Porn pervasive in Utah, pastor says

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jan 20, 2007 by Carrie A. Moore Deseret Morning News

Christian leaders who believe pornography isn't a problem for members of their congregations don't understand the extent of the problem, according to a fellow clergyman.

Pastor Mark Gomez of Calvary Chapel Wasatch Front in Clearfield told about two dozen evangelical leaders on Thursday that they and their congregants are all susceptible to online predators and pornography addiction if they don't believe it can happen to them. The clergyman led a 90-minute seminar sponsored by Standing Together, a group of local evangelical ministers, hoping to convince them they need to take the presentation to their congregations and work to help those already affected by porn.

He said the church can best protect children from online predators by making parents aware of the dangers posed by online chat rooms, instant messaging and popular interactive Web sites like MySpace.com. Too many parents know far less than their children about the technology, he said, and the consequences of failing to monitor children's online activities can be devastating.

"I know some pastors are afraid that if they go down this road, it will be work they don't want to do. I know you weren't trained for this in seminary," he said, adding he's trying to provide educational resources that clergy can use free of charge to help educate their own congregations.

Statistics show Utah has the highest number of children with in- home Internet access in the nation, and the target age range for engaging in Internet chat is from 12 to 17. Utahns also register the largest numbers nationally for Internet searches of such terms as "sex pics" and "nude girls," he said. "This is not the rate per capita," he said. "We're the highest in the nation."

Meanwhile, one in five children are sexually solicited or approached over the Internet each year. There are no accurate profiles of predators, he said, because the problem has become so pervasive that it is found in every demographic level of society, from blue-collar workers to professionals of all ages and incomes.

Pastor Greg Johnson, president of Standing Together, said he attended a recent retreat sponsored by Billy Graham ministries where he learned that four of every 10 Christian clergy "have an ongoing struggle themselves with porn. If you could just expose every one of them and fire them by Sunday, that means 40 percent of American churches would be without leadership."

Many churches are grappling with how to help those who struggle because exposure not only means the loss of a job for clergy, but often entails the loss of their families as well, he said.

While churches seek ways to help both pastors and congregants who are addicted to porn, they can't take it lightly any more, Pastor Gomez said. "The days are gone where pastors can just say, 'let's pray, brother,' and then send them (addicts or predators) out the door." Clergy have a legal obligation to report anyone involved with child pornography, and it's believed that at least 25 percent of Christian men are "regular porn consumers," he said, adding that virtually everyone addicted to porn needs professional help to successfully conquer it.

"If you think you are above all this, you're lying to yourself."

For information about scheduling a free educational seminar for a church group, school or congregation, send an e-mail to sdeland@dsdmail.net or to cmikkelsen@dsdmail.net, with "Internet safety" in the subject line.

E-mail: carrie@desnews.com