Guard against cyber pornography — CBCP

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), in a pastoral letter, called on parents to guide their children in the use of the Internet as they warned the people against the cyber pornography.

“Parents must be held responsible in monitoring and supervising their children’s access to the internet,” said CBCP President and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas.

The Catholic bishops issued a statement entitled, “Created for Love, Created for Chastity– A pastoral Response to the Grave Evil of Pornography,” that was made public on Thursday, Feb 10 and posted on the CBCP news website.

One of the objectives of the warning was for parents to be aware of the proliferation of cyber pornography, which in recent years saw minors as victims of abuse.

The Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality (YAFS) Study of Filipino Youth in 2013 has revealed that 56.5 percent of Filipinos aged 15 to 24 years old have been exposed to pornographic videos and movies, 35.6 percent have been exposed to sexually explicit reading materials, and 15.5 percent have viewed pornographic websites.

The issue on pornography was among the pressing concerns the bishops discussed during their plenary assembly held in Cebu City last month.

"Because we are created for love, we are also created for chastity," the bishops said, adding that "pornography is a grave evil that offends against chastity."

However, it was acknowledged that with the "all-pervasiveness of the internet, it should not be surprising that pornography has invaded our homes, workplaces, schools, and churches.”

"Alarmingly, the Philippines has become a major producer and distributor of pornography, especially of child pornography, where it is now among the top ten countries for the production of online child pornography." they said.

"One study has found that child pornography in our country is fueled by foreign and local perpetrators who are exploiting poor and vulnerable families and their children. These are Filipino children whose innocence has been consumed for the pleasure of others."

The Episcopal Commission on Family and Life was given the task to strengthen its programs against pornography, as part of efforts to fight pornography.

"Many men, women, and children have been wounded and corrupted by pornography. They have discovered that the destructive effects of pornography on the soul are long lived and deep," the prelates said.

In this Year of Mercy, the bishops said Church is called to affirm and to proclaim the “healing power of Jesus, who is the “face of God’s mercy.”

The letter also seeks to promote further discussion and resources to help those harmed by pornography.

“To those who have been exploited and victimized by the pornography industry, nothing that you have done to you can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus,” they said.

"To those who struggle with pornography, do not allow shame, fear, or pride, to prevent you from returning to God, the Father of Mercies, who loves you beyond all your other loves," they said.

The bishops advise: "Have recourse to the sacraments regularly, especially the sacrament of confession, to receive the strength and courage from God to help you in your trials." — BAP, GMA News