‘Safe Haven’ Sunday focuses on family relationships

As we enter into the Lenten season, God calls us to an honest, grace-filled assessment of our weakness and sins. The Church calls us to prayer, fasting and almsgiving, which lead us to a conversion of heart and unite us to the love of Christ.

 

With the technological advances in our culture and a growing awareness of the dangers that come with this, we as a Church are called to protect and promote the need for strong relationships within the family. When a family is truly connected, they are more aware of the ways in which their children and grandchildren are struggling, especially in regards to the effects of exposure to dangerous online content and pornography.

 

On this first Sunday of Lent, we in the Archdiocese of New Orleans invite all parents, parishes, schools and organizations to learn more about this common struggle and how we can protect and provide healing for our loved ones, especially our children.
 

Can you talk about what has been done under the “Safe Haven” program?
 

This is the third year we are offering Safe Haven Sunday, and the results have been very positive. We as an archdiocese have worked with a group called Covenant Eyes to prepare a book specifically for our local area, which helps parents develop ways to make their homes a safe haven.

 

The term “safe haven” is taken from a document on the issue of pornography – “Create in Me a Clean Heart” – which was written by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Every home is meant to be a safe haven for kids and for families against the effects of the culture of pornography. This is very much a pro-life issue. We’ve asked all of our parishes to address this issue and make resources available for parents. One way has been through distributing a book that we have written in collaboration with Covenant Eyes. This is the third and final year we will be distributing a book. The first year’s book was titled “Equipped,” which focused on helping parents understand the nature of the digital world we live in.

 

Last year, the book was titled "Confidence,” which emphasized the necessity for parents to have difficult but vital conversations with their children about sexuality and some of the dangers in the digital world. This year’s book is entitled “Connected,” and its focus is on building strong family relationships. That is the key to providing a safe haven in the home and setting up an environment in which families can talk about the issue and navigate difficult situations. Those books are free to anyone who wants one, and a free e-book version will be available in the coming weeks.

 

What are some of the resources provided by the archdiocese to help individuals who are struggling with pornography or to help families deal with someone who is struggling?
 

We have worked closely with Covenant Eyes, which is a leading faith-based group that provides not only resources but an accountability program for those who are struggling with pornography. Covenant Eyes also has collaborated with us on our local website – www.cleanheartnola.com – which has some of the best local and national resources available, including a list of speakers, Catholic counselors who can handle this issue with different age groups, articles and trainings for parents, educators and clergy. It’s a great clearing house of information.

 

Individuals also can contact our Office of Marriage and Family Life at (504) 861-6243 or [email protected]. For men struggling with pornography, we offer the My House Men’s Group, which is a confidential, Catholic, 12-step accountability group. Information is available at (985) 640-7437. The Catholic Counseling Service, which has counseling for individuals age 13 and older, can be reached at (504) 861-6245.

There are also resources both for women whose family members are struggling with pornography or who themselves are struggling. Contact Gary LeBlanc at (985) 640-7437 or [email protected].
 

Have all these efforts been effective?
 

I believe we have laid a very solid foundation in making people aware that this is not just a side issue. It has become a central issue affecting all families, parishes, schools and organizations. We need to be able to talk about this in some way and bring this challenging issue to prayer, especially in the family. These are difficult but necessary conversations.
 

Questions for Archbishop Aymond may be sent to [email protected].