LONDON, Ontario, December 22, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Two Ontario brothers who believe that pornography is “evil” “slavery” and “a big-time offence against God” have started a protest against a local porn shop in their city.
“I want to be out there and tell people that there is a God and pornography offends him and if you keep using it, you are risking going to hell. God wants you to turn from this. This stuff is not a correct use of freedom, it only leads to slavery,” said Michael Spriet to LifeSiteNews.
Twin brothers Michael and David Spriet, 35, work full time at a factory’s shipping and receiving department. After taking part in London, Ontario’s recent 40 Days For Life Campaign and protesting against abortion, the brothers became inspired to create their own protest against porn.
On the last Friday of November, at 3pm., which Catholics revere as the “hour of mercy,” the brothers and 10 like-minded individuals targeted Sin City Adult Superstore on Wellington Street, a porn shop located about a five minute drive from the downtown core. The protesters held newly crafted signs, prayed the Catholic prayer of the Rosary, and talked with anyone who approached them with questions.
“Pornography ruins lives!”, “Pornography hurts everyone!”, and “Pornography is a sin!” the signs read.
Michael says he believes that the group’s physical presence standing against what he calls the “lie” of pornography was the most powerful part of their message.
“We do get people swearing at us or screaming at us, but other people honk their horns and give us the thumbs up. We get both sides,” said Michael.
As a young man more than 15 years ago, Michael once struggled with pornography. He remembers his conscience contradicting him at those times, but says he ignored it.
After watching a Christmas film called The Fourth Wise Man, the young man experienced a longing for God that pierced him to the core of his being. After opening his heart to God, he remembers experiencing what he called the “deep peace of Christ.” Michael remembers telling his mom at that time that all he wanted to do was to follow God’s will for his life.
Michael is convinced that if someone had approached him during his struggle with porn and challenged him on aiding the abuse of women through consuming porn, he would have listened to them. “As soon as I discerned that it was a sin and that it hurt God and other people, I stopped using it,” he said.
Michael is grateful that God has been so good to him. He says he now wants to return the favor by reaching out to people caught in the snare of a pornography addiction. “I just want to reach that one person. That makes it worthwhile,” he said.
The brothers believe that pornography is “objectively wrong.” Their conviction makes them willing to stand boldly before others saying “this is wrong, this will hurt you.”
“Pornography ruins lives and leads to slavery. We are our brother’s keeper and want what’s best for him. Porn is never what is best for him. The highest and best thing we want for someone is heaven. We don’t want anyone to go to hell. So, if we love someone, we tell them the truth, even though it may be hard to do. Love sets us free to do that.”
The brothers believe that so many people are addicted to porn because “they don’t care about God and they don’t want to live for him.” Such people, they maintain, have sex as their god. “This makes them think they can do whatever they want to do for pleasure, moving from one pleasure to the next in our culture that is saturated with sex.”
Porn addicts “are replacing God with porn,” said Michael. “I want all of them to give God a chance and to see how awesome he is to live for. They don’t know what they are missing. They don’t know what they can have with God.”
The brothers are convinced that porn addicts can break the chain of their addiction, but they cannot do it alone. “Repent. Return to Christ. If you are Catholic, go to confession. Start putting God in your life. He has to be part of every decision you make in your life. Turn to the God who made you and start living for him and you’ll be happy.”
“God is merciful. If you are sincere and want to start again, God will give you another chance. God always forgives someone who is serious, repentant, and who wants to come back to him.”
To join the brothers in their protest, e-mail David or Michael Spriet: [email protected]