Can I accept a Job at a video store that rents Pornography?

[Michael44]

I have been out of work for a year and thinking about applying at a vidoe store that has a small porn section. Is this immoral? Please site your answers or state that it is your opinion.
Thanks and God Bless.

 

[puzzleannie]

well I couldn’t any more than I could work in a bar, in a gambling casino, bookstore with an “adult” section, or other jobs I have held in the past. ask your priest

 

[tafan]

no you can not accept that job. Working there would be formal cooperation with evil.

 

[presidentjlh]

well I couldn’t any more than I could work in a bar, in a gambling casino, bookstore with an “adult” section, or other jobs I have held in the past. ask your priest

I concur. I would ask a priest about this matter. It’s hard to avoid all evils in the world.

Now, if you were asking whether or not it is okay to work at a place that sells solely pornographic materials and such, then of course the answer to that is no.

But, as has been stated, does this mean we shouldn’t work at a bookstore that, along with the regular material, sells Playboy? I would tend to think no.

It’s like working at a fast food place. Yes, there are people that will commit gluttony by ordering tons of food, but is that the worker’s fault?

 

[Rascalking]

Yes, you can, we all need jobs and this isn’t a serious sin.

But be careful. Most video stores I know of are in serious financial trouble and are closing all over the place.

 

[Newbie2]

no you can not accept that job. Working there would be formal cooperation with evil.

Not any more so than working at a 7-11 or other convenience store that sells girlie magazines.

Hey, even consider that the Almighty is calling the OP to work there so that in some way, shape or form the OP might be able to discourage people from renting porn i.e. like suggesting how much they like the new (non-porn movie) release when they first come in the door? Or by an unapproving glance or look?

 

[1ke]

I have been out of work for a year and thinking about applying at a vidoe store that has a small porn section. Is this immoral? Please site your answers or state that it is your opinion.
Thanks and God Bless.

I think you must look at this from a perspective of the concept of cooperation in evil. Cooperation can be material or formal, it can be remote or proximate (mediate or immediate).

Perhaps spending some time studying up on cooperation with evil and its various forms can help put your coscience at ease.

Such criteria are often used in medical ethics to determine morality, for example someone working in a pharmacy or store like Walmart that sells condoms, contraception, etc.

The pornographic materials are readiliy available without your participation. They can get them at your store or another or online. The sin does not *depend *on you being there or helping. You are not encouraging them or helping them to sin.

If you do take employment, perhaps you can have an agreement that someone else assist customers checking out those materials whenever possible. That would leave only times when you are the only person there. In such case, IMHO, your cooperation does not constitute a sin. That’s my take on the level of cooperation this would consist of.

Always check with a holy priest for spiritual guidance.

 

[Holly3278]

I am not entirely sure but I believe that you can work in such a store. However, if someone comes up to the cash register with a porn video that they want to rent then I, as a Catholic, would flat out refuse to serve that person and would request that a different cashier, if one was available, to serve the person. If no other cashier was available, I would still refuse to serve that person even if it meant losing my job. I refuse to take part in another person’s mortal sin.

 

[HereticalTheist]

I am not entirely sure but I believe that you can work in such a store. However, if someone comes up to the cash register with a porn video that they want to rent then I, as a Catholic, would flat out refuse to serve that person and would request that a different cashier, if one was available, to serve the person. If no other cashier was available, I would still refuse to serve that person even if it meant losing my job. I refuse to take part in another person’s mortal sin.

I dunno…would you refuse to sell french fries to an obese person?What about selling home electronics like laptops, which can be used for porn? If we told people to avoid any action that might lead another to sin, then we start down a slippery slope. Should a doctor refuse to treat a patient who has a history of abusing his/her spouse or children?

 

[Holly3278]

I dunno…would you refuse to sell french fries to an obese person?What about selling home electronics like laptops, which can be used for porn? If we told people to avoid any action that might lead another to sin, then we start down a slippery slope. Should a doctor refuse to treat a patient who has a history of abusing his/her spouse or children?

There is a huge difference between selling things like french fries that most likely will not be used for an immoral purpose and selling pornography which will almost definitely be used for an immoral purpose.