Tech Talk: Archdiocese Pushes Back against Porn

Tech Talk with Lisa Hendey/Son Rise Morning Show (CatholicMom.com)

On today's episode of the Son Rise Morning Show, we discussed an initiative in the Archdiocese of New Orleans to pray and act against the effects of pornography. The Clarion-Herald, the archdiocesan newspaper, printed Archbishop Gregory Aymond's summary of this program, including a prayer for families.

Archbishop Aymond of New Orleans has assembled a team to take on a topic which challenges families and individuals nationwide. “Safe Haven Sunday” will take place in that archdiocese on February 17 and 18.
- In parishes around the Archdiocese, homilies and intercessory prayers will directly address and seek prayer for the pervasive problem of pornography
- All parishes will distribute a resource booklet Equipped: Smart Catholic Parenting in a Sexualized Culture
The Archdiocese plans to use tools of technology such as email and texting to help create safe home environments:
- New Orleans will offer a free seven-day email program that gives practical tips on creating safe digital environments in the home. Anyone can enroll in the program by texting the word “secure” to 66866, and the emails will arrive on a rolling basis, so if you've enrolled after the first day, you'll still receive all seven emails in order.
The Bishops have taken on this topic in the past. Download a PDF of the Pastoral Response to Pornography: Create in Me a Clean Heart, which the USCCB published in 2015.
Why is proactive communication so important, especially in educating children about this problem? Aren’t they too young to understand this?
- With the pervasiveness of technology, if and when our children leave our homes, it’s impossible for us to totally control what they may encounter. Some basic coping skills can equip them to act with care when they encounter something in technology which frightens or concerns them.
The USCCB has several online resources to assist families, and other help is available to combat this problem:
- Covenant Eyes
- USCCB: The "Clean Heart" pamphlet series includes five pamphlet-length resources related to Bishops' main statement, in both English and Spanish. The English pamphlets can be purchased from the USCCB Store. Each pamphlet's full text is available online:
  - "Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography - Abridged Version"
  - "Pornography's Effects on Marriage and Hope for Married Couples" by Sam and Beth Meier
  - "Raising Chaste Children in a Pornographic World" by Ryan Foley
  - "The Role of Priests in Ministry to Those who Struggle with Pornography" by Fr. David Songy
  - "'Wash Me Thoroughly': Healing from Pornography Use and Addiction" by Daniel Spadaro

A recent article in the National Catholic Register has more details about this groundbreaking program. Listen to the full interview: https://soundcloud.com/son-rise-morning-show/lisa-hendey-fighting-pornography Read more of our Tech Talk columns.