Pornography has become more easily accessible and affordable. Porn is addictive, and yet 9 in 10 boys and 6 in 10 girls are exposed to pornography before the age of 18. Often first exposure to pornography is accidental and online. Online pornography that is available today is drastically different from previous generations – both in terms of violent content and ease of accessibility – and it can teach kids that violent sexuality is normal. As Christians who believe that sexuality is a sacred gift and who want to seek justice with the marginalized people who are most harmed by the sex industry, we need to address the problem of easily accessible online porn.
This month, to coincide with Safe Church Ministry's Abuse Awareness Sunday, the Centre for Public Dialogue has partnered with the Reformed Church in America’s Hope to Freedom and the Safe Church Ministry to talk about these challenges facing our families, churches, and societies. How are churches and Christian ministries responding? In Canada, the federal government is reviewing recommendations on the accessibility of online porn—how can we urge our elected representatives to make choices that protect kids, families, churches, and marginalized people?
-Mary-Lee Bouma of Embrace Dignity- Porn Use: It's about More than Personal Sin
-Pastor Jeff Pasche of Calgary Community Reformed Church - Over 18: Confronting Pornography at Your Church
-Bert Adema of the CRC's Indian Metis Christian Fellowship - Is She My Sister?
-the CRC's Safe Church Ministry - The Sex Industry and the Church
-Glendyne Gerrard of Defend Dignity - Fighting Porn with a Gulliver Strategy