Most porn obsessed country?

By Catholic Reporter PNG – 12 March 2015

Papua New Guinea made international headlines a few days ago when Google revealed that we are the most porn obsessed country in the world according to the results of their internet search engines. At the same time there is no doubt that the prostitution business is on the rise with both local and foreign sex workers being hired or enslaved. In November last year a mother and teacher of one of our well known secondary schools was telling me that their boys dorm at night is always illuminated till late by the light of cell phones apparently being used for questionable internet surfing.

It is a waste of time calling for legislation, censorship or blocking of websites. The offer is so huge in the streets and on the internet, and the way to get around any restriction so easy, that the hunting for the forbidden even makes the challenge more interesting and the transgression spicier.

Only personal change and free choice make a difference. And only parental guidance, good education, healthy friendship, community service, religious practice and Church involvement take the young minds to greener and more nutritious pastures.

It is certainly not a problem of the youth alone. At a young age there is even the mitigating excuse of natural curiosity and guilty pleasure. But what about mature parents, school, community, political or even Church leaders? In many cases the banalization of sexuality, which should rater be considered part of God’s continuous  work of creation, and the attacksto family life become systematic and repeated well beyond the weakness of a lone incident.

There is probably a need to strongly and publicly reprimand adults who promote, practice or take financial advantage from prostitution. There is also a need to more aggressively educate young people to handle their natural emotions and gradually channel them towards constructive friendship and family life. It needs to be done with love and care, patience and good example.

It is much more consoling and encouraging to see young people happy and fondly taking care of their spouse and children after completing any level of formal education, than watching them tear their life apartwith occasional partners, by rooming the streets or becoming internet addict. (G.L.)