"Reverence for the body"by Bishop William S. Skylstad (From the Aug. 24, 2000 edition of the Inland Register)
Recently, the media of film, cable TV, x-rated videotapes, and adult bookstores have brought to the public a growing insensitivity to the dignity of and reverence for the human body. Sexuality is trivialized. Human relationships portrayed are fleeting and very often separated from the commitment of faithfulness in marriage. Several years ago I heard a talk given by the film critic, Michael Medved, who stated that in general only one out of eighteen sexual relationships portrayed in films and TV was spousal. Now here in the City and County of Spokane we have a significant increase in the accessibility to pornography. When AT&T chooses to allow hard-core pornography to be offered through its cable TV systems, something is happening to the fabric of our society. Here is a company which projects a corporate image as a leader in American commerce and technology entering into an endeavor that in the past was labeled as the domain of the underworld. You and I know this material is not psychologically healthy and it certainly is not in keeping with the mores of our Roman Catholic tradition. This cable TV provider is offering the Hot Network, which it advertises as providing explicit erotic material. This has pushed the envelope one step further. Channels such as HBO and Cinemax at times show pretty raunchy stuff, not to mention certain other cable and network programs, which also consistently do so. All of us — individuals, citizens, organizations, corporate entities — are called to support and enhance the common good. Does this growing availability of visual pornography or erotica enhance cultural maturity or encourage a balanced sexual development of the human person? In other words, does it strengthen the common good? Does it make our society better, stronger, healthier? I know there is the argument about freedom and personal responsibility. People don’t have to pay for the channel or turn on the TV if they don’t want it. V-chip technology has arisen to afford some protection, but we all share a social responsibility for establishing and supporting a standard of decorum and reverence which should set limits to safeguard the common good and well being of our culture. We know the state trooper’s response if we were caught going 70 in a 55 zone. The trooper would not be swayed from giving us a citation if our reason for doing so was that we like going fast The job of the troopers is to protect the safety of society on the highway, and they will force us to take responsibility for that social good and will hold us accountable. We all face some very complex decisions as we address the common good. The web of interconnectedness between so many good things and those which are dehumanizing and evil is at times difficult to sort out. I personally struggle with this complexity. By chance in June the diocese sold the shares of AT&T stock held in the Catholic Investment Trust. What does using their services mean when clearly some of their offerings in my judgment clearly do not fit into our moral values? What is my personal and practical responsibility for the common good? We have to take responsibility for one another. As Pope John Paul II reminds us in the beginning of his encyclical, The Gospel of Life, we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. We have a responsibility to assist one another in keeping a sense of balance and perspective in our lives, to live morally and productively. Sometimes even in our own Church, terribly irresponsible actions have hurt other’s lives. We as Church ask for forgiveness. We extend compassion and help in an attempt to repair the damage that has been done. We must also make sure to the extent we are able that such harm does not occur in the future. We learn and continue to search out how we can be more responsible and helpful in our mutual journeys of faith. Social, moral responsibility is not easy! The gift of our sexuality is marvelous, mysterious, powerful. The Church in her own teaching continues to grapple with this mystery. This gift is the very source and power of life. Abuse of our sexuality can feed immaturity and lead to momentary decisions that have lifelong impact. Trivialization, irresponsibility, fixation, and addiction are harmful to persons. We need to deal with victims of these evils in a positive, compassionate, understanding, and responsible way. In the extreme situations, perpetrators of sexual violence and crimes of sexual abuse have become the new societal “lepers” of our day. They present a social sickness. We need to extend help to them, but also if necessary for the protection of society, keep them detained for the good for others and indeed even for their own protection. As we look to the future, we must take a greater responsibility in promoting a healthy sexual ethic and reverence for the dignity of this marvelous temporary home the Lord has given us in our bodies. Voyeurism, manipulation of sexuality for promotion of products, the greed of profits from pornographic materials, the irresponsible approach to relationships that focus only on the physical: these are some of the issues we all need to continue to address in a responsible way. All of us are in the business of making our society as healthy as possible in every way. Reverence for our human bodies through a positive and respectful appreciation of our human sexuality must stand at the top of the list of our social priorities. May God bless you with peace and joy.
Bishop Skylstad's Schedule
Aug. 24: Secretariat Meeting
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Considerable concern during the past few years has been voiced about pornography on the Internet, the ease of its accessibility, and its negative impact not only upon society in general but upon individuals’ lives more specifically. Terms like “addiction,” “predators,” and “greed” describe this sad phenomenon which now has become not only a presence, but also a problem.