A New South Wales parliamentary inquiry is a “groundbreaking” opportunity to address the destructive effects of pornography on young people, says Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP. Source: The Catholic Weekly.
In an email sent to supporters yesterday, Archbishop Fisher said he was hopeful about the inquiry into the impacts of harmful pornography on people’s mental, emotional and physical health.
Formal submissions are open until January 31 and the archbishop is encouraging members of the public to share their concerns and recommendations for policymakers with the inquiry committee via an online survey, which also closes on the same day.
“Sadly, we also know that the age at which young people are first exposed to pornography has been falling, with most of our young people first viewing pornography by the age of 13,” Archbishop Fisher wrote.
“This exposure has widespread impacts, including contributing to the breakdown of relationships, a devastating decline in self-image, particularly amongst girls and an increase of sexual violence and trafficking.
“All this stems from the way in which undermines the dignity and worth of each human person and the integrity of the sexual act.”
NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley announced the inquiry last August, which followed a 2023 report by the eSafety Commissioner.
It found that 75 per cent of 16-18 year olds surveyed in Australia had seen online pornography, nearly one third of them before the age of 13.
The commissioner also found that common forms of pornography often contain depictions of sexual violence and content degrading of women.
Among those welcoming the inquiry were the Australian Christian Lobby, Melinda Tankard Reist, director of Collective Shout, and Catherine Garrett-Jones, executive director of the Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT.
The online questionnaire can be accessed at www.parliament.nsw.gov.au. Both close on 31 January.
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Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP supports groundbreaking inquiry (By Marilyn Rodrigues, The Catholic Weekly)
