Create in Me a Pure Heart

The USCCB has renewed its stance against pornography with Create in Me a Pure Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography. This new edition for 2025 contains a new preface, and marks ten years since the publication of the first edition (originally titled Create in Me a Clean Heart).

A print version will be available for order soon from Ascension Press (link will appear here).

"[W]e recognize that many individuals start viewing pornography because of deep personal wounds. Several risk factors that threaten vulnerable people are rooted in escalating cultural trends. Chief among these is the loneliness epidemic." -2025 Preface

Sample Recommendations

Many recommendations to help fight pornography can be found in the preface of this 2025 edition. Here are just a few examples:

Parents
"Discuss chastity and the nature of human sexuality in age-appropriate ways over time, instead of waiting to have one difficult 'talk' with them."
"Set a positive example for your children by decreasing your own time and dependence on mobile devices."

Clergy
"Keep a list of trusted mental health professionals in your area who work clinically with pornography problems in a way that upholds Catholic teaching. Refer to them often." Looking for local, trusted mental health professionals? Here are a few different directories* that might help:

My Catholic Doctor - multiple directories

Pediatric Psychiatrists and Mental Health Clinicians

Therapy for Children and Adolescents

Adult Psychiatrists and Mental Health Clinicans

Therapy for Adults

Divine Mercy University Alumni Directory - type your state in the directory search bar to narrow down the results

*Note: The professionals listed in these directories have not been reviewed by the USCCB. Clergy should exercise discretion when recommending individuals.

Lay Leaders
"Develop opportunities for people to share their questions, fears, and stories related to their own or their loved ones’ use of pornography."

Educators
"Prohibit all use of mobile devices during school hours, or at least prohibit their use for non-emergency purposes in the classroom."

Civil Leaders
"Ensure that social media platforms do not permit abuse by predators or undermine the rights of parents to protect their children from harm."

Background from the 2015 Publication of the Original Document

The U.S. bishops approved the formal statement Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography (en Español) with an almost unanimous vote at their November 2015 General Assembly.

"Everyone, in some way, is affected by increased pornography use in society. We all suffer negative consequences from its distorted view of the human person and sexuality. As bishops, we are called to proclaim anew the abundant mercy and healing of God found in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, and through his Church." -Introduction

News release: "Bishops Approve Formal Statement, 'Create In Me A Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography'" (Nov. 17, 2015)