During this Jubilee Year of Hope, the Diocese of Allentown is expanding its help for people who use pornography, showing them how to turn instead to the Light of Christ.
Father Allen Hoffa, Pastor of Holy Guardian Angels Parish in Reading, is the point person. In addition to his role as head of the anti-pornography Lumen Christi (Light of Christ) Commission, he also is a recognized authority on the topic and a sought-after speaker inside and outside the Diocese.
“Some people consider their struggles with pornography inevitable, or just the way life is,” Fr. Hoffa says. “No! Things can change. The Church is there to walk with them, to give them hope. That can make a huge impact in their life and in the lives of their loved ones.”
In a recent chat with the AD Times, Father Hoffa provided an overview of the pornography issue and what is being done to overcome it.
What is pornography?
An image that leads you to use another person for sexual pleasure in a way that is devoid of relationship, love, and intimacy. It can take many forms – videos and pictures, but also erotic novels, and in today’s world, material generated by artificial intelligence.
How widespread is pornography?
Here are the numbers: 51 percent of Americans use it; 9 out of 10 boys and 6 out of 10 girls say they have seen it before age 18; and 34 percent of the people seeking marriage annulments in our Diocese cite pornography as one of the issues.
How does pornography harm us?
It is a sin, and beyond that, it can lead to emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical harm. It poisons relationships, numbs and desensitizes the brain, and is addictive.
So how can we resist temptation?
Create good boundaries supported by knowledge of yourself, then keep those boundaries. Understand how harmful pornography is to you, and to those you love. Push yourself away from evil and toward the good in life.
Where to turn for help?
Priests throughout the Diocese are specially trained to help with this struggle, both through Confession and through pastoral counseling. They can also refer you to qualified clinicians if you need additional support. There are many excellent online resources, such as IntegrityRestored.com, CovenantEyes.com, and RoadToPurity.com.
“The Church is doing more and more, especially in this Jubilee Year of Hope,” says Fr. Hoffa. “We are working to take on this evil and help the faithful. We’re helping with prevention and education, and we’re helping with intervention and healing. We don’t want people to suffer in silence.”
Watch AD Today for these new anti-pornography initiatives coming up: Safe Haven Sunday on the First Sunday of Lent; anti-pornography Holy Hours for prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament; and updated versions of the Examination of Conscience, tailored for various age groups.
By Paul Wirth.
