Safe Haven Sunday

ek7pjvefsqnztter5mgxenwytnl.pngSt. Andrew Catholic Church recently celebrated the first annual Safe Haven Sunday. Within the context of Mass, parishes in the Archdiocese of Atlanta provided teaching and resources that support and protect individuals, marriages, and families in making all homes a safe haven. Read letter from Pastor

WHAT IS SAFE HAVEN SUNDAY?
This awareness day gives us an opportunity to address the harmfulness of pornography in marriages, families, and our culture as a whole, while providing helpful resources to both individuals and families. It is an opportunity for parishes to take a proactive approach in equipping parents so they may better protect and safeguard their homes.

Pornography doesn’t need to be fought alone. It is our hope that the resources provided to you on Safe Haven Sunday will both encourage and teach all individuals and families dealing with the effects of pornography that loving support is available.

WHY?
Pornography is a widespread problem in our society, made ever broader by easy access and free content through the internet.

The statistics are alarming. To mention a few--studies indicate that:

  • 93% of boys and 62% of girls were exposed to pornography before the age of 18
  • 57% of young people seek out porn once a month
  • 75% said their parents had never discussed Internet pornography with them
  • 56% of divorce involves one party having an obsessive interest in pornographic websites

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ formal statement, Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography, states, “We must see our role in protecting children from pornography as our sacred duty, as well as an aspect of our work to create safe environments in accord with our ongoing implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.”

Together we can address this issue by teaching those who have been entrusted to our care about pornography’s effects and to share resources with them.