Questions about pornography

[Maxirad]

Check out the following links:

ewtn.com/vexperts/showresult.asp?RecNum=603965&Forums=0&Experts=0&Days=90&Author=&Keyword=xxx&pgnu=1&groupnum=0&record_bookmark=2&ORDER_BY_TXT=ORDER+BY+ReplyDate+DESC&start_at=

scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2354.htm

Is it sinful to watch a piece of hardcore pornography even if it doesn’t cause one to lust and one isn’t planning to lust? How about softcore pornography? Is the Three Prong Obscenity Test a useful tool to determine whether something is pornographic? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, check out the following link:

courses.cs.vt.edu/cs3604/lib/Censorship/3-prong-test.html

Lastly, could text be considered pornography even when not accompanied by pornographic images?

 

[TimothyH]

Lastly, could text be considered pornography even when not accompanied by pornographic images?

Yes. Most rap music these days is pornographic. Insofar as it teaches people to use one another their own enjoyment in rejection of Christ-like self-sacrificing love, it is evil. The entire spectrum of porn in general - hardcore, softcore, and general eroticism in advertising and on TV - perpetuates the culture of recreational sex and therefor is a root cause of abortion. Pure evil.

There are FBI agents and people at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children who watch porn in an attempt to find and rescue exploited children. These are screened psychologically on a very aggressive basis to ensure that they are not experiencing any trauma from it. Personally, I can’t even imagine… But I’m sure they don’t sin when they watch.

-Tim-

 

[sipuf]

It would seem rather impossible to look at a piece of pornography and not be inclined to lust. For pornography is used as a vehicle to lust. That is, lust seems rather inevitable after watching porn.

However looking at a piece of artwork that depicts a nude woman and appreciating it for what it is (i.e. the exercise of human creativity), is not sinful. On the other hand, if you begin to lust after seeing this work of art, it is best for you to turn away or leave the room.

If you begin to lust after seeing a work of art, it no longer becomes a work of art to you. Rather it becomes more defined as pornography as you are using it as a means to lust.

Maybe some soft porn could be interpreted as art, but in practical sense I find this to be highly unlikely.

 

[smichhertz]

Hello Maxirad!

Is it sinful to watch a piece of hardcore pornography even if it doesn’t cause one to lust and one isn’t planning to lust?

Yes, remember that pornography in and of itself is morally evil. Even if it doesn’t cause you to lust, it is still a sin to look at it.

How about softcore pornography?

It might not be as bad, but it’s still a mortal sin. Saying “softcore pronography isn’t as bad as hardcore pornography” is kind of like saying “killing someone with a gunshot to the head isn’t as bad as stabbing them to death”. Sure, one might be slightly worse than the other, but both are still mortal sins.

Is the Three Prong Obscenity Test a useful tool to determine whether something is pornographic?

To be honest, I would say the best test is “better safe than sorry”. So if something has even the slightest possibility of leading you or others to lust, avoid it. Whether it’s the underwear section in a newspaper, a bad scene in a movie, an immodestly dressed girl walking by or even an advertisement on TV, just look away.

Lastly, could text be considered pornography even when not accompanied by pornographic images?

Sure. Dirty romance novels are a perfect example of that. That’s something women struggle with more often than men, but yes, any graphic description of the sexual act would be considered pornographic.

Hope that helps!

 

[ANNE_2]

Check out the following links:

ewtn.com/vexperts/showresult.asp?RecNum=603965&Forums=0&Experts=0&Days=90&Author=&Keyword=xxx&pgnu=1&groupnum=0&record_bookmark=2&ORDER_BY_TXT=ORDER+BY+ReplyDate+DESC&start_at=
scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2354.htm
Is it sinful to watch a piece of hardcore pornography even if it doesn’t cause one to lust and one isn’t planning to lust? How about softcore pornography? Is the Three Prong Obscenity Test a useful tool to determine whether something is pornographic? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, check out the following link:
courses.cs.vt.edu/cs3604/lib/Censorship/3-prong-test.html

Lastly, could text be considered pornography even when not accompanied by pornographic images?

YES.

CCC - " 2351 Lust is disordered desire for or inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure. Sexual pleasure is morally disordered when sought for itself, isolated from its procreative and unitive purposes."

 

[po18guy]

Porn is similar, in one respect, to abortion: it is always bad, everywhere and in every case, since there are at least two victims of the violence of basic human dignity involved in it. To watch it, either with or without arousal (that possible?) is sinful by its very nature. OIf course, this means that an awful lot of pop culture must be rejected by a faithful Catholic, no matter how accustomed we are to it: Movies, TV, music, print and web-based media, in fact, nearly everything we are exposed to has bad content. When you know this going in, you must be extremely careful of the amount of the evil one’s trash that you allow into your spirit.

Not that you are, but if you go looking for loopholes in the catechism, this is a possible indicator of a spiritual problem.

 

[Maxirad]

Especially in light of replies to this thread, I feel confused by what Dr. Geraghty said in response to that one question on the EWTN web site. In particular, I’m confused by Dr. Geraghty saying, “I suppose one can check [pornography] out out [sic] of curiosity or to know what’s going on.” Once again, here’s the link:

ewtn.com/vexperts/showresult.asp?RecNum=603965&Forums=0&Experts=0&Days=90&Author=&Keyword=xxx&pgnu=1&groupnum=0&record_bookmark=2&ORDER_BY_TXT=ORDER+BY+ReplyDate+DESC&start_at=

However, Dr. Geraghty also said, “But none of us are made of iron. But if the curiosity leads to more and more curiosity, you got trouble.”

 

[po18guy]

Especially in light of replies to this thread, I feel confused by what Dr. Geraghty said in response to that one question on the EWTN web site. In particular, I’m confused by Dr. Geraghty saying, “I suppose one can check [pornography] out out [sic] of curiosity or to know what’s going on.” Once again, here’s the link:

ewtn.com/vexperts/showresult.asp?RecNum=603965&Forums=0&Experts=0&Days=90&Author=&Keyword=xxx&pgnu=1&groupnum=0&record_bookmark=2&ORDER_BY_TXT=ORDER+BY+ReplyDate+DESC&start_at=

However, Dr. Geraghty also said, “But none of us are made of iron. But if the curiosity leads to more and more curiosity, you got trouble.”

Best to read the catechism on this, because it is unequivocal. As well, you cannot hear the Dr.'s tone of voice in the reply, since it is written. A person does not have to actually observe porn when a simple description provides you with more than you need to know. Everyone that is addicted to porn began with a curious peek.

CCC2354 “Pornography consists in removing real or simulated sexual acts from the intimacy of the partners, in order to display them deliberately to third parties. It offends against chastity because it perverts the conjugal act, the intimate giving of spouses to each other. It does grave injury to the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others. It immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world. It is a grave offense. Civil authorities should prevent the production and distribution of pornographic materials”.

 

[teachccd]

The Church has always taught that a human being is a body/soul unity. When someone indulges in pornography they are objectifying the body all while removing the soul. This would seem to de-humanize sex whereby love (an essential part of the act) is removed and replaced with mere gratification. The gift of our sexuality was given to us by God so that two who become one (in the covenant of marriage) can express their love for one another. Then out of that love if it be the will of God comes new life. Pornography rejects that whole concept and makes self gratification the means to an end.

“Soft core” becomes one of those “how close can I get to the edge of the cliff” kind of situations. Stay away from all of it and respect a person of the opposite sex as a human being made in the** image and likeness of God**. Remembering that should be the defining factor as to what is good to view… teachccd