“Far from being an exercise of self-expression freedom, as some suggest, pornography binds internally, its addictive properties consuming its consumer under a tyranny of license both brutal and total. It denies our humanity as well as our liberty by moving us away from human speech and toward bestial voice,” writes Adam M. Carrington in “Humanly Speaking: Aristotle, the First Amendment, and the Jurisprudence of Pornography” from Public Discourse.

In other words, although pornography promises freedom, it actually consumes, enslaves, and dehumanizes its consumers, leading them farther and farther away from what it means to be fully human.

In his article, Carrington makes a compelling argument that pornography debases the viewer and dehumanizes the viewed and therefore, it not only subverts the family, but also undermines the mutual respect among citizens that is so essential to reasoned dialogue and community-building speech:

“The unrestricted sexual license that pornography promotes belittles and destroys community— the context in which speech occurs. It subverts the most intimate of communities—the family— replacing essential bonds in ways that debase the viewer and dehumanize the viewed. It leads its viewers in turn to debase and dehumanize their fellow citizens—to objectify them. And when we objectify each other, we lose the mutual respect that reasoned discussion requires.”

In light of pornography’s societal harm, Carrington concludes that courts should reconsider whether pornography should still be protected by the First Amendment. Courts have already held that certain forms of speech, like incitement to illegal activity, fighting words, and obscenity, are unprotected by the First Amendment.

Whether the courts will treat pornography differently in the future no one knows, but Carrington’s argument that pornography has a corrupting effect is beyond question.

Public Health Harms of Pornography

This past year National Center for Sexual Exploitation published The Public Health Harms of Pornography. The publication includes research summaries of key peer-reviewed studies and collection of papers presented at the U.S. Capitol that demonstrate that “pornography fuels child sexual abuse, compulsive sexual behavior, violence against women, [and] commercial sexual exploitation.” For example, some of the studies highlighted show that exposure to pornography:

• Increases verbal and physical aggression
• Is linked with harmful and risky sexualized behavior in youth
• Is correlated to male sexual objectification of women and attitudes supporting violence against women
• Fuels demand for prostitution and sexual exploitation
• Normalizes the notion that women are sex objects among adolescents
• Puts people at increased risk for committing sexual offenses
• Is associated with less self-worth and more depressive symptoms
• Has been shown to significantly negatively impact marriage formation and is associated with higher rates of extramarital affairs and divorce

You can download a copy of the publication here.

CAP-Supported HCR 2009 Pornography; Public Health Crisis

CAP supports resolution HCR 2009 proposed by our friends at Arizona Family Council and sponsored by Representative Udall.

HCR 2009 is a concurrent resolution calling on the members of the Arizona legislature to denounce pornography as a public health crisis. CAP is encouraging the Arizona legislature to support this resolution in order to highlight the harmful effects of pornography on Arizona children and families.

Pornography is a public health crisis because, among other things, it damages individuals and families, perpetuates a sexually toxic culture, and increases the demand for sex trafficking, prostitution, and child pornography.

The resolution passed out of the House with a vote of 32-28 and is now awaiting to be assigned to a committee in the Senate.

Use CAP’s bill tracker to follow the resolution through the legislative process.

For more information on the resolution read CAP’s Fact Sheet here.

ICYMI – Latest News & Articles of Interest

• Resources for families to protect against pornography: Covenant Eyes and Protect Young Eyes
• 6th Circuit Court of Appeals rules Ohio can defund Planned Parenthood
• Kentucky House passes heartbeat bill and is signed into law same day, Ohio Senate passes heartbeat bill, and New Mexico Senate stops pro-abortion bill.
• Engage Arizona Podcast: CAP’s Cindy Dahlgren visits with author, public speaker, and former transgender Walt Here. Listen to Walt’s story here
• “3 Things to Tell Your Children About Gender” from the Gospel Coalition

Stay connected and consider receiving additional publications by joining the CAP Network.