Cardinal Warns Parents About Giving Wireless Devices as Christmas Gifts

beliefnet
Nov. 17, 2005

Washington, Nov. 15 - A leading Catholic cardinal is warning Catholic parents to be careful when buying iPods and other wireless devices as Christmas gifts because they could be used by minors to access pornography.

Cardinal William Keeler of Baltimore, who co-chairs the Religious Alliance Against Pornography, said iPods, PDAs and video cell phones can easily send and receive pornography, much of it unsolicited.

"Sadly, unwanted pornography often leads to wanted pornography," Keeler told members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Tuesday.

Keeler urged bishops to warn pastors and parents that the devices used to download music and movies also make pornographic photos and videos more accessible, and warned of an "approaching perfect storm" that will inundate consumers with pornography.

"The technology itself is not dangerous, in fact technology in itself is good," Keeler said. "The danger lies in the fact that there are not safeguards or regulations in place to protect children or teens from being exposed to unwanted pornography."

Keeler spoke the same day that The Washington Post reported that users had downloaded 1 million images of naked models from one pornographic Web site within a week. The Post also reported that a wireless industry trade group is exploring rating standards to help prevent underage access to pornography.

The Cincinnati-based Religious Alliance Against Pornography was founded in 1986 by the late Cardinal John O'Connor of New York. It counts more than 50 religious and interfaith organizations as members.