A growing number of young men from diverse backgrounds are returning to church in Dublin and speaking openly about the impact of pornography on their lives, according to Fr Alan Hilliard, Administrator of City Quay and Westland Row parishes in the Archdiocese of Dublin.
Fr Hilliard highlighted that many of these young men are raising concerns about pornography, saying: “There is a very interesting word coming up… which is ‘pornography’. The rise in the stealth of pornography that is coming up on the internet – some do not want to become victims of what it does to your humanity.”
He said that many are not seeking the Church but “they want God”, adding that “their knowledge of scripture is remarkable… These people are Kingdom of God seekers. They are not lightweight; they are very tuned in”.
Fr Hilliard said that the young men he has spoken to are from various different social settings. “I think it is due to the fragmentation of society and the let downs of society. To whom do you go when all of that is happening?” he asked.
He highlighted that young men are also concerned about being manipulated online, as although “people are offered pornography does not mean they want to use it, and they feel they are being manipulated. They are scrolling through the internet asking questions about Catholicism and the next thing that comes up is some pornography to bring you in another direction”.
Fr Hilliard believes the Church must support young men on their journey, saying: “Try not to get between people and their God. They come into a church not to play bingo, they come into a church to find God, so try not to get between people and God.”
He said the wider community also needs to address the issue. “It is a Church issue yes, but it is a city-wide issue,” he added, pointing to the links between pornography, unrealistic expectations around sexuality and violence against women.
