My oldest son (almost 13) is extremely naive about the whole porn industry. Last year as we were traveling he blurted out:
"How great is that?"
"What?" I asked.
That sign said "Adult Movies and Magazines" and there are all those trucks parked there. So they let truck drivers stop and watch movies and read magazines. Isn't that great?"
"Yeah." I said.
Later I told Mary what he said and we both cringed.
I heard somewhere that only 3% of the information on the internet is related to porn - but it accounts for 90% of the downloads.
A woman from a Diocese in Pennsylvania asked if I had anything to help their Family Life Office address what seems to be an epidemic of Catholic men addicted to internet porn.
Someone else told me there is another sort of epidemic of the elderly (mostly men) buying computers and turning golden years into lustful years.
Not good dear elders. It makes me think of the olden days where prophets accused Israel of worshipping idols or other gods.
Porn is all about that.
HHMMMmm. I need your help men. To raise the call for sexual purity in marriage, in single life, in the priesthood, in religious life, and to say out loud to any men or boys who happen by: You can and must strive to live a life of authentic sexual integrity and purity. If you think this is impossible, you need to write a comment about why you think so - then listen to my/our response.
Back to BigDaddyAZ... Since my son does not know what the term porn is (he has not even heard the term yet) I am not sure how I would approach it. Maybe I can practice here and let you guys comment on it - good or bad. You know, the whole "Let steel sharpen steel" thing...
I think my biggest flaw might be giving too much information to my son. Then again, from what many men have told me, I would rather mess up by sharing too much than give my sons to the wolves without enough wisdom to keep themselves out of harm's way. Too bad there wasn't a site I could visit that could give me something to measure this idea against. (Sigh) Guess I'll have to start it myself with this site. Okay.
How I might answer if my son asked me what "porn" means.... "Son, there are people out there who do not show respect for the marital embrace. You remember the basic facts I told you - about how a man and woman are united as one body - right? How I told you babies are conceived?
Right.
Okay... Do you remember how I told you this marital union is sacred and holy and very private between a husband and wife? Okay. Good.
Now do you remember when I told you that even though you know how this union happens, you must clothe each marital union in privacy and you are not to focus on or dwell on the act. By doing this you give privacy in your mind to every couple who has ever conceived a child. If you do not train your mind to be respectful, you might foster what is called 'Lust' in your heart. Lust is a twisting of the wonderful and powerful drive in every man and woman to begin a family. Lust will keep you from growing the heart of a man.
I gotta tell you there are people in this world who do not treat the marital embrace with the respect and dignity it deserves. They make and sell something called pornography or porn. Porn is when people film others having sex outside of marriage. The images they create can be so powerful that some men stop acting like men, some stop being husbands and fathers, worse than that, some have hurt or killed others after watching it. There are examples of this in the news but I cannot imagine telling you about them until you're 18. Trust me when I tell you this: "Porn is not good for your soul, your heart, or your spirit - and it is especially not good for your formation as a man."
I have heard story after story about how this sin destroys family life and has been the main reason many husbands and wives have gotten divorced. I have read stories about men who were tempted to kill themselves because of the images they saw and could not get out of their minds. Guard your heart by guarding your eyes and turn away from such images or movies.
'Nuff said. You see how I can ramble. I probably would not say all that but at least it helps to write out a first draft. I am not sure how much to share of my past with him or at what age. The fact that I bought my first playboy at age 11? Not sure if that would help him or tempt him.
Okay I'm sleepy. It is late. Any comments BigDaddyAZ?
P.S. I really DO think you need to report that irresponsible coach to his superiors about making comments like that to such impressionable boys.
