Is a Church Cashing In on Women's Porn Addiction?

Reader Comments
Back to blog

This can be true, but not true. It is your faith in God that will see you through this addiction - but also continuous encouragement from loved one's will help. A very wise man once told me, "whoever made the lock also made the key.' if you got yourself addicted, you can get yourself out of it. If your choice is to go to church then so be it - just know that you are the one that can do this!! Have the faith! God is the answer.

Lalitha 6:31AM August 21, 2012

Your initial reaction deserves research. You didn't really do any reporting here on how many people (male and female) are addicted.

JR of UT 4:24PM March 07, 2012

I don't know what kind of training Mr. Gross has or what kind of results Mr. Gross is getting from his "treatment", however I am troubled that he appears to be getting rich off of other people's problems. A Christian thing to do might be to decrease the price of his expertice so that he is making a more modest income. As for the church profitting from this "ministry", this appears from the article to be strictly supposition of the writer. And this is one church and should not be applied to the rest of the Christian church in general. The power of Jesus Christ can lead many from all kinds of addictions, if the person is truly a disciple of Christ. I haven't had a drink of alcohol in 3+ years, and it was only by the power and the conviction of Jesus that made this possible. For the secular world that has no faith in our Lord and Savior, secular counciling would be the most logical and helpful approach.

Ron of LA 3:08PM June 25, 2010

Bonnie, my wife WAS one of these addicts. She WAS healed through the Church. She received NO treatment from "trained psychiatrists and psychologists." She WAS coached through her healing by a pastor. And she was a PRE-EXISTING member of the church before this issue in her life surfaced--her healing in this area was not a causal factor in gaining her church membership.
Maybe instead of some unsubstantiated, trumped up charge of all churches exploiting niches to gain follower-ship (which surely happens in occasional cases), the shoe is really on the other foot, and it is psychiatrists and psychologists who truly are the ones propagandizing for their own selfish ends (except the sincere few).
So much for impartial journalism.

Matt of CA 11:25AM May 08, 2010

Its very true that trained and certified counselors, psychiatrists, and therapists are needed for life issues such as addictions, mental illnesses, cognitive disorders, etc. (We remember tragically the case of an 'exorcism' gone wrong to heal a youth of autism.) churches need to humbly step aside and point their congregants to those who can help.
This would include 'pastoral counseling' for engaged couples also. (I recognize that many responsible church leaders do refer to secular sources of aid and this is applaudable.
I worked for 2 years in a Christian based drug rehab center and watched with horror as untrained and largely uneducated employees gave our clients more problems and confusion than help. Thank you for this important post Ms. Erbe!

Eric Hanson of CA 6:11AM May 06, 2010

If pornograpy didn't succeed in sexually arousing its users, nobody would bother to buy it or search for it desperately on the web. I believe pornographers share guilt when rapists use porn and then relieve their excitement by raping victims of any age or gender. I believe not everyone is capable of being a rapist. There may be some kind of genetic predisposition to be sexual bullies of that kind. I suggest that rapists, when rightfully convicted, should be sterilized at state expense-- both male & female, so the trait is not kept in the gene pool. Yes, that is "eugenics." The principle is used on plants and animals, breeding for vigor and for plants that have better fruit and larger yield, as shown in the work of Burbank. Many clerics condemn eugenics, but they use the same principle in extinguishing freethought in converts. As for Murdoch, he's a fanatic Catholic Ban-Abortionist, perhaps working to create a demographic majority of Catholic voters. He gave millions for a new Catholic cathedral. He owns many media outlets. Search the web for him and be surprised at how much influence one person can have while advancing his faith.

aura dawn veirs of CA 10:13PM May 05, 2010

Pornography always involves body parts made attractive by Nature to invite reproduction. Reading Scripture made me notice how early it exposes very young children to genitalia. Adam & Eve in religious art are portrayed as nude, with a teasing llttle leaf or fruit at the focus point. That's the lst step in burlesqie & strip tease. The word "virgin" involves the intact condition of Mary's hymen & with it her vagina & uterus. Believers are expected to look repeatedly at Mary's full breasts, nude because baby is eating, so it is not "Peeping Tomism. In a way, it's how teen boys rushed to find "interesting pages" in Natural Geographics in 1920's when Africans were photographed. Religious references to body parts create the harmful notion that women are "defiled" by menses & by intercourse. That's why women are supposed to perform "cleansing rites." When religion is at last removed from all parts of society, there will be great improvement in mental health. I do not accept the claim that women are porn addicts. I've been president of five women's groups & talked with many women. Most of us find pornography is a terrible danger when it excites rapists to relieve themselves on victims.

aura dawn veirs of CA 9:54PM May 05, 2010

"First, pastors have been successfully helping people--"
Yeah, just ask Jim Jones.

Sam of TX 7:02PM May 05, 2010

"all porn is produced by corporations?"
Ever wonder why so much of it is distributed by News Corp and Rupert Murdoch, owner and founder of the Fox News Channel. He delivers more porn via Direct TV than anyone in America. His own pastor called him out on it, to no avail. Profits above integrity, I guess. Gee, do you think he even believes alll the tripe that he is selling as new on the FOX, or is he just taking more money from the rubes?

Sam of TX 6:58PM May 05, 2010

Try it. How about interviewing some of the women who have received services from Gross and report on their stories instead of just demonizing the Church (which is what you've done indirectly).
As a man who was addicted to pornography, who tried lots of books, counseling, etc to stop using it, I will openly testify to the saving power of Jesus Christ. He was the only one who was willing to take my place and the penalty for the crimes I committed against God. He is the only one who could remove the shame from the wasted years spent in front of a computer giving my mind and heart to those who make sex a sport. He was the only one who could cleanse, restore, and heal my mind, my heart, and my family. He's the only one who will stand with me, love me, and restore me when I fail as I struggle to be completely free of my addiction to this drug.
Show me that in any trained professional. I've got the Wonderful Counselor. Amen Craig Gross. Amen XXX Church. Find the lost-lead them to the cross of Jesus. Show them healing and restoration.

Jimmy of MS 9:31AM May 05, 2010