Chelsea Rippy and Char Garn design and market modest apparel for women. (Shade Clothing)

Few people dispute that America is awash in pornographic imagery or that children are being injured by it.

In an article entitled “The Pornification of a Generation,” Newsweek reports on the flood of sexually charged media messages and how they are harming kids — especially girls.

The article focuses on a book entitled The Porning of America written by English professors Kevin Scott and Carmine Sarracino.

But Scott and Sarracino offer no concrete remedies and actually praise porn’s “positive” contribution to American society.

“The authors don’t suggest banishing porn to back alleys, however,” the article points out. “Both grew up when people were crying out for sexual liberation. And, they contend, porn certainly played a role in achieving it.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the distribution of pornography “is a grave offense. Civil authorities should prevent the production and distribution of pornographic materials” (No. 2354).

The Newsweek article ends on a gloomy note.

Helping children understand what is appropriate behavior in today’s sex-drenched society “may be an increasingly uphill battle,” it concludes.

In contrast, advocates for modesty are offering positive alternatives to help girls understand how to dress and behave appropriately, as the Register reports in our current issue here.

— Tom McFeely