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Catholic Bishops Address the Challenges of Pornography

Last Updated: April 16, 2015

Ron DeHaas
Ron DeHaas

Ron DeHaas is the president and co-founder of Covenant Eyes. Ron has a BS and an MS in Geology from The Ohio State University and attended the University of Michigan as a Ph.D. candidate. Ron pioneered the concept of Accountability Software and founded Covenant Eyes in the spring of 2000. Today, nearly half a million subscribers enjoy the Screen Accountability that Covenant Eyes provides. Ron also founded Nehemiah Ministries, a 160-acre retreat and counseling center in south-central Michigan for pastors and missionaries.

This month, the Catholic News Agency reported that U.S. Bishops have overwhelmingly approved the creation of a statement on pornography to address the “serious pastoral challenges” and consequences that it poses on a spiritual, social, and personal level.

Bishop Malone of Buffalo, NY, and chairman-elect of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, addressed the issue and recognized that the bishops have not issued a statement explicitly dealing with the issue.

The U.S. bishops approved, 226-5, his request to write a statement on the issue to encourage more pastoral attention to it. He said the statement could also recommend “proven practical resources” for pornography users, their loved ones and clergy.

Bishop Conley of Lincoln, Nebraska, recommended Covenant Eyes as one of those resources. Bishop Malone and others quoted statistics on the effects of pornography, showing its growing impact on society, while emphasizing that an “authentic vision” of the human person can help combat pornography.

A video of the meeting can be found online by clicking here (the presentation of the resolution begins at approximately 39:30 into the video).