pornography Archives - The Catholic Messenger

Safe Haven Sunday/Domingo del Lugar Seguro

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This weekend (March 13-14) the Diocese of Davenport will celebrate its second Safe Haven Sunday. Many of you are already familiar with the Safe Haven initiative from last year, during which we provided resources to individuals and families to be used to protect their homes and initiate necessary conversations with children.

Bishop Zinkula

Since then, the increase of overall screen time experienced as a consequence of the pandemic has resulted in a significant spike in pornography exposure. COVID has brought the world a contagious and debilitating virus; it has also brought isolation, loneliness, and anxiety to many individuals and families. Given the experience of these additional stressors, it is no wonder that pornography use and addiction are on the rise.

As your bishop, I care deeply about your well-being and desire to do all in my power to guide and equip parents and others in forming children to live safe and virtuous lives. I understand that pornography is not a topic most adults want to talk about, especially with their children or grandchildren. However, given our present circumstances, it is a topic that must be addressed for the health and safety of all.

Pornography use and addiction prevent one from experiencing genuine, intimate and lasting relationships with others and with God. It is a mockery of the true and holy intimacy that is celebrated through the sacramental life of the Church. By engaging in this year’s Safe Haven Sunday awareness day, we as a community are affirming our commitment to create holy, healthy and secure environments, free of pornography and other online dangers that deprive the home of its role as a safe haven.

To this end, parishes and schools in the diocese have been encouraged to provide instruction and materials that will support and protect individuals, marriages, and families from the harms of pornography. As a first step, I suggest that you take part in a 7-day Safe Digital Challenge by texting “SECURE” to 66866. This simple action will immediately help you get started in protecting your home from unhealthy online content.

It is my hope that participating in this challenge and utilizing the additional resources offered on the Diocese of Davenport Clean Heart webpage (https://cleanheart.online/diocese-davenport-0) will assist you and your family to successfully address the perils of pornography. I encourage you to take advantage of these resources and ask that you be intentional about taking the steps suggested to keep you, your loved ones, and the greater community safe.

For anyone struggling with pornography use or the effects of this addiction within their household, I want you to know that the Church is here to help and support you. Christ offers mercy, hope and forgiveness to anyone who wants to be free from pornography’s harmful effects. Please talk with your parish clergy or contact the diocesan Marriage & Family Office for support.

Gratefully Yours in Christ,
Bishop Thomas Zinkula
Bishop of Davenport

Domingo del Lugar Seguro

Queridos Hermanos y Hermanas:

Este 13 y 14 de marzo, la Diócesis de Davenport celebrará su Segundo Domingo de Lugar Seguro. Muchos de ustedes ya están familiarizados con la iniciativa Lugar Seguro del año pasado, durante la cual proporcionamos recursos a personas y a familias, para que protejan sus hogares e inicien conversaciones necesarias con los niños.

Desde entonces, el aumento del tiempo frente a las pantallas de las computadoras a consecuencia de la pandemia, ha dado lugar a un aumento significativo en la exposición a la pornografía. COVID ha traído al mundo un virus contagioso y debilitante; también ha traído aislamiento, soledad y ansiedad a muchas personas y familias. Dada la experiencia de estos factores de estrés adicionales, no es de extrañar que el uso de la pornografía y la adicción estén en aumento.

Como su obispo, me preocupo profundamente por su bienestar y deseo hacer todo lo que esté en mi poder para guiar y equipar a los padres y a otras personas en la formación de sus hijos; para que vivan vidas seguras y virtuosas. Entiendo que la pornografía no es un tema del que la mayoría de los adultos quieran hablar, especialmente con sus hijos o nietos. Sin embargo, dadas las circunstancias actuales, es un tema que debe ser abordado por la salud y seguridad de todos.

El uso y la adicción a la pornografía evitan que uno experimente relaciones genuinas, íntimas y duraderas con los demás y con Dios. Es una burla de la verdadera y santa intimidad que se celebra a través de la vida sacramental de la Iglesia. Al participar en el día de concientización de Domingo del Lugar Seguro este año, nosotros, como comunidad, estamos afirmando nuestro compromiso de crear entornos santos, saludables y seguros, libres de pornografía y otros peligros en Internet, que privan al hogar de su papel de refugio seguro.

Con este fin, se ha pedido a las parroquias y a las escuelas de la diócesis, proporcionar instrucción y materiales, que apoyen y protejan a las personas, a los matrimonios y a las familias de los daños de la pornografía. Como primer paso, le sugiero que participe en un Desafío Digital Seguro de 7 días, enviando un mensaje de texto con la palabra “SECURE” al 66866. Esta simple acción lo ayudará inmediatamente a comenzar a proteger su hogar del contenido en línea que no es saludable.

Espero que participar en este desafío y utilizar los recursos adicionales, que se ofrecen en la página web de la diócesis de Davenport, “Limpio Corazón” (https://cleanheart.online/diocese-davenport-0), les ayude a ustedes y a sus familias a abordar con éxito los peligros de la pornografía. Les animo a que aprovechen estos recursos y les pido que tomen estos pasos sugeridos con la intención de mantenerse informados tanto ustedes, como sus seres queridos y que todos en general, puedan mantenerse a salvo de esta situación.

Para cualquiera que esté luchando contra el uso de la pornografía o los efectos de esta adicción en su hogar, quiero que sepan que la Iglesia está aquí para ayudarlo y apoyarlo. Cristo ofrece misericordia, esperanza y perdón a cualquiera que quiera liberarse de los efectos dañinos de la pornografía. Por favor, hable con el sacerdote de su parroquia o comuníquese con la Oficina de

Matrimonio y Familia de la diócesis para obtener apoyo.

Agradecidamente suyo en Cristo,

Mons. Thomas Zinkula
Obispo de Davenport

Posted on Mar 11, 2021Mar 10, 2021

Safe Haven teaches technology safety

By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger

Safe Haven Sunday, a weekend to address the harms of pornography, takes place this weekend (March 13-14). The observance is part of a three-year initiative based on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) “Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography.”

Contributed
This is a graphic for the Safe Digital Family Challenge families can sign up for on their phone or computer.

Last year, Safe Haven Sunday took place prior to the coronavirus shutdown, said Marianne Agnoli, diocesan coordinator of Marriage and Family Life. “We were able to deliver the materials to the parishes and schools and they, in turn, were able to distribute them.”

The majority of parishes and several schools participated in various ways, she said. The initiative inspired several parishes and schools to schedule presentations with Agnoli or Deacon Chris Kabat for parents, teachers, catechists, confirmation classes and other groups. However, a couple of the presentations scheduled for late March were cancelled because of the pandemic.

This year, Bishop Thomas Zinkula encourages families to do the “7 Day Safe Digital Challenge,” which “provides the knowledge and tools to form, protect and guide children in using technology safely and responsibly,” Agnoli said. The easiest way to sign up is to text SECURE to 66866. “However, you can also sign up for the challenge from any computer or tablet at https://cleanheart.online/courses/safe-digital-family-challenge.”

The diocese has an extensive website that includes email challenges, video courses, ebooks, subscription courses and more at https://cleanheart.online/diocese-davenport-0. The resources vary, depending on a person’s role as a parent, educator or ministry leader. The diocesan website also offers a section for men or women affected by pornography use or addiction. “I would encourage everyone to explore the website. It contains a wealth of information and resources that can be helpful to you or someone you know.”

Parishes, schools and individuals also can order resources in English or Spanish from Covenant Eyes https://store.covenanteyes.com/. The featured book for this year is “Confident: Helping Parents Navigate Online Exposure.” Additional resources are available on the diocesan Pornography Awareness webpage https://www.davenportdiocese.org/pornography-awareness

Deacon Kabat said, “I think it is critical that parents/family/friends gather together and mutually discuss this topic. It is front and center with everything they have had to face this past year. Zoom is not for everyone, communications are devolving into text messages or tweets that leaves much to the imagination for interpretation. Good honest face-to-face meetings about how to combat the world that is out there ready to consume our kids and families is critical.”

He noted that with current restrictions in place, in-person meetings are not possible. “Hopefully, by late spring and into the summer months parishes will be able to mobilize more readily around this topic. The clean heart website has an amazing amount of information that everyone needs to visit and bookmark.”

Sister Cheryl Demmer, PBVM, director of religious education at Ss. Mary & Mathias Parish in Muscatine, said last year she and youth minister Tommy Fallon distributed Safe Haven information to parents and promoted the computer app Covenant Eyes for parents. Deacon Kabat gave a presentation on pornography and internet safety to confirmation students and parents.

“While we purchased the booklets that Marianne Agnoli had suggested, of course COVID brought it all to a standstill but we were able to give the parents/students the book,” Sister Demmer said.

Principal Jennifer Alongi of Lourdes Catholic School in Bettendorf said her school scheduled three presentations before COVID-19 hit, but only one was held. Afterwards, Alongi said parents received a video to watch and could print a certificate to show they completed it. Parents who attended the presentation or turned in a certificate received free dress day passes for their children as an extra incentive.

Posted on Mar 11, 2021Mar 10, 2021