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Dust mites and Decency
Written by Matt Fradd   
Sunday, 07 March 2010

The problem with porn doesn't arise from a puritanical or frigid understanding of the body, as if the body were bad and sex dirty. It arises from the same reason you cover yourself up when Aunt Rita or Uncle Bob bursts into your bedroom unannounced as you're getting dressed. Now think about that for a moment. Why do you and I cover our selves up?

It's because the body is a shameful instrument of Satan right? (If you just answered "yes" please tilt your head back, pick up your key board and thrust it violently into your throat.) No! It's because the body is so good that we veil what demands the reverence. We were never meant to be looked on as  things to be used but as persons to be loved and respected.

Make no mistake about it. There is nothing indecent about the body. No playboy magazine that has ever been printed has "dirty pictures" in it. Shocked? Or still out of breath from your self inflicted keyboard battering?

John Paul II said that pornographic portrayals of the body "arouse objection...not because of their object, since the human body in its self always has its inalienable dignity-but because of the quality or way of its reproduction" Which is intended to incite lust.

The evil is never in the body but in the lust intended or aroused. Compare Michelangelo's nudes in the Sistine chapel to Hefner's bunnies in the playboy mansion. One seeks to artistically uphold and celebrated the beauty of the body. The other's sole purpose  is to arouse lust. This is why we can safely say that porn reveals too little of the human person. That it reduces the mystery and beauty of femininity to a collection of body parts for the sake of the viewers selfish pleasure rather than a person with inestimable worth and dignity to be loved and guarded.

So the next time some one knocks on your bedroom door and asks the question "are you decent"...I'd like you to proclaim one unequivocal "YES" even if your stark naked inspecting the floor for dust mites.

Comments
  •   |Registered |2010-03-07 16:22:34 Fr. Barnabas
    Matt, You realise of course that by telling the brothers not to look up the word that is exactly what they will do!!!
    It's a word I really dislike - always have - (it's not just an Australian term since it is used in England and Ireland
    too). Much better to use the proper term - masturbation - than any slang in my opinion.
    Ooops - now the brothers
    won't have to look up the word - nor will they need to use it!!
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  •   |SAdministrator |2010-03-08 02:05:42 Matt Fradd
    Agreed & adjusted accordingly.
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  •   |97.125.201.xxx |2010-03-20 12:55:15 john dillon  - anti-porn talk for teenagers
    hi matt. i met you in limerick in january.i did wear the tee shirt you gave me.i really enjoyed meeting you and the talk
    we all had after mass.Matt i need your help.In april we have a confirmation retreat.and ihave been asked to give a talk
    on anti-porn.i am looking for material that is age apporite. i have told a lot of people here in IOWA about you and your
    mission.and they would like to have you come here some day, and give a talk
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  •   |SAdministrator |2010-03-21 02:19:37 Matt Fradd
    John, great to hear from you mate. Feel free to write to me at info@theporneffect.com and it'll get forwarded to my
    email if you put my name in the subject box.

    If you drag your cursor on "the porn effect" in the top menu bar,
    then click "about us" you'll find a talk I gave called "porn, who does it hurt"...That may give you some
    ideas. Feel free to download the talk and even burn it for people if you find it helpful.

    If you'd like to talk more
    specifically in relation to your age group. Email me.

    Great meeting you man! Thank you for your courage and your great
    heart in ministering to the youth. They are blessed,
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  •   |124.171.162.xxx |2010-03-31 16:33:48 Eloise
    Thank you for this article matt, it's awesome!! You're great! Praying for you!
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  •   |58.170.150.xxx |2010-04-22 06:26:29 Anonymous
    spot on matt.well done on all the great work you are doing.
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  •   |207.167.5.xxx |2010-04-29 13:17:55 Emma
    Matt!
    you have a gift for writting, humerous enough and the point is getting across
    i loved how you compared
    michelangelo's work to hugh hefners..
    can't ever say that i have inspected my floor for dust mites int he nue
    though..
    love ya
    emma
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