Australian bishops warn of risks in accessing online pornography

Published: 2008-05-01

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) -- Australia's bishops have warned against the availability of online pornography and its ability to wreck healthy relationships by ensnaring users in the "secret, shameful ... fantasy world" of its addiction. Describing the Internet as "a constantly unfolding entity" that in 20 years "has changed our lives in extraordinary ways," the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference said in a pastoral letter that unfettered access to online pornography puts at risk "the physical, spiritual and emotional safety ... of both children and adults." The bishops released the letter to mark World Communications Sunday, celebrated in Australia April 27. For the first time, the bishops accompanied the letter with a video on the subject posted on YouTube.com. "One of the most evil uses of the Internet is the ready availability of pornography. The relative anonymity of the Internet and its private nature means that there is a real danger of Internet addiction," the bishops said in the letter.

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