Notre Dame Pres. Rejects Porn Ban, While Students Approve Filter at Catholic University of America

Countless students at the University of Notre Dame and the Catholic University of America asked their administrations to block pornography from the campus internet system.

More than 1,000 students, faculty and staff at the University of Notre Dame petitioned administrators in Oct. 2018 to enforce a porn filter on the campus’ Wi-Fi.

The Catholic Church teaches that pornography is “among the sins gravely contrary to chastity”.

The Catechism states that pornography is “a grave offense. Civil authorities should prevent the production and distribution of pornographic materials.” (CCC 2354)

Students at Notre Dame submitted a letter to the editor in Oct. 2018 requesting a porn filter.

The article entitled, “The men of Notre Dame request a porn filter,” said that a 2013 survey “showed that 63 percent of male Notre Dame students have viewed pornography on the university Wi-Fi network.”

The letter cited additional pornography statistics, its addictive and violent nature, and how it affects the brain.

The letter adds that “The Notre Dame Internet Compliance Policy” prohibits the access of pornographic material, but the university has not enforced this policy.”

After the men’s petition circulated, a CitizenGo petition generated 10,500 signatures when they delivered it to University President Rev. John I. Jenkins.

This was Notre Dame President Rev. John Jenkin’s response:

“Although we do not believe a mandatory filter is the best solution for us, we are taking steps to encourage students and others to adopt filters voluntarily,” Rev. Jenkins said.

CitizenGo then responded with an updated petition, explaining that the “‘voluntarily opt-in’ suggestion does nothing to resolve the issues at hand nor the original request to filter university WiFi from pornography and child pornography.”

Catholic University of America Students have also requested a porn filter.

Catholic News Agency reported that CUA’s Student Government Association passed a “Resolution for a Pornography Free Campus Network,” which would filter all pornography consumed through the campus’ wifi network.

The porn filter would block 200 of the campus’ most popularly-used pornographic websites.

They will submit this resolution to university administrators, “hereby requesting that the University take an outward stance on the use of pornography by prohibiting access to the top 200 pornography sites through the campus network.”

SGA President Jimmy Harrington said, “I am signing the Resolution not from purely religious or Catholic grounds, but because The Catholic University of America can and should exercise its rights to prohibit the use of pornography on the campus network.”

Alexandra Kilgore, another resolution sponsor, told CNA that she “was honestly shocked to learn that such a ban wasn’t already in place. Even my public high school blocked inappropriate content on its wi-fi, so I knew The Catholic University of America could do better.”

Kilgore also said that the resolution is “not intended to shame anyone.” She explained that “it demonstrates the Student Government Association’s commitment to the well-being of the student body and the University’s continued demonstration of the teachings of the Catholic Church.”

CUA Administrators “will consider” future ban

University spokesperson “No decision has been made on the ban, but the University is grateful to the SGA for bringing to our attention their desire that we ban pornography on the University network.”

The article also explains that university administrators “are grateful with the steps taken by the students on this particular issue and will consider the ban in the future.”