In a column written by Archbishop Chaput in the Denver Catholic Register (Week of March 21, 2007) he made this important observation:

 

“The sexual confusion at the top of U.S. society now has an echo in every corner of American life. Sexually transmitted disease, child sexual abuse, adult Internet predators, divorce, cohabitation and nearly every other indicator of a dysfunctional society stand at epidemic levels. But very few people want to name the biggest single environmental crisis we face: a multi-billion dollar pornography industry that pours garbage into our homes every day through the Web and other media… Pornography is never `innocent entertainment,’ no matter how private it might seem. It turns human beings into objects. It coarsens our appetites. It darkens our ability to see real human beauty. It creates impossible expectations about sexual intimacy. It kills enduring romance and friendship between the sexes. And ultimately it’s a lie and a cheat. Pornography is a cheap, quick, empty copy of the real thing — the real joy of sexual intimacy shared by a man and woman who have joined their lives in a loving marriage.”

 

The porn industry has become weaponized by the internet and by what has been termed the “Triple- A Engine” effect of accessibility, affordability and anonymity.   The escalating use of pornography on the Internet reveals that we are in very troubled waters.  All Catholics should treat this as darkly spiritual in nature. 

 

If you or a loved one has become trapped by this addiction, there is help. “Where sin abounded,” as Paul’s Letter to the Romans has it, “grace did much more abound.”

 

Below you will find many resources to help you or your loved one reclaim a Christian vision of human sexuality and learn anew how to see one another as a unique and beautiful expression of God’s love.

 

Phil Webb, Director, Office of Marriage & Family Life

 

 

 

Websites 

 

Please note that these sites are not affiliated with the Marriage & Family Life Office of the Archdiocese of Denver. We provide this information solely for your information. We are not responsible for, nor do we endorse, their policies, the views they express, the products and services they offer, or the content of their materials or websites.

 

Offering information, guidance and help:

 

Catholic websites

 

Institute for Marital Healing.  A great resource created by Catholic Psychiatrist, Richard P Fitzgibbons M.D.  The page dealing with pornography is HERE

 

The Porn Effect:  A Catholic online community which offers support and encouragement to those affected by sexual sin.  Click here to read an article about the founder of www.theporneffect.com and how this young man overcame his addiction to pornography
 

St. Joseph’s Covenant Keepers
 

Unity Restored Using porn? Know someone using Porn? There is help
   

Family Life Center International
 

Fathers For Good:  A parenting website sponsored by the Knights of Columbus
 

PornNoMore:  A Catholic website with information, prayers, and witness talks for those  struggling with pornography
 

The My House Initiative:  Started by the Archdiocese of Kansas City.  An initiative aimed at fostering the virtue of chastity by building awareness of the effects of pornography in society, offering support and healing for those harmed by it, and educating Catholics on what they can do to protect their families from its influence.

 

Catholictherapists.com:   Catholic Therapists offering counseling that is consistent with church teaching
 

Theology of the Body:  The online resource for John Paul II's Theology of the Body
 

Who Does it Hurt:  Website of Matthew Fradd in Ireland, who is a Catholic man with a passion for sexual integrity

 

True Knights:  The confraternity of Christian husbands, fathers, and sons

 

Christian websites

 

 

Pornography Harms:  A vast collection of peer-reviewed research on the harm of pornography
   

Focus on the Family:  A website that provides Christian resources for parenting
 

Freedom Everyday:  A site sponsored by L.I.F.E. Ministries (Living in Freedom Everyday), a sexual addiction recovery ministry
 

The King's Men:  The mission of this organization is, as men, to pledge to unite and build up other men in the mold of leader, protector, and provider through education, formation and action
   

Somebody's Daughter:  A Journey To Freedom From Pornography
   

The Pink Cross:  Where addicts get help and those that work in the industry find hope 

 

Secular websites

 

The Social Cost of Pornography:  Presented by the Witherspoon Institute, this website features the consultation on "The Social Costs of Pornography" where leading experts in the fields of psychiatry, psychology, neurophysiology, philosophy, sociology, law, and political theory present a rigorously argued overview of the problem of pornography in our society and to make recommendations (includes videos from recent conference about these studies)

 

National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families:  Promotes decency and family life

 

 

Online Video & Audio

 

Psychiatrist Richard P Fitzgibbons M.D. on John Paul II's Love and Responsibility  Click here

 

Author and sociologist Gail Dines.  "Has Porn Hijacked Sexuality?"  CNN Video

 

The My House video put together by the Colorado Spring diocese:   Click here

 

Jeff Cavins: "The Pornography Plague and the Path to Christian Purity"  Click here

 

Father Larry Richards speaks to men about confession.  Click here 

 

 

Materials in Spanish

 

http://corazones.org/diccionario/pornografia.htm: Articles related to pornography addiction and advice
 

http://es.catholic.net/busqueda/index.phtml?w=pornografia&s=2&and=1: Great articles related to battling pornography
 

http://www.familylifecenter.net/article.asp?artId=236: 12 Steps to Freedom from Pornography by Steve Woods
 

http://www.adiccionsexual.com/: Sexual Addiction website sponsored by Healing and Hope in Houston, TX
 

Como Sanar las Heridas de la Adiccion Sexual by Dr. Mark Laaser

 

 

Internet filters, accountability software, and media safety

 

iSAFE:  A website for internet safety education
 

Clean Hotels:  Information on hotels that do not offer in-room, "adult" (pornographic) pay-per-view movies
  

Filter Review:  A website that describes and rates different internet filters
 

Covenant Eyes:  Provides Internet Accountability and Filtering services. Covenant Eyes Internet Accountability is unique in that monitors all the sites you visit and sends a report to the person you choose. Each site receives a score for mature content. What we do online impacts our lives offline. Available for Mac, Windows, iPhone and iPod Touch.
 

Safe Eyes:  Internet safety software providing filtering and accountability software (Mac and PC along with iPhone and iPod Touch
 

Morality in Media:  A Website to inform citizens and public officials about what they can do through law to protect their communities and children. 

 

Obscenity Crimes:  Want to help put a stop to pornography? or report it to the authorities?

 

Family Safe Media:  A website that provides resources for protecting your family online

 

Catholic CDs and DVDs 

 

"The Pornography Plague and the Path to Christian Purity," CD- Jeff Cavins
 

"Winning the Battle for Sexual Purity," CD- (A Talk For Men) Christopher West (also on DVD).
 

"Face the Darkness, Illuminate the Night,"  Comprehensive DVD series on porn. Includes interviews with Christopher West. 
 

"Cybersex and the Priesthood--Sex, Shame, Addiction," CD- Fr. Stephen Rossetti, PhD, D. Min. 
 

"The Interior Gaze--A Remedy for Pornovision and Lust"--Byzantine Catholic priest and artist, Fr. Thomas Loya, demonstrates through design and art how to "see" the beauty of the human body as God intended 
 

"Pure of Heart: Breaking Free from Porn", CD- Jason Evert

 

Books

 

The Courage to Be Chaste by Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR. A modern classic with many practical tips.
Boys to Men by Tim Gray and Curtis Martin
Theology of the Body for Beginners by Christopher West
Every Man’s Battle, Every Young Man’s Battle and Preparing your Son for Every Man’s Battle by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker
Breaking Free: 12 Steps to Sexual Purity by Stephen Wood
Be a Man! by Larry Richards
Pure Manhood by Jason Evert
Pure Womanhood by Crystalina Evert
Hope After Betrayal: Healing When Sexual Addiction Invades Your Marriage by Meg Wilson
Treating Pornography Addiction: The Essential Tool for Recovery by Ph.D. Kevin B. Skinner
Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction by Patrick Carnes
In the Shadows of the Net - Griffin and Moriarity

Out of the Shadows - Patrick Carnes
Don't Call It Love - Patrick Carnes
Facing the Shadow - Patrick Carnes

Love, Marriage & ...Pornography? by Robert Borys:  The booklet is a great resource for those preparing for marriage, for those already married and for anyone interested in knowing about the harmful effects of Internet pornography on relationships, love, family and marriage.  This booklet and other products can be purchased at www.ccaparents.com.  (Discounts are available for churches).

 

 

Support Groups in the Archdiocese of Denver

 

Saint Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, Littleton

Spirit of Christ Catholic Church, Arvada

 

   Contact - Desi   303-587-6239

 

Other Men's Groups

 

The King's Men: www.thekingsmen.org 

St. Joseph Covenant Keepers: www.dads.org
Promise Keepers: www.promisekeepers.org

 
Self Help Groups 

 

Sexaholics Anonymous: www.sa.org
S-Anon International:  www.sanon.org

 

 

Bishop's statements on the effects of pornography

 

Bishop Finn of the Diocese of Kansas: Blessed Are the Pure In Heart.  A Pastoral Letter on the Dignity of the Human Person and the Dangers of Pornography
 

Bishop Loverde of the Diocese of Arlington: BOUGHT WITH A PRICE. Pornography and the Attack on the Living Temple of God or go to the Diocese of Arlington website to view the Pastoral Letter.

 

 

Recent Articles on the effects of pornography