Catholic Bishop: Porn addicts need professional help
Bishop Bonnemain from the diocese of Chur. Photo Twitter, +Seraphim Mary, OSF
Central Europe
People who are addicted to watching porn should get professional help. That is what the Swiss bishop Bonnemain from the diocese of Chur argues. “Too many lives have already perished.”
With his statements, bishop Bonnemain responds to the comments of Pope Francis of last week. He warned young clergy about the dangers of pornography, Katholisch.de reports. The Swiss clergyman emphasises that the consumption of pornographic material “separates the great good of human sexuality from the personal relationship, the intimate affection and the deep love between two people.”
The Catholic bishop agrees with the Pope that pornography has a high potential for addiction and that young people, particularly, are vulnerable to it Kath.ch writes. Furthermore, Bonnemain condemns any power abuse, exploitation and objectification of people.
“Porn should not be demonised”
The prevention officer of the diocese of Chur, Karin Iten, pleads for a distinction between legal and illegal pornography. She did so in a statement that was published by kath.ch last week. Iten criticises the words of the Pope, who said that all pornography is wrong.
“Instead of spiritual exaltation, feelings of guilt and fear-mongering of the evil, it would be interesting to learn from Pope Francis what sexuality he allows celibate people to be”, she writes.
Legal pornography is different from illegal pornography in which, for example, children are abused, Iten argues. Even though she acknowledges that excessive porn consumption can lead to addiction, she argues that porn, in general, should not be demonised. “It is about an individually healthy approach and the good measure in it.”
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