Is Pornographic Material Sinful If It Was Against My Will?

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For Example I was sitting in a pub, and their was a pornographic calender hanging from the wall and it just happened to be in front of me, another time I was on my computer and a pornographic pop up came up, or some kind of condom advertisement that just randomly shows up on tv, etc, etc.

If I see these things because they are indirectly forced on me, and do not entertain the images, but I still see them just because they coincidentally happen to be in line with my eyesight> Is this considered a sin? Do I need to confess it?

I’d like some advise with this,
Thanks,
Kieron
 
Im no expert by any means but usualy a sin requires a bit of pre meditation. If it was there through no fault of your own i doubt any sin is implied. Now if you sat about and stared at it you my fall into the lust category. Just my 2 cents.
 
kieron123 said:
for example i was sitting in a pub, and their was a pornographic calender hanging from the wall and it just happened to be in front of me, another time i was on my computer and a pornographic pop up came up, or some kind of condom advertisement that just randomly shows up on tv, etc, etc.

If i see these things because they are indirectly forced on me, and do not entertain the images, but i still see them just because they coincidentally happen to be in line with my eyesight> is this considered a sin? Do i need to confess it?

I’d like some advise with this,
thanks,
kieron
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no.
No.
 
I recently asked my priest this question during confession. He said that as long as no sin was committed because of the movie/image/book… you have not sinned. This happened to me when I watched a movie that had some ‘R’ rated scenes - as long as it does not lead you to sin, it is not a sin. If you know that some bars/movies/books might lead you to sin, that is a ‘near occasion’ and should be avoided.
 
Sin is a choice. You cannot involuntarily sin.

Now, if you went back to that pub and positioned yourself in such a seat because you wanted to see the calendar again, it would be a different story. Likewise, if you went back to that website hoping that pop-up ad would reappear and titillate your senses, that would be a problem.

But from what you have described, it doesn’t sound like anything you chose.

Of course, I can only go on what you have said. If you are still feeling unsettled by these experiences, you can always bring them up in Confession. The priest should be able to help put your mind at ease. 👍
 
These are the conditions for committing a mortal sin according to my catechism:
  1. It must be a grave matter.
  2. The person who commits sin must have a clear knowledge of the guilt of the action.
  3. There must be a full consent of the will.
  4. The person insists in pursuing the sin.
Thus if one lives a good life but has a sinful dream, he is not sinning, because there is no consent involved.

Lately I opened a site here in the forums where some poor person attached a lot of dirty films. I closed the page quickly enough and went to Communion with a clear conscience.

Hope this clarifies your position.

God bless.

Victor
 
kieron123 said:
For Example I was sitting in a pub, and their was a pornographic calender hanging from the wall and it just happened to be in front of me, another time I was on my computer and a pornographic pop up came up, or some kind of condom advertisement that just randomly shows up on tv, etc, etc.

If I see these things because they are indirectly forced on me, and do not entertain the images, but I still see them just because they coincidentally happen to be in line with my eyesight> Is this considered a sin? Do I need to confess it?

I’d like some advise with this,
Thanks,
Kieron
Click to expand...
Jesus tells us that it is not what goes into a man that makes him impure, but what what comes out for these things come from the heart. The specific verse was referring to the mouth, but it can just as easily apply to the eye as the receiver.

All sorts of things enter via our senses and none of these things are of any consequence (sin or no) except by how we react to them. The pure heart will be put off by such impure things just as the mouth is “put off” by tasting rancid milk. Just as your mouth would recognize and react to spit out the bad milk, so does the pure heart recognize and react to “spit out” the impure (name removed by moderator)ut.

Hope this helps.

Peace
James
 
I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you. Those pop-ups are everywhere. Just as long as you don’t entertain those thoughts and images and don’t linger on them there is no sin.

Be careful to avoid the near occasion of sin as it is a tough place to come back out of.
 
kieron123 said:
For Example I was sitting in a pub, and their was a pornographic calender hanging from the wall and it just happened to be in front of me, another time I was on my computer and a pornographic pop up came up, or some kind of condom advertisement that just randomly shows up on tv, etc, etc.

If I see these things because they are indirectly forced on me, and do not entertain the images, but I still see them just because they coincidentally happen to be in line with my eyesight> Is this considered a sin? Do I need to confess it?

I’d like some advise with this,
Thanks,
Kieron
Click to expand...
Even Christ was tempted … there is no sin in that.

You do have an obligation to get away from the vicinity of the pornography as part of your promise in the Act of Contrition to avoid the “near occasion” of sin.
 
Nope, its only a mortal sin if you intend to do it, while knowing its wrong. If you go back intenttionaly to see the calander, or go to a condom website to see it on purpose, thats a different story. We should also always try to avoid the near ocasion of sin as well.

PAX
:signofcross:
 
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