

Click here to read the full text of “Create in Me a Clean Heart”.

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