By Jonah McKeown
CNA Staff, May 11, 2025 / 14:20 pm
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has released a new 10th anniversary preface to a major document on the Church’s response to pornography, offering fresh recommendations for parents, clergy, educators, and civil leaders on combatting porn’s influence in an age of increased social isolation and the rise of artificial intelligence.
“Create in Me a Pure Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography” calls for a renewed commitment to chastity and offers a message of hope and healing through Christ and the Church’s ministry, positioning the Church as a “field hospital” for those wounded by pornography.
The 50-page document includes a new introduction penned by the bishops’ Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, providing an update to a document the bishops first released in 2015 — years before the social upheaval wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, the founding of new “user generated” porn platforms such as OnlyFans, and the rise of sophisticated AI-generated “deepfakes” that proliferate fake pornographic imagery, often utilizing celebrities’ images without their consent.
Pornography, the bishops write, “gravely contradicts” the virtue of chastity to which all people — no matter their state in life — are called, offering a “deceptive substitute for real relationship” and posing a “serious threat to love in the life of the individual and the community.”
Jesus himself condemns the pornographic attitude in clear terms: “Everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Mt 5:28), they note.
The bishops say the “loneliness epidemic,” which for years has exacerbated society’s appetite for porn, has only grown more acute since the COVID-19 lockdowns.
“Social isolation was already a danger in an individualistic society like ours, but it has worsened due to the continued spread of social media and the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Protecting Mental Health and Human Dignity: Combating the Pornography Epidemic
Recent studies have revealed the damaging effects of isolation and increased exposure to mobile devices on mental health, especially among young people. The desire for genuine relationships is intrinsic to human nature, yet the rise of video-based social media platforms and the deceptive tactics of the multibillion-dollar pornography industry threaten this fundamental need.
The bishops warn that the pervasiveness of pornography in today’s society is a major concern, with reports emerging of the industry’s use of deceptive tactics to draw in and addict users, including children. The business models of major pornography sites rely on getting young people addicted, leading to harmful consequences for individuals and society as a whole.
Furthermore, the bishops highlight the use of generative AI in creating increasingly sophisticated imagery that distorts consumers’ expectations and makes real love harder to realize. The unauthorized use of existing people in deepfake imagery without consent further exacerbates the problem.
In response to this crisis, the bishops offer recommendations for combatting pornography. They encourage individuals struggling with pornography to seek forgiveness and healing through the sacrament of penance, cultivate the virtue of chastity, seek support through counseling and groups, utilize filtering software, and persevere in the struggle. They call on all people of goodwill to work together to create laws and a culture that resists and rejects pornography while honoring human dignity.
For parents, the bishops advise discussing chastity and sexuality with children in age-appropriate ways, promoting critical thinking about media, setting positive examples with technology use, engaging in nondigital activities, and utilizing parental controls and filters to protect children from harmful content.
It is crucial for individuals, families, and society as a whole to address the pornography epidemic and its detrimental effects on mental health and human dignity. By working together and implementing these recommendations, we can create a healthier and more respectful environment for all.
