I used to think that porn was basically harmless...a victimless crime, so why should it be sinful?...it shouldn't be part of the "heart of the faith" as Chris94 would say. Who cares? No one is hurt buy it.
And yet, people are hurt by it.
I see what it is doing to an entire generation now that porn is freely available in their bedrooms on their phones and computers. Substantial portions of them are too fearful to go out and meet girls. That is not healthy...and it is not funny. It is actually sad. Full adult lives are something to be enjoyed starting at least in your 20's, but they are being postponed or not lived at all.
When I see that, I realize that the Church really did understand a lot of things about "victimless crimes" that modern society is only now testing the boundaries on. The "victimless sin" really does victimize the sinner, not others. Society thinks it is ok...but the Church knows it harms the sinner and so condemns it...and is ridiculed for wanting the best for people. Stuff like this makes me realize that the Church offers more than a promise of salvation. The Church offers solid wisdom regarding how to maximize your own personal happiness here on Earth. When you see that, you see the purely intellectual path to faith.
Modern society will either figure out that the Church was right all along, or it will collapse and have a reboot. The good news is, the Church will still be there for it when it does reboot, ready to offer its timeless wisdom again, when people are willing to listen.
I went on a Catholic retreat a few years ago. A friend from high school invited a bunch of classmates along. Not really something I would normally do, but I figured I would go along ( and it was not totally spiritual, booze in the dorms at night) .
Anyhow, the priest in charge of the group had several homilies over the weekend. Porn was a major theme. The damage it does to men.
I thought it was kind of strange, but then considered the source of his concern might be confessions.
Anyway, I think it might be a bigger problem than popular culture would acknowledge.
Chris94, would be my guess.
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