INTRODUCTION: THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM

How huge and pervasive is the problem of pornography in the world today?

According to the Internet Filter Review, worldwide pornography revenue in 2006 was $97.06 billion (US Dollars). Of that $97 billion, only $13 billion of that revenue could be attributed to pornographic material produced in the United States.

To put that figure of $97 billion in better perspective, according to the CIA World Factbook, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of all the countries of the world in 2006 was approximately $46.8 Trillion (US Dollars); that means that in 2006, the pornography industry produced revenues comparable to about 0.2% of the world GDP.

Looking at scope and pervasiveness of worldwide pornography another way; in 2006, the United Kingdom has a GDP of approximately 2.44 trillion US dollars… Shockingly, the worldwide pornography industry produced revenues equivalent to about 4% of the GDP of the United Kingdom.

Now, to put the scope of the problem, and particularly the epidemic nature of the problem pornography poses to society, in even greater perspective:

♦ Per the Internet Filter Review, every second of every day in 2006, $3,075.64 was spent on pornography and 28,258 Internet users viewed pornography. Furthermore, twelve percent of all websites were pornographic websites.

♦ Per Audiovisual Magazine in 2005, hardcore video rentals increased from 75 million annually in 1985 to 490 million in 1992, and to 665 million in 1996. By 1978, 100 hard-core films were released. By 1996, 8,000 hard-core films were released. By 2002, 11,300 hard-core films were released, compared with only 470 Hollywood features released that same year.

♦ And lastly, child pornography reports to CyberTipline, a congressionally mandated mechanism for monitoring child sexual exploitation, jumped from 3,267 tips in 1998 to 106,199 tips in 2004.

IS PORNOGRAPHY ADDICTIVE?

Supporters of pornography, and yes, there are supporters of pornography, will tell you that since pornography does not directly cause certain unacceptable behaviors, it does not pose a danger to society.

But even supporters cannot deny that pornography is tightly linked to widespread harmful behavior, criminal activity of a sexual nature, and broken marriages, homes, and damaged children.

Of course, supporters of pornography will tell you that the existence of links is not enough.

They will constantly remind you that there are no studies indicating that causality exists between pornography and harmful behavior and outcomes; and that as long as pornography doesn’t actually cause broken homes, addiction and child abuse that it’s okay, or rather, that as long as there is no causality that it is wrong to deny others the “right” to view pornography.

First and foremost, the “lack of causality” argument erroneously assumes that a causal relationship has not been shown. The jury is still out in that regard.

Secondly, apart from causality, there is most definitely correlation, and numerous studies have established a correlation between the viewing of sexually violent media and the commission of sexually violent and harmful acts.

Even Shere Hite, renowned feminist, sex-educator and author of the "The Hite Report" (and hardly a family-friendly source) while attempting to advance the lack of causality argument, could not help but concede that a correlation exists in "The Hite Report on Men and Male Sexuality":

"While correlation does not prove causation, and it therefore cannot be concluded from these studies that it was the consumption of the pornography that was responsible for the males' higher acceptance of violence against women, their findings are consistent with a theory that a causal connection exists."

And moreover, there's just not a correlation, or a casual connection, between pornography and sexually criminal behavior, it can be said that pornography is also a catalyst.

Carrie Gordon Earll with Focus on the Family wrote:

"Pornography is the catalyst for abusive sexual appetites that are never satisfied, never contained and never put to rest. It preys on the weak and vulnerable in an unrelenting hunt to capture your spouse, your children and your grandchildren."

If I can be permitted to deviate from my notes for just a moment, it would be remiss not to mention that this talk is of particular importance to us men; and now is as good a time as any to make the following observation.

When it comes to men, pornography makes us weak.  It makes us a slave to uncontrollable forces outside of ourselves.

While it has become politically incorrect to say so, one of the foundations of a healthy society is the presence of strong men who honor their families, their wives, their children and pornography strips that bedrock away from men and, for that reason, if pornography is pervasive in a society, it weakens society as a whole.

Here are some random statistics but as you hear these statistics, facts and figures compiled over the years from various sources, keep in mind that statistics are nothing more than a tool of measurement and that there are real people whose lives are being affected behind every statistic you may hear.

Perhaps Bruce Watson and Shyla Welch with Enough Is Enough (an anti-pornography organization in the United States) said it best:

"But the wife whose marriage has been destroyed by her spouse’s pornography addiction has little interest in whether the latest research studies confirm that pornography might have harmful effects. To the men and women whose lives have been damaged by pornography, this is not an academic issue."

PORNOGRAPHY AS A CATALYST (ADDICTIVENESS)

When it comes to answering the question; is pornography addictive, many professionals and experts give an unqualified yes.

♦ According to Janet Allen, a clinical director at the Creekside Counseling Center in Idaho Falls: "Anybody who is well read, informed, educated and credentialed sees this as an addiction, and I think it's professionally reckless to suggest otherwise."

♦ Patrick Carnes Ph.D. in “Out of the Shadows, Understanding Sexual Addiction” wrote:  "While our society is shifting to a more open attitude toward sexual expression, we still view the amount and kind of activity as a matter of personal choice. For the addict, however, there is no choice. No choice. The addiction is in charge."

♦ According to Chip Snowden, a mental health counselor in Idaho Falls: "They lose jobs. They lose families. It's a very, very, very horrible defeating condition. It's horribly addictive. It's horribly, horribly addictive."

PORNOGRAPHY AS A CATALYST (LOWERING INHIBITIONS AND PREPARATION)

Pornography legitimizes abusive activity for men inclined to commit sexual assault. It may be used as part of the preparation for committing sexual assault. It helps offenders to depersonalize and objectify potential victims.

♦ Shere Hite found that of the men who read pornographic magazines, 67% admitted that they had wanted to rape a woman while only 19% said that they had never wanted to rape a woman

♦ According to a report by Edward Donnerstein [Donnerstein, Edward. Unpublished Transcript Of Testimony to the Public Hearings on Ordinances to Add Pornography as Discrimination Against Women. Committee on Government Operations. City Council. Minneapolis, MN, pp. 4-12.], over 25% of male college students selected at random admitted that there was some likelihood they would rape a woman if they could be assured of getting away with it. The proportion of potential rapists increased to 57% after the young men were exposed to sexually violent images, especially those of women shown as enjoying being raped.

♦ According to Jean Rosenberg [Rosenberg, Jean. 1989. Two New Books on Pornography Effects.  2(2) Sexual Assault Report, p. 31.], 65% of rapists in one study used pornography and often mimicked it in their crimes.

♦ Per The Aurora Center for Advocacy and Education at the University of Minnesota; Two-thirds (67%) of offenders who committed any of the types of Internet sex crimes against minors possessed child pornography.

♦ The FBI reports that the most common interest among serial killers is hardcore pornography.

♦ And according to one of the most extensive and exhaustive sex studies ever - conducted by William Marshall, “Report on the Use of Pornography by Sexual Offenders,” Report to the Federal Department of Justice, Ottawa, Canada, 1983 - 87 percent of child molesters studied were regular consumers of hardcore pornography. ♦ Marshall also found that, in a study of outpatient sex offenders treated over a six-year period, one-third reported they had used pornography immediately before at least one of their crimes.

CATALYST (CRIME RATE)

And there is most definitely appears to be a correlation between the availability of pornography and crime.

♦ Austin, TX - 1986 - in four study areas with sexually orientated businesses, sexually related crimes were 177% to 482% higher than the city’s average. [National Law Center for Children and Families (1997). NLC summary of “SOB land use” studies.]

♦ Indianapolis, IN - 1984-1986 - Between 1978-1982, crime in study areas was 46% higher than for the city as a whole. Sex related crimes were four times greater when sexually orientated businesses were located near residential areas vs. commercial areas. [National Law Center for Children and Families (1997). NLC summary of “SOB land use” studies.]

♦ Phoenix, AZ - 1978 - Sex offenses, including indecent exposure, were 506% greater in neighborhoods with sexually orientated businesses. [National Law Center for Children and Families (1997). NLC summary of “SOB land use” studies.]

♦ Whittier, CA - Two residential areas were compared between 1970-1973 before sexually orientated businesses, and 1974-1977 after sexually orientated businesses, malicious mischief increased 700%, assault increased 387%, prostitution increased 300%, and all theft increased 120%. [National Law Center for Children and Families (1997). NLC summary of “SOB land use” studies.]

♦ Oklahoma City: During the years 1984 to 1989, Oklahoma City closed 150 out of 163 sexually oriented businesses. During the same period, reported rapes declined 27% in Oklahoma City while rising 19% in the remainder of the state. Law officers were aware of no other likely cause of the difference.

♦ Numerous studies have found strong evidence of a direct relationship between the circulation rates of sex magazines and rape rates within the given state.

♦ Various studies by a researcher, John Court, led him to the following conclusion of what happens on a national level when constraints against the distribution of pornography are lifted: “As the constraints on the availability of pornography were lifted... the rates of rape in those countries increased. For example, in two Australian states between 1964 and 1977, when South Australia liberalized its laws on pornography and Queensland maintained its conservative policy... over the thirteen-year period, the number of rapes in Queensland remained at the same low level while South Australia’s showed a six-fold increase.” [John Court, Criminal Neglect: Why Sex Offenders Go Free (Toronto: Doubleday, p.141)]

♦ In 1969, Denmark lifted restrictions against pornography and although many reported that rape went down, according to Court: “The trend since 1969 indicates that there has been a new level higher than anything in the previous decade.” [International Journal of Criminology & Penology, 5, p. 129, John H. Court]

PORNOGRAPHY HARMS MARRIAGES

Pornography not only breaks-up marriages and destroys lives, it is an addictive affliction.

Increased availability is contributing to an epidemic-like spread of this addictive affliction. And this addictive affliction is directly related to criminal activity and physical and emotional abuse against women and children around the world.

Morality in Media, compiled a report, titled, "The Harmful Effects of Pornography" and discussed various studies on how pornography, even casual use harms women, children and marriages.

In regards to marriage, Morality in Media states the following:

“Dr. Victor B. Cline is a psychologist at the University of Utah with a private practice as a psychotherapist specializing in family marital counseling and sexual addiction. He has counseled numerous couples where one of the partners has a sexual addiction to pornography.”

In this work, Dr. Cline says:

"As a clinical psychologist, I have treated, over many years, approximately 300 sex addicts, sex offenders, or other individuals (96% male) with sexual illnesses. This includes many types of unwanted compulsive sexual acting out plus such things as child molestation, voyeurism, sadomasochism, fetishism, and rape. With only several exceptions, pornography has been a major or minor contributor or facilitator in the acquisition of their deviation or sexual addiction…"

Cline concludes:

"’In my clinical experience, however, the major consequence of being addicted to pornography is not the probability or possibility of committing a serious sex crime (though this can and does occur), but rather the disturbance of the fragile bonds of intimate family and marital relationships. This is where the most grievous pain, damage, and sorrow occur. There is repeatedly an interference with or even destruction of healthy love and sexual relationships with long-term bonded partners. If one asks if porn is responsible or causes any sex crimes, the answer is unequivocally, "Yes," but that is only the tip of the iceberg.’"

Dr. Jill C. Manning, a Marriage and Family Therapist, submitted testimony to the United States Senate in 2005 and outlined the following six trends in marriages where one partner consumes pornographic material:

♦ Increased marital distress, and risk of separation and divorce,

♦ Decreased marital intimacy and sexual satisfaction,

♦ Infidelity

♦ Increased appetite for more graphic types of pornography and sexual activity associated with abusive, illegal or unsafe practices,

♦ Devaluation of monogamy, marriage and child rearing,

♦ An increasing number of people struggling with compulsive and addictive sexual behavior.

PORNOGRAPHY HARMS WOMEN

Specifically, in terms of harm to women, the Morality in Media report cites the 1985 Report by the Meese Commission, appointed by President Ronald Reagan and authorized by the United States Congress.

When it comes to exposure to sexually violent material, the Meese Commission report states:

"The clinical and experimental evidence supports the conclusion that there is a causal relationship between exposure to sexually violent materials and an increase in aggressive behavior directed towards women … We have reached the conclusion, unanimously and confidentially … that substantial exposure to sexually violent materials … bears a causal relationship to anti-social acts of sexual violence and, for some subgroups, possibly to unlawful acts of sexual violence …"

"The evidence is also strongly supportive of significant attitudinal changes on the part of those with substantial exposure to violent pornography … and leads to a greater acceptance of the 'rape myth' … that women enjoy being coerced into sexual activity, that they enjoy being physically hurt in a sexual context and that as a result a man who forces himself on a woman sexually is in fact merely acceding to the 'real' wishes of the woman regardless of the extent to which she seems to be resisting. The myth is that a woman who says 'no' really means 'yes' … This attitude is both pervasive and profoundly harmful … any stimulus reinforcing or increasing the incidence of this attitude is … properly designated as harmful."

The Meese Commission also states:

"Substantial exposure to materials of this variety is likely to increase the extent to which those exposed will view rape or other forms of sexual violence as less serious than they otherwise would have and will view the victims of rape and other forms of sexual violence as significantly more responsible … and will increase the acceptance of the proposition that women like to be forced into sexual practices."

And the Meese Commission's conclusions are just as disheartening when it comes to exposure to sexually graphic material of a non-violent nature:

"The non-violent … material studies … portray women as 'masochistic, subservient … nymphomaniacs and over responsive to serving the male interest."

"An enormous amount of the most sexually explicit material … as well as much of the material that is somewhat less sexually explicit, is material that we would classify as 'degrading,' the term we use to encompass the undeniably linked characteristics of degradation, subordination and humiliation … depicting people, usually women, as existing solely for the sexual satisfaction of others, usually men, or that depicts … women in decidedly subordinate roles in their sexual relations … or depicts people engaged in sexual roles most people consider humiliating."

Lastly, the Meese Commission states:

"The manner of presentation almost necessarily suggests that the activities are taking place outside of the context of love, commitment or even affection … It is far from implausible to hypothesize that such materials, depicting such activity, bear some causal relationship to sexual activity without marriage, love, commitment or affection … to the extent that the character of sex is public rather than private … then to many this would constitute harm."

PORNOGRAPHY HARMS CHILDREN

And pornography harms children; not just in obvious ways as with child pornography but even when children are exposed to pornography casually or live with adults that are casual users of pornography.

The Meese Commission again:

"Perhaps the most significant potential harm in non-violent materials exists with respect to children … much, probably most, and maybe even all material in this category … is harmful when it falls into the hands of children. Exposure to sexuality is commonly taken, and properly so, to be primarily the responsibility of the family … We have no hesitancy in concluding that learning about sex from the kinds of sexually explicit material in this category is not the best way for children to learn about the subject … There are harms to the children themselves and to notions of family control over a child's introduction to sexuality … We have little doubt that much of this material finds its way into the hands of children."

"For children to be taught by these materials that sex is public, that sex is commercial and that sex can be divorced from any degree of affection, love, commitment or marriage is the wrong message at the wrong time."

Even casual use is a danger.  According to Enough is Enough, an anti-pornography organization, based in the United States"

Based on interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,501 youth ages 10 to 17 that use the Internet regularly during a year timeframe:

♦ Approximately one in five received a sexual solicitation or approach over the Internet.

♦ One in four had an unwanted exposure to pictures of naked people or people having sex.

♦ One in seventeen was threatened or harassed.

And often, parents and authorities have no idea what is happening. Again, according to Enough Is Enough:

♦ Fewer than 10% of sexual solicitations and only 3% of unwanted exposure episodes were reported to authorities such as a law-enforcement agency.

♦ About one quarter of the youth who encountered a sexual solicitation or approach told a parent.  Almost 40% of those reporting an unwanted exposure to sexual material told a parent.

Dr. Manning, in her testimony before the United States Senate outlined the following risks to children in homes where an adult consumes pornographic material:

♦ Decreased parental time and attention

♦ Increased risk of encountering pornographic material

♦ Increased risk of parental separation and divorce and

♦ Increased risk of parental job loss and financial strain

And, of course there is the specific issue of Child Pornography.  Going back to the Meese Commission report:

"The distinguishing characteristic of child pornography … is that actual children are photographed while engaged in some form of sexual activity, either with adults or with other children, [causing] a special harm. … Children as young as one week up to the age of majority are induced to engage in sexual activity … and … are photographed while engaging in that activity. The inevitably permanent record of that sexual activity created by a photograph is rather plainly a harm to the children photographed … [and] the very activity involved in creating the photograph in itself is an act of sexual exploitation of children … The issues related to the sexual abuse of children and … child pornography are inextricably linked."

CLEANING HOUSE: SOLUTIONS START FROM WITHIN:

What can be done to combat the pervasive influence of pornography in our societies? 

One practical place to start is with the person you see in the mirror each and every morning. One practical place to start is through an honest assessment and a commitment to clean our own houses.

According to a report, "Online Victimization of Youth: Five Years Later" published in 2006;

"79% of youth unwanted exposure to pornography occurs in the home."

And do not be deceived into thinking that the pervasive influence of pornography is something that happens to other people.

It can happen to each and every one of us.  It IS happening to each and every one of us.

Focus on the Family has noted the following:

♦ A Focus on the Family commissioned Zogby International survey in 2000 and found that 17.8% of all "born again" Christian adults (in America) have visited sexually-oriented Websites.

♦ 63% of men attending "Men, Romance & Integrity Seminars" admit to struggling with porn in the past year. Two-thirds were in church leadership and 10% were pastors.

♦ 1 in 7 calls to Focus' Pastoral Care Line at that time were about Internet pornography.

The Internet Filter Review noted:

♦ Of promise keepers, 53% viewed pornography in week preceding the compilation of the article and  

♦ 47% of Christians say that pornography was a problem in the home.

And from other sources:

♦ Christianet.com claimed that 50% of all Christian men and 20% of all Christian women were addicted to pornography. 60% of the women who answered the survey admitted to having significant struggles with lust; 40% admitted to being involved in sexual sin in the past year; and 20% of the church-going female participants struggle with looking at pornography on an ongoing basis.

Today's Christian Woman, in 2003, stated:

♦ One out of every six women, including Christians, struggles with an addiction to pornography. That's 17 percent of the population, which, according to a survey by research organization Zogby International, is the number of women who truly believe they can find sexual fulfillment on the Internet

♦ More than 80 percent of women who have this addiction take it offline,' “says Marnie Ferree.” 'Women, far more than men, are likely to act out their behaviors in real life, such as having multiple partners, casual sex, or affairs' "

And according to a Christianity Today article from 2001:

♦ 51% of pastors said cyberporn was a possible temptation. 37% said it was a “current struggle” and 4 in 10 pastors had visited a porn site.

Effecting real change must start within each and every one of us.

We can start to change the world by changing ourselves... our families and those within our own circles of influence.

As with all things, we can start to tackle this problem through personal resolve, personal initiative and commitment.

Thank you.

Christopher Carmouche is the executive Director of GrasstopsUSA, a World Congress of Families Partner