The Stage IV Cancer of Society

Western society, in all its greatness and successes, is in serious danger of a violent death from a very aggressive cancer. It has already caused the loss of the sence of decency, and the societal moral compass is no longer pointing in the right direction. Our collective frame of mind has been perverted, and our views of what is good and what is evil has shifted.

But what is this cancer? I believe the root of it all may not be all that obvious at first. It is rarely spoken of, hidden in the darkness of solitary lives, but it has infiltrated the lives of hundreds of millions of adults and children around the world.

Of course, I am writing about pornography.

Through the invention of the internet, pornography consumption has increased exponentially. It has spread itself accross our nations like a wildfire consuming everything in its path. Its reach now touching those that would have been too embarrassed to purchase the magazine at the corner store. It's flames are now threatening the innocence of a child from a mere click on his parent’s cell phone. Pornography has made its way into the lives of almost every family in some way, and its effects have taken its toll on society like claws crippled tightly around the neck.

Pornography has been linked to a range of societal harms, contributing to relational breakdowns, increased violence, and broader cultural shifts that undermine social cohesion. At the individual level, it often leads to reduced satisfaction in real relationships, with studies showing that compulsive use correlates with isolation and dissatisfaction. This extends to marriages and families, where pornography use is associated with a 300% increase in infidelity, 68% of divorces, and overall dysfunction, including decreased intimacy and higher rates of separation.

On a societal scale, it normalizes objectification and violence, particularly against women, with research indicating that viewers are more likely to downplay sexual assault, and entertain aggressive behaviors. The industry itself fuels trends of exploitation including human trafficking, nonconsensual content, and abuse, where performers often face coercion, drugs, and threats, indirectly supported by consumer demands. Broader effects of heightened cybercrimes like stalking and pedophilia are rampant. And the culture of over-sexualization has eroded empathy and trust. Collectively, these factors are contributing to our societal fragmentation, increased rates of depression, anxiety, and violence. Pqornography weakens community bonds and promotes a cycle of harm that affects public health and human rights.

But, the effects are so much deeper than that, as the destruction of society is but a symptom of the destruction of man. There are real, physical detriments to a person that is exposed to pornography. Consumption of these images triggers significant neurological changes, very much the same to those seen in substance addictions, by overstimulating the brain's reward system. It leads to heightened dopamine release, creating a cycle of arousal addiction where the brain prefers novel, explicit stimuli over real-life interactions, resulting in desensitization and reduced responsiveness. Studies using MRI scans show reduced gray matter in regions which are involved in motivation, decision-making, and impulse control, leading to weaker responses to sexual cues and impaired self-regulation. Functional connectivity alterations in the brain mimic the same patterns in drug addiction, with enhanced cue reactivity and diminished interest in non-pornographic activities. Over time, this can cause a shrinkage in the brain's "braking system"—which fosters compulsivity, emotional instability, poor judgment and increased risk-taking.

The psychological effects of pornography are just as destructive. Anxiety, depression, and a disconnect from societal norms, as the brain's reward pathways become rewired for hyper-stimulation is enough to destroy a man’s ability of self discipline and to have normal connections.

One would think the feminist movement would be outraged by the industry for the objectification of women, yet they make very little noise about the subject. Pornography, effectively reduces a man back to the primal tendencies of a child. Putting him under the controlling spell of her body reduces his posture and fortitude to that of a puppy starving for affection. This is exactly where they want the “patriarchy” to remain.

But the greatest destruction is found when exposure to pornography occurs during childhood or adolescence. It inflicts lasting harm, exploiting the brain's high plasticity and vulnerability during development. It often results in trauma-like responses, including anxiety, disgust, shock, and obsessive behaviors, with children under 12 more likely to engage in peer sexual assault or exhibit problematic sexualized actions. Neurologically, early viewing leads to reduced gray matter (up to 10-12% in some studies) and stunted prefrontal cortex development, impairing impulse control, empathy, and emotional regulation into adulthood. This can cause the child to be more prone to addictions, unrealistic sexual expectations, and skewed attitudes of objectification, increasing risks of sexual aggression and acceptance of violence. The long-term outcomes of these poor children include higher rates of depression, substance use, risky sexual behaviors, poor bonding and increased teen pregnancy. Overall, it disrupts healthy sexual maturation, leading to lifelong challenges in mental health, relationships, and social integration.

The Catholic church teaches very strongly against pornography as it is a grave moral evil against the sixth Commandment of God. Articulated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), this teaching is expressed in CCC 2354:
”Pornography consists in removing real or simulated sexual acts from the intimacy of the partners, in order to display them deliberately to third parties. It offends against chastity because it perverts the conjugal act, the intimate giving of spouses to each other. It does grave injury to the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others. It immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world. It is a grave offense. Civil authorities should prevent the production and distribution of pornographic materials.”

In 2013, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) stated, “Pornography is a grave offense against God and His gifts to men and women. God created men and women "in His image" to share in His divine life. Rather than respecting and cherishing this image of God, pornography promotes harmful and destructive anthropology (view of the human person). It teaches people to use others as "objects"--in this case, a means of selfish, lustful gratification. In addition, since pornography attacks sexual desire and the conjugal act itself, it wages war on marriage. It is important to remember what God created for husbands and wives.”

As Catholic Knights, we cannot be consumers of pornography. Not in any form. Our eyes, minds and bodies must be protected, set apart from the others. How could we serve our Lord and the Church if we are ruled by our lusts? Beyond that, we are called to be warriors. This battle against pornography is one that we must engage in. Our fight is not just for ourselves but for others, for the children who are being poisoned every day. We cannot effectively win this battle if we are drawn to the temptations of the enemy.

I invite our members and followers to make sacrifices for those who are caught up in the pornography web, pray for the end of this demonic industry, and make acts if charity by encouraging those who you know to reject it and to come back to the light of Jesus Christ.

May you all be blessed by our Lord and may the Blessed Mother protect you!

In Nomine Domini!

Works cited:

Key Studies on Brain Effects and Addiction-Like Changes

• Kühn, S., & Gallinat, J. (2014). "Brain Structure and Functional Connectivity Associated With Pornography Consumption." JAMA Psychiatry, 71(7), 827–834.

This MRI study found negative associations between pornography consumption hours and gray matter volume in the right caudate, reduced functional activity in the left putamen during sexual cue tasks, and altered connectivity to the prefrontal cortex—patterns similar to those in substance addictions.

• Voon, V., et al. (2014). Study on compulsive sexual behavior showing brain activity in reward regions (e.g., ventral striatum) mirroring drug addiction responses to cues (often referenced in Cambridge University research and PLOS ONE publications).

• Negash, S., et al. (various years). Research linking problematic pornography use to hypofrontality, reduced prefrontal control, and dopamine system dysregulation.

• Paulus et al. (2024) and related works. Findings on emotional regulation challenges and conduct issues tied to internet pornography viewing.

Key Studies on Early Exposure and Long-Term Damage

• Zillmann, D., & Bryant, J. (1980s series). Controlled studies showing exposure to pornography influences attitudes toward relationships, family, and increases acceptance of sexual violence or objectification (pre-internet era but foundational).

• Lin, W. H., et al. (various). Links early adolescence exposure to sexually explicit media with risky sexual behaviors in emerging adulthood (e.g., early debut, unsafe sex).

• Giroux, C. (2021). Clinical cases and discussions framing early pornography exposure as a form of sexual trauma, leading to shame, guilt, obsessive behaviors, and potential reenactment.

• Olaseinde et al. (2024). Research on neurological impairment, disproportionate dopamine release, addiction risks, and associations with high-risk behaviors (e.g., unsafe sex, substance use, aggression, suicidality).

• Meng (2016) and related neuroimaging. Reports of 10–12% reduction in brain matter (e.g., prefrontal areas) due to early trauma-like exposure.

• Flood, M. (2009) and Australian studies. Links childhood exposure to mental, intrapersonal, and social contamination, skewed sexual norms.

• Various surveys (e.g., 2022 Teens and Pornography survey; Australian 2012 study). Document average first exposure ages (often 11–13), with effects like anxiety, disgust, peer sexual assault risks under age 12, and long-term issues (depression, body dissatisfaction, relational difficulties).

Key Sources on Societal Impacts

• American College of Pediatricians position statements. Summarizes research on addiction parallels (e.g., reduced gray matter, reward system changes akin to cocaine/alcohol), increased infidelity (up to 300% in some correlations), divorce rates, objectification, violence normalization, and public health crisis declarations in multiple U.S. states.

• Fight the New Drug compilations and reviews. Aggregate studies showing isolation, reduced real-life sexual satisfaction, aggression, exploitation in the industry, and cultural over-sexualization.

• Peter & Valkenburg (various meta-reviews, 1995–2015+). Mixed but concerning findings on attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and risks like sexual aggression or permissiveness.

• Additional reviews (e.g., Koletić, 2017; systematic reviews in Child Abuse & Neglect, Journal of Adolescent Health). Associations with emotional/conduct problems, unrealistic sexual expectations, objectification, and societal harms like reduced empathy or increased cybercrimes.

Key sources on the immorality of pornography:

• Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), this teaching appears in CCC 2354

• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (www.usccb.org)

• Pontifical Council for Social Communications (e.g., the 1989 pastoral response on "Pornography and Violence in the Communications Media"),