“They convince themselves their fantasies are real and that what they’re doing is OK”

By: American Decency Staff

… Four men. Four seemingly respectable members of their communities. Four people who wrecked their lives and disgraced their families because of a fascination with child pornography and sex with children…." [Detroit Free Press, January 8, 2008]I recall in the 80s discussions with Alan Sears (now CEO of Alliance Defense Fund) as he was here in Michigan working with us to pass legislation to strengthen Michigan's obscenity laws. His concern was that if across this country we didn't regulate and control pornography we would one day find ourselves living in a culture inundated and horrifically degraded by pornography with untold numbers of people being damaged and destroyed, etc., etc.. We have been losing the war against pornography since the Clinton administration years (with Janet Reno U.S. Attorney General) and the advent of the Internet and our failure to regulate the incredible amounts of pornography flowing through it moment by moment 24/7. An article in the Detroit Free Press today again reports of persons, even in positions of leadership, compromised by child pornography including a Wyandotte teacher of the year, a Detroit vice cop … "… Four men. Four seemingly respectable members of their communities. Four people who wrecked their lives and disgraced their families because of a fascination with child pornography and sex with children…." The article continues "They're among a growing number of men — more than 100 in the last three years — who have been prosecuted in U.S. District Court in Eastern Michigan in a federal crackdown on child predators and porn collectors. Many came from out of state to have sex with children. 'We've had an explosion in child exploitation cases, and the Internet is the driving force,' said U.S. Attorney Stephen Murphy, who assembled a team of seven prosecutors in 2006 to attack the problem under tough new penalties Congress adopted in 2003 and 2006." The article recalls just months ago the case involving a highly regarded 53 year old U.S. Federal Attorney from Florida "…who flew to Michigan in September to have sex with the detective's fictitious 5-year-old daughter. Atchison, one of three suspects to kill themselves after being charged in the federal crackdown, was jailed pending trial. He was charged with traveling interstate to have sex with a minor. A married father of three, he hanged himself Oct. 5 at a federal prison in Milan, and the charges against him were dropped…." http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080107/NEWS06/801070357 In closing, we've always known that it isn't enough just to be against pornography, as important as this is, but also to be positive as well. Pornography will always need to be opposed. However, the pursuit of holiness, too, needs to be proclaimed and modeled by those who yet have the capability – having kept themselves above the flood of pornography. One wonders if that isn't a pretty small number these days in a country saturated with pornography. Troubling thought. Those that titillate themselves with pornographic images and think they can come away from it basically unscathed are only fooling themselves. The article above addresses that to a small degree "'…These guys develop a bubble, and they believe the bubble is impenetrable,' said O'Neil, the psychologist in Troy. 'They can see out of the bubble, but don't think anyone can see in,' he added. 'They convince themselves that their fantasies are real and that what they're doing is OK.'…" http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080107/NEWS06/801070357 Remedy? No easy answers. Do what is in front of you. *** Start with ourselves. *** Take care of business that is right in front of your face. *** Keep yourself unspotted from the world. *** Much more could be said and will be said with God's help and by His grace. ============================================================= "…It is light: if it exists, it will show itself. It is salt: if it exists, its savour will be perceived. It is a precious ointment: if it exists, its presence cannot be hid. …" =========================================================== American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 ph: 231-924-4050 https://americandecency.org

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