Texas Senator Ted Cruz recently shared an article on social media that many Catholics saw as a direct attack on their faith.
That might be because it was a direct attack on their faith. Treating refutations of sola scriptura as hostility toward Israel, as the article does, is certifiably insane.
I heard rumblings of the situation until this morning, when I watched my mate Joe Heschmeyer’s assessment of it. So, if you’re out of the loop like I was, here’s a quick summary of what happened.
Cruz posted a link to an (almost certainly) AI-generated essay by the online personality “Insurrection Barbie,” calling it “the best, most comprehensive explanation of what we’re fighting.”
The piece itself is … something. It claims that a kind of “Catholic cabal” made up of integralists, obscure intellectuals, and figures like Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes are working to displace evangelical Protestant influence in conservative politics. It describes these Catholics in inflammatory language — &#8220;political parasites in the technical sense” — and frames their theology as not just wrong, but dangerous.
According to the article, this cabal has spent years working to shift the ideological center of the GOP toward Catholic integralism, portrayed as anti-Protestant and anti-Israel, hostile to Jews and evangelicals alike.
More specifically, the article treats Catholic rejection of Christian Zionism as evidence of this supposed hostility. It assumes Catholics who deny that the modern State of Israel is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy are not simply offering a theological opinion, but stating a political position that places Catholics at odds with Israel itself and, by extension, with the moral commitments of the American Right.
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In other words, a disagreement about how to interpret Scripture begins to look, in the author’s telling, like a kind of disloyalty.
Given how misunderstood the topic of Christian Zionism apparently is, I thought I’d lay out the Catholic position as straightforwardly as possible. Namely, with a mini-catechism — y’welcome.
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What is Zionism?
People mean different things by the term. Some mean simple political support for the State of Israel, as one might support any ally. Others mean support for a Jewish nation-state, without any claim about biblical prophecy or divine promises. Even Theodor Herzl, the father of political Zionism, proposed other possible locations for such a state. The term itself, then, does not necessarily carry any theological meaning.
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What is Christian Zionism?
It is the ideological belief that the modern State of Israel fulfills biblical prophecy concerning the restoration of the Jewish people and that the promises made to Abraham, especially that of land, await a future political realization.
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Why is the ideology of Christian Zionism incompatible with Catholic teaching?
Because the Church teaches that the promises made to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1725) have already been fulfilled in Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven, not in any modern political state. How are the promises to Abraham and Israel understood in the Church?
They have been fulfilled and transformed in Christ, who established the new covenant open to all nations (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 22:20).
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Who now constitutes the people of God?
Those united to Christ through Baptism, as St. Paul teaches (Galatians 3:7-9; 27-28; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 12:13). The Gentiles are grafted into Israel (Romans 11:17), making the people of God no longer defined by ethnicity or territory.
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What is the proper understanding of the promise of land?
It points beyond itself to the Kingdom of God and the New Jerusalem (Hebrews 11:10; Revelation 21:1-2). As Benedict XVI writes, it ultimately “refers to the future world and relativizes the different affiliations to particular countries” (Communio: International Catholic Review 45 (2018), p. 177).
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Why does the Church reject a theological reading of a modern state?
Because, as Pope Benedict XVI explains, a state understood as the fulfillment of God’s promises is “unthinkable within history according to Christian faith” (Communio 45 (2018), p. 178).
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How does the Church view the modern State of Israel?
As a legitimate political entity, but not as the fulfillment of Scripture. The Jewish people, like every people, have a natural right to their own land.
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Why must this distinction be maintained?
To avoid confusing the order of grace with the order of politics.
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What does the Church affirm about Israel’s election?
That it endures, as “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).
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How is this election fulfilled?
In Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection bring Israel’s original vocation to be a holy nation, a royal priesthood, and a light to the nations to its ultimate fulfillment.
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Can I be against Christian Zionism without being anti-Semitic?
Yes! Catholic teaching distinguishes political criticism of Zionism or Israeli policies from anti-Semitism, which is always condemned as a sin. As “Nostra aetate,” one of the key documents of the Second Vatican Council, reads:
“The Church, mindful of the patrimony she shares with the Jews and moved not by political reasons but by the Gospel’s spiritual love, decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone.”
This distinction also means that legitimate criticism of governments must not be confused with hatred of a people. As Archbishop Alexander Sample notes, “All Christians must reject unjust discrimination on the basis of religion or ethnicity. But that principle must not be misused to silence legitimate criticism of governments.”
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What, then, is the Church’s final judgment on Christian Zionism?
It is an ideology that misplaces the fulfillment of God’s promises by assigning to a political state what belongs to Jesus Christ and the Church that he established.
Now, can someone please send this to Senator Cruz?

US-ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN-CONFLICT-PROTEST

Why Ted Cruz Is Wrong About Christian Zionism

Luke Kornet did something this week that deserves to be acknowledged and applauded.
The San Antonio Spurs center publicly asked the Atlanta Hawks to cancel a promotional night celebrating Magic City, widely known as one of Atlanta’s most famous strip clubs. In a brief <a href="https://lukekornet.medium.com/concerning-the-atlanta-hawks-0f07c62ea65e">public statement</a>, Kornet wrote that he wished to “respectfully ask that the Atlanta Hawks cancel this promotional night with Magic City.”
For saying this publicly, he deserves real credit.
Professional sports leagues spend an enormous amount of time talking about respect, dignity, and protecting women. Those are good goals, obviously. But words like that begin to lose their meaning when the same institutions partner with industries built upon the sexual commodification of women.
Kornet simply pointed out the tension.
“The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women,” he wrote, “many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world. We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love.”
That seems difficult to dispute.
If the NBA wants to be a league that honors women and welcomes families, celebrating a strip club is a terrible way to express it.
Kornet also drew attention to something many people would prefer not to think about. As he wrote, “Regardless of how a woman finds her way into the adult entertainment industry, many in this space experience abuse, harassment, and violence to which they should never be subjected.”
That observation alone should give us pause before turning such places into objects of celebration. In “<a href="https://store.dailywire.com/products/porn-myth-by-matt-fradd?srsltid=AfmBOoqVyM2W5DgdH9OSkAcJRshTPmFdlKwXey7LBEVuwFtZ7lwVZ_RY">The Porn Myth: Exposing the Reality Behind the Fantasy of Pornography</a>,” I documented at length the exploitation and harm that are often hidden behind the industry’s glossy marketing. Anyone unconvinced by Kornet’s concern should spend some time with the evidence.
The NBA is one of the most influential cultural institutions in the world. Millions of young people watch its games. Families visit its arenas. Players are presented as role models. Given that reality, it is perfectly reasonable to ask what kind of culture the league wishes to promote.
Kornet expressed it clearly: “We desire to provide an environment where fans of all ages can safely come and enjoy the game of basketball.” And then he added the line that captures the entire issue: “The celebration of a strip club is not conduct aligned with that vision.”
In recent years, we have grown accustomed to athletes speaking out about political causes. Much of it has been the sort of fashionable, low-risk virtue signaling that earns applause from the political Left. What is far rarer is seeing someone speak about the deeper moral direction of our culture, particularly when it comes to sexuality.
Yet these questions matter. They shape how a society understands dignity, relationships, and the value of the human person.
In this case, Luke Kornet simply asked his league to live up to the values it already claims to hold.
That is a modest but important request.
And I am grateful he had the courage to make it.

San Antonio Spurs v Brooklyn Nets

In Praise Of The NBA Player Who Asked A Team To Rethink Strip Club Night

Atlanta Hawks

Basketball

Morality

Pornography

Stripper

There are two basic ways to critique any belief system. You can critique it externally, by judging it according to standards it doesn’t accept, or you can judge it internally, by judging it according to standards it does accept.
Therefore, an external critique of Islam will judge it according to standards that come from outside its own sources, whether philosophical, historical, or theological, whereas an internal critique will begin from the Quran itself and ask whether Islam can stand on its own terms. 
The Islamic Dilemma is this kind of argument. It doesn’t impose Christian assumptions onto Islam. Instead, it begins with what the Quran itself says and follows those claims to their logical conclusion.
One of the strongest internal critiques of Islam is what’s commonly called the Islamic Dilemma. When followed carefully, it presents Muslims with a serious problem that can’t be resolved without undermining the authority of Islam itself.
The Quran repeatedly affirms that God revealed genuine Scripture before Muhammad, specifically the Torah and the Gospel. It speaks of these writings as guidance and light, given by Allah to earlier prophets. Just as importantly, the Quran commands Jews and Christians to judge by what God revealed in those Scriptures. Nowhere does the Quran clearly or explicitly teach that the Torah or the Gospel were lost, corrupted, or unreliable at the time of Muhammad.
The Quran doesn’t merely acknowledge earlier Scripture in passing. Instead, it repeatedly speaks of the Torah and the Gospel as real, authoritative revelations from God that were present and functioning in the world of Muhammad.
For example, Surah 5:44 states that “the Torah, in which was guidance and light,” was revealed by Allah and used for judgment. 
Likewise, Surah 5:46 affirms that Jesus was given the Gospel, “wherein is guidance and light,” confirming what came before it. 
These verses describe living Scriptures that guide God’s people, not lost or corrupted texts.
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More striking still, the Quran commands Jews and Christians to judge by these very writings. 
Surah 5:47 instructs Christians to “judge by what Allah has revealed in the Gospel.” 
Surah 5:68 tells both Jews and Christians that they have no firm standing unless they uphold the Torah and the Gospel. 
These commands only make sense if those Scriptures were accessible and trustworthy in the seventh century — when the Quran was written.
Finally, Surah 10:94 tells Muhammad himself that if he’s in doubt, he should ask those who read the Scripture before him. That appeal would be meaningless if those Scriptures were already corrupted or unreliable.
Taken together, these passages show that the Quran affirms the Torah and the Gospel as genuine revelation, present, readable, and authoritative at the time of Muhammad.
This creates a dilemma — with only two possible and mutually exclusive options.
Option one: The Torah and Gospel available in the seventh century were trustworthy.
If that’s true, then Islam faces a decisive contradiction. The Gospel preached in Muhammad’s time proclaims core Christian doctrines that Islam explicitly denies. It teaches that Jesus is the Son of God, that He was crucified, and that He rose from the dead. The Quran denies all three. So if the Gospel is trustworthy, then the Quran contradicts God’s prior revelation. That would mean the Quran can’t be from God.
Option two: The Torah and Gospel were corrupted before Muhammad.
This option also collapses Islam. If the Scriptures were corrupted, then Allah either failed to preserve his earlier revelation or allowed his followers to be misled for centuries. Worse still, the Quran commands Christians to judge by the Gospel they possess and appeals to those Scriptures as confirmation of Muhammad’s message. If those texts were already unreliable, then that doesn’t make sense. In that case, the Quran would be affirming and appealing to corrupted documents, which undermines its claim to divine wisdom.
Either way, Islam is trapped. It can’t affirm the Bible without contradicting itself, and it can’t deny the Bible without undermining its own authority.
Muslims often try to escape this dilemma by claiming that the original Torah and Gospel were pure but later altered. Yet that claim is historically unsupported. We possess New Testament manuscripts that predate Muhammad by hundreds of years, and they teach the same doctrines Christianity teaches today. There’s no evidence of a lost, non-Trinitarian, non-crucified version of the Gospel that Islam could appeal to. That so-called “original Gospel” exists only as a theological escape hatch.
The dilemma is therefore decisive. If the Bible is true, Islam is false. And if the Bible is false, then the Quran is false for affirming it. Islam depends on earlier revelation that it can’t consistently affirm or deny.
Christianity, by contrast, welcomes scrutiny of its historical claims. It stands or falls on events in history, especially the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If Christ didn’t rise from the dead, then Christianity is false. Islam avoids history by rewriting it centuries later, but in doing so, it contradicts the very Scriptures it claims to respect.
The Islamic Dilemma doesn’t merely challenge Islam from the outside. Instead, it exposes an internal incoherence at the heart of its theology. And a revelation that contradicts itself can’t come from God.

Closeup of Muslim hands reading holy Quran book with Arabic text under warm light. Concept for Ramadan Kareem, Islamic religion prayer, spiritual faith, God worship, and reading scripture.

Can The Quran Affirm The Bible Without Contradicting Itself?

Bible

Catholicism

Christianity

Islam

Koran

Matt Fradd

Muslims

Religion

Valentine’s Day is here, and so I thought, as the resident Catholic at Daily Wire (take that, Michael Knowles!), it would be appropriate and, who knows, maybe even helpful, to talk about it.
Now, the first thing I should tell you is that I am not American. I&#8217;m Australian. When I moved to America back in 2005, I was genuinely shocked at how many holidays you guys have. Hallmark and unbridled capitalism. That’s who I’m blaming!
But the truth is that I have a knee-jerk reaction to being told that I must celebrate something. When that happens, I take the reverse position and refuse to celebrate it. This is how I feel about Valentine&#8217;s Day. As my dear wife can attest, not once in our 20 years of marriage have I bought her flowers on Valentine’s day. It’s my petty way of fighting back against the commercialization of Catholic feast days. That’ll show ‘em!
But enough about me, who is this St. Valentine fella, anyway? How might we as Catholics celebrate a day named for him despite — or even in answer to — the marketing blitz that accompanies it?
<h3>St. Valentine</h3>
Perhaps the most extraordinary thing about St. Valentine is how extraordinarily little we know about him. Almost nothing. Maybe nothing at all.
One thing we can say with certainty is that “Valentine” is English for the Latin Valentinus, a fairly common name in the early Church. Valentinus comes from the root-word valens, meaning strong or worthy. But here&#8217;s where things get fuzzy: Early Christian records point to at least three martyrs named Valentinus, all honored on February 14.
So, briefly, one of these martyrs was a Roman priest who lived during the third-century persecutions and was executed for refusing to renounce Christ. Another was the Bishop of Terni, also martyred around the same time. Both were said to be buried along the Via Flaminia. By the Middle Ages, pilgrims were honoring “Saint Valentine” without being quite sure which one he was. Some historians even suspect they were the same man, remembered differently by different communities. And then there&#8217;s a third Valentine, a North African martyr and his companions. This Valentine is only mentioned in passing, without a story, like so many early Christian witnesses.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/hosts/matt-fradd?elementPosition=5&amp;row=2&amp;rowHeadline=Hosts&amp;rowType=Hosts+Portrait+Carousel">Watch Matt Fradd&#8217;s Pints With Aquinas On DailyWire+.</a>
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You can see why there would be some confusion about St. Valentine. When several men share the same name, live in the same period, die in similar ways, and are remembered by different Christian communities, their stories naturally begin to overlap. What survives in the historical record is not one clear biography, but several distinct witnesses remembered under the same name. What this means is that once we move beyond the bare historical facts, we’re no longer dealing with a single, settled biography. All that survives are traditions. Some early, some later, some more detailed than others.
But there is value to be found in these traditions. Let&#8217;s look at two stories that may or may not have happened. Each, in its own way, nourishes our faith, and our understanding of what it means to live as a Christian.
<h3>First Story</h3>
In one particularly popular account, Valentine was a third-century Italian bishop from Terni, a city north of Rome. He ran into trouble for the usual reasons Christians ran into trouble back then: He kept being Christian. This did not sit well with Emperor Claudius II.
Valentine was placed under house arrest in the home of a Roman judge named Asterius, presumably so he could think about what he’d done and change his ways. Instead, he spent his time doing what Christians are famously bad at not doing. He talked about Jesus. A lot.
Eventually, Asterius, who was unconvinced and likely a bit worn down, decided to turn the situation into a test. If Valentine’s God were real, surely he could prove it by curing the judge’s blind daughter. Valentine agreed, placed his hands on the girl’s eyes, and she received her sight.
This, understandably, made an impression.
Asterius, now trembling with wonder, asked Valentine what he should do in response to such a miracle. Valentine told him to destroy the false gods in his house and be baptized. Which Asterius did. Asterius, along with his entire household, was baptized, standing, we’re told, among the broken fragments of their former idols. A strong visual.
Word of all this eventually reached the emperor. Valentine was summoned before Claudius himself, who, according to the story, found him quite charming. Sadly, charm only gets you so far when you refuse to renounce your faith. Claudius ordered Valentine executed.
And, so, Valentine was beaten with clubs and beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate on February 14, 269. But not before writing a note of comfort to the girl whose sight he had restored, signing it, “From your Valentine.”
It’s a lovely story. Whether it’s true or not, we don’t know.
<h3>Second Story</h3>
Another story has Valentine as a Roman priest quietly helping Christians during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius decided that unmarried men made better soldiers than married ones. Wives, apparently, were bad for morale. Some things never change&#8230;which is also why I don’t buy my wife flowers. That’s a joke, a bad one, but a joke nonetheless.
Anyway, the point is that the emperor outlawed marriage for young men altogether.
Valentine, undeterred by the imperial decree, carried on marrying couples anyway, but discreetly. The side benefit was that married men could then avoid being drafted into the emperor’s pagan army. Obviously, Claudius took a dim view of this situation once he noticed. Valentine was eventually hauled before the emperor. Claudius rather liked him, found him charming, and very nearly let him off. Unfortunately, Valentine would not stop being Christian, and this proved a deal-breaker. He was sentenced to death.
From there, the stories begin to multiply, and rather enthusiastically. In one telling, Valentine refuses to worship the Roman gods, is thrown into prison, and heals the blind daughter of his jailer. In another, he leaves her a note before his execution, signed, “From your Valentine,” which is either deeply moving or suspiciously tidy, depending on your temperament.
So, what can we take away from these varying traditions?
Well, we could reflect on the certainty of death and what remains after us in this world. There may be stories told about us after we are gone — for a while — until the people telling those stories themselves are gone. A deeper reflection leads us to the truth that ultimately only one person will remember us; only one person knows the inner truth of our lives. And that person is God.
This being true, we Christians should place our stories in the hands of the only One who&#8217;s remembrance matters. As the ancient saying goes, &#8220;Preach the Gospel, die, and be forgotten.&#8221; Yes, forgotten to the world, but remembered by God. St. Valentine may exist for us in the hazy record of varying traditions. But God knows the truth. In God, Valentinus or the several men for whom he stands, is known and loved for eternity.
<h3>A Prayer to Saint Valentine</h3>
Let’s end where the Church has always ended: in prayer.
<blockquote>Saint Valentine, faithful martyr of Christ, 
you who bore witness to love stronger than fear and hope stronger than death, 
pray for us. 
Pray for those who are married, 
that their love may be patient, enduring, and rooted in truth. 
Pray for those who long for love, 
that they may seek not merely affection, but holiness. 
Pray for those who are wounded by love, 
that they may find healing in the Heart of Christ. 
Teach us that real love is not fragile or fleeting, 
but willing to suffer, to remain, and to give itself fully. 
Saint Valentine, 
martyr of faithful love, 
pray for us. 
Amen.</blockquote>
And now, if you will excuse me, I&#8217;m going to pick up some flowers for my wife!

Screenshot

Valentine’s Day Talk

Catholics

Valentine's Day

I’ve got some excellent news to share, beginning January 2026, Pints With Aquinas is partnering with The Daily Wire. We will kick off our tenth year with a bigger studio, a stronger team, and, God willing, an even wider reach for preaching Jesus Christ and inviting people to join the Church he founded (hint: The Catholic Church). You will see a special Christmas episode in December, then weekly shows begin in the new year.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">

Watch me tonight on Friendly Fire at 7pm Eastern on DailyWire+ <a href="https://t.co/UqwXd5uJzd">pic.twitter.com/UqwXd5uJzd</a>
— Matt Fradd (@RealMattFradd) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealMattFradd/status/1983556821555232878?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
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A word from the heart. Earlier this year, while my family and I were in Austria, with a little time in Croatia, I seriously considered stepping back from running the show. I love the conversations, and I love meeting people whose lives have been changed by the podcast. What wore me out was everything around it, production, logistics, thumbnails, flights, the business of it all. When I sat down with Caleb at The Daily Wire, I told him exactly that. I wasn’t trying to sell anything. I said, “If I do this, it must stay a fully Catholic show, and I need help with the parts I am not great at.” Their response, “Keep doing exactly what you are doing, we will build the infrastructure around you.”
So here’s what this partnership means, and what it doesn’t mean: Full editorial control. I choose the guests and the topics. Our mission stays the same, to preach Christ and invite people into the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church.
No paywall. If you are a casual viewer, nothing changes except you will get more Pints, same channel, better studio, higher output.
More episodes, better reach. With a world-class team handling operations, I can focus on conversations that matter, and release more content each week.
A Catholic team around the show. Melanie Pritchard, who has been with Pints since the basement days, is coming onboard, and we are adding faithful, prayerful professionals who are committed to the mission.
Why am I excited? Because the Lord seems to be opening a door I did not know how to walk through on my own. Over the years, I have seen how far this little show can travel. I have met listeners from Guatemala to Croatia, from airport kiosks to Lego stores, sharing how Pints helped them encounter Christ. Partnering with The Daily Wire lets us put holy gasoline on that fire, without diluting the faith.
If you&#8217;re cautious, I get it. If one of my favorite Catholic creators joined a big company, I would ask the same questions you’re asking. So let me earn your trust. Watch the next season. You will see the same show, just louder, clearer, and reaching more souls.
Two final requests. First, please pray for me, that I never become a stumbling block, that I stay faithful to Christ, and that every conversation glorifies God. If you are willing, would you offer a Rosary for this intention, Let me know so I can be encouraged. Second, invite someone who is Catholic curious to tune in when we launch in January. Ten years ago this began with a microphone in a basement. By God’s grace, and through your prayers, we are just getting started.
Totus Tuus Maria
Matt Fradd

MF_MF_2025-10-27_Editorial_Special Announcement_004-1

Big News For Pints With Aquinas, We’re Joining The Daily Wire In 2026

Catholic

Daily Wire

There are few things that intersect the culture as broadly as pornography. Big business, big tech, religion, law, and of course, politics.
Porn checks all the boxes &#8230; and then some.
When four Republican representatives<a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/12.6.2019-Obscenity-Letter-to-AG-Barr.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nationalreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/12.6.2019-Obscenity-Letter-to-AG-Barr.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279443000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGaSZo2GfxbdGycrUINVgq98MkR3A"> recently sent a letter</a> to U.S. Attorney General William Barr urging that federal obscenity laws need to be enforced to address the explosion of graphic and often violent pornography, I winced — certainly not because I’m pro-porn, but because I feared that, once again, the real devastation that porn wreaks in the lives of individuals and families might be obscured by political posturing or other related issues.
For more than a decade, I have spoken to hundreds of thousands of parents, educators, and young people around the world about the predictable misery and despair that can come from exposure to pornography.
For many, hearing such strong language associated with porn seems extreme, perhaps exaggerated; maybe even a pretense to advance a religious agenda.
I assure you, this is not the case.
Over the last 40 years, there has been a great deal of research that states quite emphatically that pornography consumption is detrimental to the consumer, to our relationships, and to society as a whole.
Earlier this year, the World Health Organization adopted a new diagnosis called “Compulsive sexual behavior disorder” as part of the latest edition of its diagnostic manual (the ICD-11). At last, those who suffer from problematic porn use can more easily be studied and treated. There are currently 45 neuroscience-based <a href="https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/relevant-research-and-articles-about-the-studies/brain-studies-on-porn-users-sex-addicts/#brain" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/relevant-research-and-articles-about-the-studies/brain-studies-on-porn-users-sex-addicts/%23brain&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHbWQavMFuABM9gUO5UkjjYS5ot_A">studies</a> (MRI, fMRI, EEG, neuropsychological, hormonal) providing strong evidence for how porn fits into the addiction model. There are over 75 <a href="https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/relevant-research-and-articles-about-the-studies/porn-use-sex-addiction-studies/studies-linking-porn-use-to-poorer-mental-emotional-health-poorer-cognitive-outcomes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/relevant-research-and-articles-about-the-studies/porn-use-sex-addiction-studies/studies-linking-porn-use-to-poorer-mental-emotional-health-poorer-cognitive-outcomes/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEcJEfu7LQ8HgaLD77C8FlWejm5Hw">studies</a> linking porn use to poorer mental/emotional health and impaired cognitive outcomes. There are over 35 <a href="https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/relevant-research-and-articles-about-the-studies/porn-use-sex-addiction-studies/studies-linking-porn-use-or-porn-sex-addiction-to-sexual-dysfunctions-lower-arousal-and-lower-sexual-relationship-satisfaction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/relevant-research-and-articles-about-the-studies/porn-use-sex-addiction-studies/studies-linking-porn-use-or-porn-sex-addiction-to-sexual-dysfunctions-lower-arousal-and-lower-sexual-relationship-satisfaction/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEey7p5trQLmstI4dsWGzd18tzx1g">studies </a>linking porn use to sexual problems and lower arousal to sexual stimuli. And over 35 <a href="https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/relevant-research-and-articles-about-the-studies/porn-use-sex-addiction-studies/studies-linking-porn-use-to-un-egalitarian-attitudes-toward-women/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/relevant-research-and-articles-about-the-studies/porn-use-sex-addiction-studies/studies-linking-porn-use-to-un-egalitarian-attitudes-toward-women/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGIs3tCSzZ3k8z1qQImA-ylT9wyhQ">studies</a> link porn use to “un-egalitarian attitudes” toward women and sexist views.
As an easily accessible public figure in this fight, I am in regular contact with people who tell me about their damaged lives and often ruined relationships. These are not prudish, religious zealots who are suffering under the weight of gratuitous guilt or shame. These are good men and women who are seeing serious psychological and physiological effects as a direct result of behavior they could not control.
Just recently, I spoke to a young man who had been struggling for over five years with pornography. In that time, every relationship in his life collapsed as watching porn snuffed out his ability to love or think of anything beyond his own desires for instant, but fleeting, gratification.
Stories like this add to porn’s well-documented destructive power in communities across the country — so much so that over a dozen <a href="https://www.apnews.com/9c91cfd28a7b461b87948f36117a432e" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.apnews.com/9c91cfd28a7b461b87948f36117a432e&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHSDukXjg1tq0amJRxQpRlw-77Jew">states</a> have declared pornography to be a public health crisis.
In my own experience, being exposed to pornography at an early age led to deep personal and relational issues that took years to sort through.
Today, children as <a href="https://fightthenewdrug.org/real-average-age-of-first-exposure/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://fightthenewdrug.org/real-average-age-of-first-exposure/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHQilnD0Xo0ZNuuaS4nrpwgG_xodQ">young as eight years old</a> are being exposed to the most brutal and graphic forms of pornography. This early exposure quickly leads to a warped understanding of the gift of sexuality, often planting misogynistic seeds in the minds of second graders.
A cynical narrative is being spun on social media that the letter to the attorney general is nothing more than a political play to spur a moral panic and that neo-puritanical tribunals are waiting in the wings eager to jail sinners while violating First Amendment rights.
The concerns being raised are neither a moral panic nor religiously motivated.
Look into the heroic work of private organizations like <a href="https://ourrescue.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://ourrescue.org/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEi_CG_WDujv98sSrV-Tw8Go2y1cg">Operation Underground Railroad</a>, who know first-hand the indisputable role pornography plays in fueling human trafficking. Estimates are that <a href="https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/resource/human-trafficking-numbers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/resource/human-trafficking-numbers&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHMmzPqrkL_SQtUL3BmoCGIzBR9fg">global human trafficking</a> is a $150 billion industry, with $99 billion of it connected with sexual exploitation.
As evidence that this is a mainstream concern, visit some of the non-partisan, non-religious organizations — like <a href="https://fightthenewdrug.org/get-the-facts/#gtf-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://fightthenewdrug.org/get-the-facts/%23gtf-world&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNH142aSXDRCCnlIXed-McsruTXGoA">Fight the New Drug</a> and Your Brain on Porn — who publish <a href="https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/relevant-research-and-articles-about-the-studies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/relevant-research-and-articles-about-the-studies/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNE0bWGF5jOAlxncgrZuv9Ztp0zDDw">extensive research</a> demonstrating the negative social, emotional, and psychological impact of pornography.
I’ve dedicated much of my career to researching, writing, and speaking about how to break free from porn. The good news is, it really is possible.
For example, in a recent project I’ve been a part of called <a href="https://www.cardinalstudios.org/strive" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.cardinalstudios.org/strive&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHYXvopEvSVnpv0LTJEi5NwwdJwcA">STRIVE</a>, in just nine months over 12,000 men participated in an anonymous online video-based support group that yielded many success stories. As is the case for other addictions, open discussion and having accountability are vital for recovery.
Because this is once again a public conversation, there is an opportunity for all people of good will to come together and positively impact the lives of millions. The harm pornography wreaks on individual lives is undeniable. It’s time we recognize porn for what it is and protect our families, children, and society as a whole from its devastating consequences.

Matt Fradd speaks to tens of thousands of people every year. He is the best-selling author of several books, including <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Porn-Myth-Exposing-Reality-Pornography/dp/162164006X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1515695511&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=the+porn+myth" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/Porn-Myth-Exposing-Reality-Pornography/dp/162164006X/ref%3Dsr_1_1?ie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1515695511%26sr%3D8-1%26keywords%3Dthe%2Bporn%2Bmyth&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGpa56iT7z2wlyOR5Lnr8tzKDKoww">The Porn Myth</a>, and is the author of the online course &#8220;<a href="https://www.cardinalstudios.org/strive" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.cardinalstudios.org/strive&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHYXvopEvSVnpv0LTJEi5NwwdJwcA">STRIVE: A 21-Day Detox from Porn</a>,&#8221; which equips men with the tools needed to quit porn for good.