Religions warn against child porn

When it comes to most religious organizations, there is little debate about the moral evil of child pornography.

The Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City is deeply concerned about pornography in general, with child porn included as part of the larger picture, according to Jack Shackelford, president of the Diocesan Pastoral Council.

Last year, the council distributed literature to help parents.

"One tip was to make sure that as parents you're aware of the sites being visited by your family," Shackelford said. "Another was: Don't have a computer in an enclosed room."

Bishop George Niederauer is also heavily involved in efforts to battle porn on the national level as a member of the national Religious Alliance Against Pornography.

Richard P. Lindsay, an emeritus general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has served as the church's representative in anti-pornography coalitions.

"Listen to President (Gordon B.) Hinckley," he said. "Not a conference goes by that he doesn't have something to say about (pornography)."

Lindsay calls it an "overwhelming problem" for local LDS bishops and stake presidents.

"Internet exposure has been such a tremendous part of that," he said. "Surveys done by online administrators indicate that the pornographic sites are among the most often used on the Internet. They are accessed millions of times daily. This is a big problem, and it is growing rapidly."

While Lindsay says even "soft-core pornography" hurts people and communities, child pornography is terribly serious. "Illegal in all forms, (it) is especially harmful because its production includes the molestation of children, serving as a permanent record of the child's sexual abuse."