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Some
Christmas gift ideas are not danger free
PRAISED BE JESUS
CHRIST!
(Now and Forever)
Advent is upon us again. It’s a bit late in the calendar this year,
which presents a special challenge since the fourth Sunday of Advent
will fall on Dec. 24. With anticipated Christmas Masses starting earlier
and earlier each year (none are permitted before 4 p.m.), the tradition
of not decorating churches for Christmas until after the last Mass on
the fourth Sunday of Advent is a bit awkward. No doubt most will be so
immersed in the secular observance of Christmas by that time (fatigued
by it all, perhaps) the conflict will only traumatize liturgists.
Granted it is no easy task to do so, the beauty of Advent is something
to be cherished. For those who delay the celebration of Christmas until
the Christmas Season (the 14 days between Christmas Eve and the baptism
of the Lord) and who utilize Advent as a time of anticipation and
prayerful reflection on the celebration of the liturgical year which
Advent inaugurates, it is uniquely rewarding.
Ordinarily this column would be devoted to Advent. This year, however, I
wish to share with parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, older
brothers and sisters who face the selection of Christmas presents for
the young an alarming bit of information I received while in Baltimore
the week of Nov. 13 for the fall meeting of the United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops. It comes from the Religious Alliance Against
Pornography (RAAP), in collaboration with the National Coalition for the
Protection of Children and Families (NCPCF). It is an alert to those who
may buy video mobile phones, PDA’s and video iPods as Christmas
presents. The purchase of these articles may include access to the
Internet at the time of purchase. This warning comes with an endorsement
from Cardinal William Keeler, archbishop of Baltimore.
It’s my understanding that as a result of efforts made by RAAP, the
companies that provide 97 percent of these services (Alltel, Cingular,
Sprint-Nextel, T-Mobile and Verizon) have agreed with Congress and the
Wireless Association not to provide pornography on their platforms.
That’s the good news. Now the not-so-good news: Most of these
corporations have as their goal to sell access to the Internet. They
have told representatives of RAAP that they do not intend to warn
purchasers about Internet dangers at the time of purchase. They believe
that these dangers are known and that families are responsible for the
safety of their children.
Families are indeed responsible for the safety of their children, but
awareness of the danger which the Internet offers is problematic.
Here are the points that should be kept in mind should consideration be
given to the purchase of video mobile phones, PDA’s and video iPods:
• The Internet is very helpful. It is also dangerous because there is a
multiplicity of pornographic sites and because sexual predators use the
Internet to seduce young people and to advance their agenda.
• There are no filtering devices for the new mobile phones, PDA’s, Sony
Play Stations or video iPods. Moreover, young people (as a
generalization) figure out how to get around present filtering devices
on personal computers.
• If access to the Internet on video mobile phones, PDA’s and video
iPods is purchased, a person will be able to access all pornography on
the Internet and will be able to access that pornography anonymously.
• Those with these devices may choose not to look at pornography. But,
that is not enough. The pornographers have learned how to attach their
toxic material to good sites, so that while people may seek wholesome
sites they end up being automatically transferred from a good site to
the contents of an “adult bookstore.” It is called “page-jacking.”
Research testifies that sexually explicit material is seductive and
addictive, and unwanted pornography often leads to wanted pornography.
• While all five wireless companies listed above are planning not to
have any pornography on their platform, some of the companies are
presently exploring partnerships with other providers, and in addition,
are working with second- and third-tier companies that will include
considerable pornography on their systems. This means those particular
wireless companies will not be providing pornography directly, but will
become the means of distributing pornography indirectly and with
financial profit. RAAP wants to impact their decisions.
• Minors who use mobile phones and PDA’s that have still camera and
video capture capabilities are able to produce sexually explicit images
of themselves and each other and can send those images to another person
and to the Internet. They can be arrested, tried and convicted as felons
for producing child pornography, which could result in penalties as high
as $5,000 and could be accompanied by a prison sentence. These penalties
and fines could be carried out on the parent or caregiver who knowingly
or unknowingly signed the wireless contract for their child.
If enough people communicate their concern to wireless companies it will
encourage them to seek adequate solutions more quickly and more
intensely.
In the bigger picture, it is not unusual for minors to have their own
bedroom and for that bedroom to be equipped with a computer. An
increasing chorus of voices is raising an alert in instances where those
computers include Internet access. A frequent suggestion is that any
computer with Internet access be located in a family common room where
the viewing habits of minors can be monitored by adults. At the same
time, there is growing awareness that adult addiction to pornographic
material is penetrating the sanctity of marriage and the moral integrity
of Catholics.
Advent would be a good time for families to discuss these matters, to
set ground rules, and to come to an understanding of the fact that
sexually explicit materials are both seductive and addictive. I believe
that there is consensus that one must be vigilant if he or she is to
avoid un-wanted pornography which has become readily accessible via the
Internet and now via video mobile phones, PDA’s and video iPods.
The opening prayer for the first Sunday of Advent could not be more
appropriate: “All-powerful God, increase our strength of will for doing
good that Christ may find an eager welcome at his coming and call us to
his side in the Kingdom of Heaven ...”
Amen. |
