Why pornography is an offense against chastity and human dignity

Deliberately viewing pornography is a grave sin against chastity. Sexual intimacy and the pleasure that derives from it are gifts from God and should remain personal and private, enjoyed within the sacred bond of marriage alone. Such intimacy should not be put on display or be watched by any other person, even if that person is one’s own spouse. Nor should the human body be unveiled or treated in a way that objectifies it sexually and reduces it to an erotic stimulant. Jesus is clear in his teaching that sexual immorality is not only a matter of one’s actions but also a matter of one’s heart: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Mt 5:27-28). Regardless of the relationship between the parties, looking at another person with lust—as only a sexual object to enjoy, control, and use—is a sin. It is a disordered view of the person, because it is ordered toward use, as of a thing, rather than love, which pertains to persons. This is why pornography can never be justified, even within marriage.32

Pornography is likewise a grave sin against human dignity. As the Catechism says, filming or taking pictures of the intimate parts of the body or of sexual acts does “grave injury” to the person(s) “performing,” to anyone responsible for its making or production, and to the general public.33 Pornography dehumanizes the persons depicted, making them into objects of use. Those who produce and distribute pornography harm the common good by encouraging and even causing others to sin. They do serious harm to the women and men who consent to be in pornographic material, often out of desperation for money or out of an impoverished sense of self-worth.34 Even worse, in some cases pornographers take advantage of those who cannot even give consent—children and other victims of human trafficking—which is both a grave sin and a heinous crime.

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The effects of sin

Sin offends God and always hurts the person sinning as well as the community. To choose with full knowledge and complete consent something gravely contrary to the divine law is to commit a mortal sin,35 which “destroys in us the charity without which eternal beatitude is impossible.”36 Mortal sin ruptures a person’s relationship with God and puts his or her salvation at risk. Forgiveness is needed whenever we sin, and it is always available in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Jesus over and over demonstrated his great mercy to sinners, not condemning them but saying, “Go and sin no more” (see Jn 8:1-11). However, persisting in sin can make it more difficult to hear God’s call and respond to his offer of mercy, especially if addiction is involved.

Pornography use hurts the user by potentially diminishing his or her capacity for healthy human intimacy and relationships. It presents a distorted view of human sexuality that is contrary to authentic love, and it harms a person’s sense of self-worth. Occasional use can turn into more frequent use that can then lead to an addiction to pornography, which is a growing problem, as will be discussed below. Sin also damages the community. It can increase isolation between people because of the feelings of shame and self-reproach it generates. It breaks down trust between family members, and it damages the ability of parents and other adults to be virtuous role models for children.

Pornography’s link to other sins

Pornography use is connected with or can lead to other sins in addition to those already mentioned, especially masturbation. Masturbation, which is deliberate, erotic stimulation often to the point of orgasm, commonly occurs together with pornography use. While popular culture largely sees it as acceptable, masturbation is always gravely contrary to chastity and the dignity of one’s body.37 Like other sins against chastity, it seeks sexual pleasure outside of the mutual self-giving and fruitful intimacy of spouses in marriage, in this case, even outside of any relationship at all. In addition, engaging in masturbation has powerful neurological effects that can make it into a highly addictive behavior.38 However, true freedom from this destructive habit is possible with the grace of Christ.

As will be discussed later, pornography use also has direct connections with sins such as adultery, domestic violence, the abuse of children in child pornography, and sex trafficking. It also can be implicated in contraception use and abortion, given that it promotes and even celebrates promiscuity and a view of sexuality devoid of love or openness to new life.

In sum, pornography presents and promotes a distorted view of human sexuality, in which the person portrayed, man or woman, is treated as merely a means of pleasure.

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Pornography participates in and furthers what Pope Francis has condemned as a “throwaway culture” where things and people are used and discarded.39 It rejects the equal dignity and complementarity between man and woman and strikes at the heart of God’s plan for communion between persons by substituting an image of the viewer’s own lustful desires—which is ultimately illusory—for the reality of a true relationship with another human being. Loving, chaste relationships, with all their challenges and struggles, are the only way to true intimacy and community, as well as long-term happiness.

{This post is part of a continuing series of posts that present in serialization the contents of the publication CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops}