Sioux City woman promotes White Ribbon Campaign

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
September 22, 2005

As part of Respect Life Month in October, people are asked to wear a white ribbon in support of White Ribbon Against Pornography.

The White Ribbon Against Pornography (WRAP) campaign is intended to educate the public about the extent of the pornography problem and about what can legally be done to fight back against the large amount of obscenity.

As the family commissioner for Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, Judy Meyers feels the need to make people aware of WRAP, especially the people of her parish, Nativity Parish in Sioux City. She has made several white ribbons and plans to distribute them in her parish.

"I think it is something that is definitely part of respect life and so I want to continue it," said Meyers. "I am doing what I can in my parish, and I want to encourage other parishes to do something."

Ribbons are passed out once a year. She noted that it encourages her when a car goes by with a white ribbon.

"It seems like a minor item, but I think it has more value than meets the eye," said Meyers. "I think this is an important social value at this time."

Meyers believes it is important to provide an awareness of pornography because "it is so available on the internet. It affects people's lives so much. The difficulties with pornography are that (one) the dignity of the child of God is lost when a person becomes an object of lust. The second problem is that pornography is addictive and ruins a life the way any addiction would."

"I don't come in touch with a lot of pornography myself, thank goodness, but I am told that there is a lot available on the internet. I have not been involved in that or looked for that. I consider that a blessing," said Meyers.

According to the American Family Association Journal, pornography is common among child molesters. "We have never found one case of child sexual abuse where the predator did not use or have in his possession pornography," cited the journal.

"Morality in Media has been promoting the display of white ribbons as a symbol to encourage each of us to avoid and to object pornography of any form," said Meyers. "In conjunction with the sanctity of life day Oct. 2, I urge you to find and wear a white ribbon during the month of October."

Morality in Media, a newsletter, provided suggestions of other things people can do for WRAP other than wearing a white ribbon. A few of the suggestions include making complaints about violations of obscenity laws; making sure community leaders know about harmful effects of pornography; making complaints to local businesses that distribute pornography and showing appreciation to local businesses that refuse to distribute pornography.