Editor’s Note: The following story contains details which may offend sensibilities. This is not to glorify or justify the actions of the protagonists.This is an attempt to call the attention of the government and the society on this social media phenomenon.

WITH the proliferation of pornography, and with people becoming actively and  openly involved into it, has our moral compass already eroded?

For Father Melvin Castro,  Director of Family and Life Ministry of the Diocese of Tarlac, it’s a manifestation of a symptom of how we deal with our morals with people refusing to recognize authority. 

“‘Yung immorality is a symptom that wala na  silang kontrol kahit sa sarili nila,” Castro told republicasia.

He said prosperity can also make some people forget about greater things, and that is when the role of the church becomes vital. 

“I think that’s what the church is for, to be there, to be a prophet. Sabi nga ng bishops nung araw pa, to disturb the comfortable. Because when we are so comfortable with the material world, it will lead to this,” he said.    

Calling it a “tragedy,” he believed that what’s happening is already beyond control especially because social media is totally free and can be accessed by anyone. 

And with the younger generation being more technology-savvy nowadays, he believes that imposing censorship would be an exercise in futility because restrictions to pornographic content may be circumvented. 

“Hindi na to kakayanin ng censorship. Una it’s impossible, secondly, may debate na naman ‘dun ng free speech, freedom of expression and everything,” Castro said. 

Asked where the problem can be attributed, he said the problem is deeply-rooted and can be traced back during the time when cinemas started showing  pornographic films.     

“Decades ago when Hollywood started producing pornographic and semi pornographic films, it already was a signal that we’re entering into a different environment, morally speaking. From there, the so-called sexual revolution of the 1960s and 1970s [happened],” he said. 

Despite this, Castro firmly believes that we haven’t reached the “point of no return.” 

He remains hopeful that there is still redemption.  

To bring this about, he believes the entire community and all sectors of society must work together. 

“Ang ultimate solution would be to go back to a well-formed conscience, which means the church, whatever faith group they might belong, the family, the school, the friends, have to work together,” he said. 

Saying it takes a village to raise a child, he puts importance on educating the youth and in nurturing  their character so that they will have a well-formed conscience and they will avoid pornography by choice.

“Kailangan meron conscious decision, (may) conscious choice ang citizens, especially the young that they will be evading and avoiding pornography by choice, not because it was hidden from them, not because it was prohibited to them but because they know it would not do them any good,” he said.