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There is a Christian and very specifically Catholic wisdom concerning the human body and human sexuality. Unfortunately, many modern ideologies such as the gender movement and radical feminism are drawing further and further away from the vision of Christ. I wrote in April 2020 on the sad phenomenon of increased pornography usage with the advent of the pandemic and restrictions that kept people home.

Adjacent to this, websites in the category of social media that cater to sexual content represent another grave ethical violation. For many years porn stars and prostitutes have offered “sex cams” and other interactive pornographic content for paying viewers. What is different is the explosion of similar content from the typical “girl or mom next door.” Young women—and this is a predominantly female phenomenon—have started to offer “fans” paid access to their sexual pictures or videos or online interaction. Some fell on hard times after losing a job, particularly during the pandemic, and sought a way to earn extra cash.

A really fundamental disconnect between the Christian perspective and the way these “creators,” as they are called, relate to their bodies is the affirmation that they can do whatever they want with their bodies. Radical feminism often delivers the same message. St. Paul gave a very different exhortation: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (1 Cor. 6:19–20, NIV). Catholicism, and really most religious traditions and societies, has emphasized that the sexual act belongs to married couples exclusively and should not be put on display.

Voyeuristic behavior is at the root of pornography and is rightly condemned by most people, but it is also unfortunately frequently indulged. The fan website that is a leader in this trend added one hundred fifty thousand users a day in 2020. Feeds from Instagram or Twitter are often used to drive people to the person’s “adult” fan site.

What is attractive about this paid service? There are loads of free pornography websites available, so what makes this different is the pseudo intimacy it provides. Some of the women wish their fans happy birthday and know other personal details about their paid subscribers. It also seems addictive because the fans can tip the performer to do certain things and so have the impression they are like porn film directors. As more and more people post content, some viewers go searching for persons they knew in high school or college. There is a pitiable aspect to the loneliness and isolation that seems to drive the mostly male subscribers to these “pay-to-play” sites.

In bioethics our most basic concern is promoting respect for the dignity of the human person. Those acts, even voluntary ones, that exploit, degrade, or physically harm people are ethical violations. Pornography is a prime example of a degrading act for both the creators and the users. On the other hand, all that contributes to the flourishing of the human person and his or her dignity is morally good.

This social media trend is having the regrettable effect of making pornography more acceptable for ordinary people. Few probably realize that porn can be forever. Years from now the pictures and videos they produced could be found by their children or grandchildren. It is truly sad that people are willing to make images of their bodies so cheaply available for lustful purposes. Some subscriptions to fan feeds are as little as five dollars a month.

In this year of St. Joseph, the most chaste spouse of the Blessed Mother, we should redouble our prayers for the conversion of hearts and for the graces to flow to help people escape the terrible temptation and addiction of pornography. Those who are seeking respite from the pain of empty, solitary lives in a disordered way should be specially included in our prayer intentions. The human body is precious, and sexual intimacy is a great gift of marriage. Everything that treats it like a cheap thrill adds darkness and pain to our world. I remember reading a Catholic author who referred to the testimonies of former porn starlets. They revealed the horror and disgust they accumulated over years of “acting” in these videos. Many retreated into alcohol and drugs to numb the pain; some even committed suicide. This is far from a victimless crime. The devil tries to push sinners toward despair to make them think what they did cannot be forgiven. Divine mercy, on the other hand, eagerly awaits like the father of the Prodigal Son. All that is required is to turn away from our transgressions and ask forgiveness to receive it. Catholics are so blessed to have the sacrament of Reconciliation. Going to Confession we know that God has forgiven and forgotten our sins.