Sexually molested and photographed to become another in the long, silent procession of child pornography victims, 8-year-old Michael Reagan began to push everyone he loved away.

In 1953, no one talked about the sleazy world of child pornography or even acknowledged its existence in public — particularly the young victims shamed and scared into silence by its producers.

Reagan, known today by millions as the adopted son of former President Ronald Reagan and one of America's most popular radio talk show hosts, was in Salt Lake City as a "poster child" for a silent population of victims he understands all too well — because he is one.

He called child pornography a "soul slayer" that steals not only innocence, but leaves a trail of broken relationships, self-loathing and suffering in its wake.

Reagan and local activist Pamela Atkinson were honored by the Lighted Candle Society at the Little America Hotel on Tuesday night for their efforts to shine a light on the growing prevalence of porn addiction, hoping to garner additional public support for society's efforts to fight it.

Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco, formerly the Catholic bishop of Salt Lake City, joined their efforts as the keynote speaker at the awards banquet. The former head of a Utah coalition seeking to bring awareness to the issue, the archbishop conceded it's a topic most churches simply don't want to discuss. Neither do parishioners, he said, many of whom are parents who need to understand their children are at risk.

Reagan said churches are willing to talk about global warming, or even host workshops and seminars for those suffering with other types of addiction. But when it comes to porn, "people are worried about being embarrassed, and how the church will react to them," he said.

Church leaders are worried about the social stigma such people may bring to their congregation, Reagan said, so they fail to address the issue or encourage people to deal with it before it destroys them and their families.

"There's one word that describes that approach — selfishness," he said.

Archbishop Niederauer said "denial" is the other term that allows pornography to invade peoples' homes, seeping silently but surely into their children's bedrooms through computers and other technology.

"People just don't want to admit it could be a problem in their home," he said.

Niederauer said even media sometimes avoid the topic, depending on the circumstances. He cited an investigation by a major newspaper in 2003 that tracked nearly 160 schoolteachers and coaches who had been suspected of sexually abusing children from 1992 to 2002.

The paper found that a majority were still teaching or coaching — many in different states, including one who transferred to a school in Sandy.

"Neither of the newspapers here picked up that story," he said.

Reagan said because of his own experience, he has repeatedly and publicly offered to testify before Congress about the problems associated with child pornography over a period of 20 years. To date, no one has ever taken him up on the offer.

When he shares his story, the response often comes back, "Why didn't you tell somebody?" he said, adding he has tried for years to get people to listen. "They still don't get it."

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