Comments made by Pope Benedict XVI

By: Steve Huston

"'What does it mean to speak of child protection when pornography and violence can be viewed in so many homes through media widely available today?'" … Pope Benedict XVI April 17, 2008I read various comments made by Pope Benedict XVI as he came to America in recent days and as he spoke regarding the sex abuse scandal. Quoting: "… Pope Benedict's remarks on the sex abuse scandal came at a prayer service with hundreds of US bishops. During his flight to the US on Tuesday the Pope spoke of his own deep shame about the crisis, which has cost the US Church $2bn (£1bn) in compensation settlements. He vowed to work against a recurrence, saying 'we will absolutely exclude pedophiles from the sacred ministry'". Speaking to the US bishops at a national shrine in Washington on Wednesday evening, Pope Benedict asked: 'What does it mean to speak of child protection when pornography and violence can be viewed in so many homes through media widely available today?'" … http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7351742.stm —- This question grips me, too, in our generation. "What does it mean to speak of child protection when pornography and violence can be viewed in so many homes through media widely available today?" The formative years of this ministry included many speaking engagements where I desired to encourage and warn Christians (young and old) not to place wicked things before their eyes. I named particular television shows that were airing that had become popular and gave examples of themes that these programs included and urged the audience to avoid that which was displeasing and dishonoring to Jesus Christ. [Psalm 101:3a] Similarly, I would name various movies that were clearly inappropriate for those who named the name of Christ as their Lord and Savior and encourage them to "Be holy for I am holy, says the Lord." [I Peter 1:15,16] One of the central callings upon my life has been and remains the message of reminding Christians to "pursue holiness without which no man shall see the Lord." [Hebrews 12:10] I have asked the question "How can we say we love Jesus Christ and yet dirty our hearts, minds, hands, lives with filthy things – things that dishonor and degrade the purity of our God?" I have never felt that I was better than anyone else or a legalist. I know that Christ through His love for me and His ongoing work in my life, delivered me from the bondages of pornography many years ago. Knowing how pornography, obscenity and indecency can addict and compel a person into looking at members of the opposite sex as sex toys, God called me out of darkness and set me free from the bondages of sin – the lies of Satan. I have never forgotten what Christ has done for me. Yet, while I was a student at Michigan State University struggling with a pornography/masturbation addiction, pornography wasn't everywhere. It wasn't commonplace in the 1960s. It was a rarity to hear about sex crimes. It isn't rare today. Pornography was looked at as a perversion. America's airwaves were still by and large free of perverse things. Pope Benedict's question: "What does it mean to speak of child protection when pornography and violence can be viewed in so many homes through media widely available today?" Americans have simply seen too much. The vast majority of Americans are desensitized. One things that, in my mind, verifies this in my personal experience is that having friendships with a core of parents that have committed their lives to pleasing God – even in regard to purposing to keep their children unexposed to the trash of this age, there is a freshness, an innocence, an inner beauty in their offspring that is missing in those who are permissive with their children in regard to media entertainment. As long as there is no holding back the flood of pornography, obscenity and indecency in our great land, our culture, in my opinion, will continue to spiral downward at an ever quickening pace – morally and spiritually. The implications are scary. In many respects, we find ourselves in a situation much like that of the people of Israel in the Old Testament. The Lord, speaking through the prophet Ezekiel said of His chosen people: “They have made no distinction between the holy and the profane, and they have not taught the difference between the unclean and the clean.â€Â (Ezekiel 22:26) ======================== Following Truth or the Lie? Lastly, I recommend you look into and sign up for Focus on the Family's "Truth Project" at http://www.thetruthproject.org/ http://www.thetruthproject.org/whatistruthproject/ If you are in the greater Grand Rapids, Michigan area and would like to join with us in promoting this important ministry effort to lift up the Word and help Christians develop a stronger Biblical worldview, contact us here at 888-733-2326. ASAP! ADA will be serving as a host location for Focus on the Family's "Truth Project" satellite broadcast on Saturday, September 27. ADA has a limited number of tickets available for this all day event. [9:30 – 4:30 pm] See: http://www.thetruthproject.org/ For more information, or to order your ticket, call us at: 888-733-2326. American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 ph: 231-924-4050 www.americandecency.org

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