Playboy Vs. The Pope
24August 12, 2013 by mattfradd
In this short post I want to contrast two quotations. The first is an excerpt from Playboy magazine in 1953, and the second is from Blessed John Paul II.
While pornographers often portray themselves as adult and gentlemanly, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Vice is cowardice (cowardice is a vice!) and Virtue is manly! (it even comes from the latin root “vir” meaning man!)
The following quotations make that abundantly clear.
Playboy
“All sophisticated playboys are interested in virginity. . . . Most men realize that virginity is an unpleasant little matter to be disposed of early in life . . . [in taking her virginity,] you are actually doing the girl a service.
Some may suggest that you are trying to deprive them of something—trying to take from them a cherished possession. This is nonsense. Actually, you are giving them a new freedom—a means of enjoying life more fully. . . . Some difficulties have arisen because of the confusion (in female minds) between virginity and purity. The two have nothing to do with one another, and it is important that you point this out at the proper moment. Thus, armed with our conviction, we are ready to begin.
First, of course, we must select a suitable subject. . . . Once we’ve found out subject, we are ready for the approach…. [don’t bother with non-virgins because] it robs you of the special pleasure of spreading the good news—and that after all is what this article is all about.”
– “Virginity,” Playboy (December 1953).
Bl. Pope John Paul II
“A man is capable of fully accepting a woman’s gift of herself only if he’s fully conscious of the magnitude of the gift” and “It is the duty of every man to uphold the dignity of every woman.”
-Blessed Pope John Paul II
Look at your life. Notice your daily choices. Who are you becoming? A pimp or a Protector? A Saint or a Sleaze-ball?
Isn’t it time to step it up a notch?
matt fradd 
Wow! I’d heard comparisons between Hefner and JP2 before but this is nuts! I can’t believe they actually admit to this and then try and make it out to be a good thing… speechless…
More, Matt. Give us more great words from John Paul II !
Great! Thank you!
This was a great commentary. Thank you and God bless.
When I was reading what playboy wrote I literally shuddered from the evil permeating off my iPhone screen. I cannot believe the rouse that satan as placed over our society. Satan is actively attacking our virginity and purity and he makes it sound like he is doing us a service. This is powerfully stuff and I want to thank you for your service to God.
God bless!
This one works quite nicely:
“The mission of every man is the dignity of every woman. The mission of every woman is the integrity of every man.” -Pope John Paul II
Boom!
“…we must select a suitable subject.” That says it all for Playboy. Women are reduced to things that only serve to satisfy a man’s desire. Meanwhile JP II reminds us of the dignity of women.
This is a great post, Matt! You’re right, it is time to step it up a notch. I’d like to ask if you could pray for me that I can actually start being a real man. God bless, Matt!
I stumbled across this page and all i have to say is…Ha really? An article from 1953 is your comparison? I can also find you articles where doctors said smoking was good for you or the mentally challenged could be cured! Come into 2013 and stop being such closed minded people. Don’t pick and choose what parts of the bible to follow to make your arguments in your favor, because if you followed it completely, half the world would be stoned to death.
Ron,
Actually, as awful as this quote from Playboy is, it is tame compared to the view of women represented in today’s pornography. As a man I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that you actually know this firsthand. The darkness that a person can plunge into through sexual outlets on the internet defies description. I say this as someone who used to be there, and I have met so many men now who are struggling with sex addictions in one form or another that it has been staggering. The truly evil part of the quote, and quite prevalent today, is the reality that people degrade themselves and others and yet to convince themselves that it is actually a greater good. A freeing of the mind and body. I tell you Ron, it was only after God freed me from that addiction that I realized how enslaved I had been. It was like walking out into the sunlight after having been in the cellar for years, and having forgotten that there was such a thing as sunlight. You might feel that Christians are bound in ignorance by ancient dusty rules, but in fact submitting myself to a higher view of my own sexuality was the beginning, the first joyful taste of the sun on my face. Words are so inadequate. I wish I could express it in a way that would fully express the difference.
As for the statement about choosing what parts of the bible to follow, it is simply a matter of more fully understanding the meaning of the new covenant through Jesus Christ. This very issue is laid out masterfully by Paul in both Galatians and Romans. I would recommend a reading of Galatians with someone who can study it with you. If you live anywhere in the area of DC/MD/VA I will personally offer to study with you.
God Bless,
Chris.
Quote:
“Actually, as awful as this quote from Playboy is, it is tame compared to the view of women represented in today’s pornography.”
Just from an objective standpoint, pornography actually displays both women AND men in negative lights and it is unclear as to just how often this occurs for both sexes separately.
While it’s fairly easy to assume that women are treated worse, there is a clear societal lack of understanding for abuse of men in general. In essence, if “addressing pornography” is the goal, it should be addressed as something potentially demeaning for both sexes, not just females. As a segue, this has a direct correlation to how people view domestic abuse scenarios and child custody cases where women come out on top almost all the time, even if they were the abusive partner/parent in the relationship.
But also, there’s been a massive cultural shift since the 50’s (good or bad depending on which side of the aisle you’re on), so it really is unfair to be comparing quotes from 60 years ago to those from just 10 years ago. For example, there’s a reason why psychologists are not quick to always embrace everything that Sigmund Freud stated.
No question, men are also portrayed negatively, and both men and women are abused in the pornographic industry. Not only that, but women are increasingly becoming significant consumers of pornography, and sex addiction is rising dramatically among women. I have seen both sides of this equation and it’s destructiveness in the lives of both men and women.
I still think the comparison is still valid. For one thing, although the quotes are separated in time the two men were of the same generation having been born only six years apart, and furthermore are representing two opposite views of the same issue: the meaning and value of virginity and the human being in relation to sex. If anything, while many people today might object to the way Hefner expressed it, the core idea that virginity isn’t particularly valuable is more in keeping with modern viewpoints on sex even though it was expressed earlier in time. In fact, I think it would be fair to read from this quote that Hefner believed (and I expect still does) that reserving sex for the marriage bed alone is the product of ignorance. Does this seem out of touch with the common modern view that sex before and outside of marriage is beneficial and healthy?
Still, I largely agree with your main points, but the key takeaway should be that pornography is horrifically destructive on human lives and relationships, and a healthy view of sex and human value that is rooted in God’s truth is desperately needed. The Church needs to not only help people understand the true cost associated with sexuality expressed apart from God’s plan, but build in the body of Christ a positive, healthy and covenantal view of sexuality.
As a side note, Christopher West has done extensive work trying to help the everyday person understand the full beauty and meaning of John Paul’s work: “Man and Woman He Created Them”. I just picked up one of his introductory books yesterday and my wife and I are going to read it together. I haven’t read it yet, so while I can’t review it I would encourage others to check it out on his website or in the reviews on Amazon.
http://www.christopherwest.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=christopher+west
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.. !!
THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE
“Tell all people that never is a man more manly, then when he bends his knees before God.” ! ~ Virgin Mary
Thanks Matt
There is no sense comparing what hef is saying to the pope is saying. Hef is evil, trully he is. On the other hand the pope is the head of 2 billion catholic strong religion that is supposed to be good.
Matt, I know this is a special ministry of yours. I just wanted to say keep up the good work. We need more men to be open and willing to blow the doors off of this darkness. I am open about my own story with men that I meet because the adversary thrives on the shame flowing out of degradation to silence men and women and keep them quietly bound. I urge men and women who have been freed by the Lord from this bondage to be an instrument in the hand of the Lord to free others.
I will pray that our Lord will richly bless you in this work my friend.
Chris.
Amazing… Loved it!
Which one helped hide a huge child rape ring?
i can’t believe that any magazine would say such a devilish thing. i’m blown away.
We pray God frees those enslaved by porn and sex
Reblogged this on Autumn Leaves and commented:
Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. A little honest research into the leadership of the Catholic church will reveal that they have always been and always will be far more immoral, depraved and heinous then Hugh Hefner ever thought or even tried to be.