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DETROIT (ChurchMilitant.com) - A Catholic priest on social media has kicked off a prayer campaign against the scourge of pornography addiction.

In a Twitter thread, Fr. Cassidy Stinson talked about how he is "tired" of seeing pornography ruin so many people's lives.

"I'm tired of seeing so many souls caught in shame and isolation and despair," he said in a July 27 tweet. "I'm tired of the wounds it inflicts on our culture, on relationships, on families."

I’m tired of seeing so many souls caught in shame and isolation and despair.



I’m tired of the wounds it inflicts on our culture, on relationships, on families.



I’m tired of the way it makes our media, which ought to be vehicles of beauty, into cesspools of spiritual corruption. — Fr. Cassidy Stinson (@TheHappyPriest) July 28, 2019

Within 24 hours, the Twitter thread garnered about 100,000 views. There were retweets from notable Twitter accounts such as the Knights of Columbus and Charles Coulombe.

Father Stinson said elsewhere in the thread, "So, here's what I think we should do. We should pray, and sacrifice, and encourage one another in working to heal these wounds. We need to be praying *together* for this cause, because if you aren't personally struggling with this, I promise: many of your closest friends are."

Another tweet in Fr. Stinson's thread stated, "Honestly, it would be a beautiful sign of Christ's triumph to use the media that have become an occasion of sin for so many people to offer our intentions for their healing."

He went on, "I'll be sharing my own daily prayers to #BreakTheChains of pornography, and I'd love for you to join me."

Honestly, it would be a beautiful sign of Christ's triumph to use the media that have become an occasion of sin for so many people to offer our intentions for their healing.

The "Break the Chains" hashtag spread among Catholics on Twitter. Several priests cited the hashtag in reference to their Mass intentions.

I’m preparing to celebrate Mass soon. My intention: #breakthechains — Fr. Anthony Urban (@urbs42) July 29, 2019

Father Ambrose Dobrozsi of the archdiocese of Cincinnati tweeted on Monday, "Offered my Mass this morning for all struggling with pornography and masturbation."

He also offered words of encouragement, saying, "In this war against sin, all the angels and saints are on your side, praying for you. Jesus' victory over sin can be won anew in your life, in your body."

Offered my Mass this morning for all struggling with pornography and masturbation.



In this war against sin, all the angels and saints are on your side, praying for you. Jesus' victory over sin can be won anew in your life, in your body. With God's help, you can #BreakTheChains. — Father Ambrose Dobrozsi (@HoneyTongueMuse) July 29, 2019

A number of Catholics cited the hashtag as their prayer intention for the Rosary. A Third Order Franciscan brother tweeted out a photo of the Rosary with the caption, "Joining the movement to pray to break the chains of pornography for all who struggle."

Joining the movement to pray to #breakthechains of pornography for all who struggle. Thanks @TheHappyPriest for starting the movement https://t.co/hDkzUuO0MX — Bro Stephen Mary, TOR (@BroStephenMary) July 28, 2019

Likewise, a Twitter account called "Papal Bull" stated Monday, "It's time to #BreakTheChains of your addiction to pornography. I'll be praying my evening Rosary for all of those who enslaved to this modern plague. There is freedom to be found. You were made for so much more than this."

Day 2: It's time to #BreakTheChains of your addiction to pornography. I'll be praying my evening Rosary for all of those who enslaved to this modern plague. There is freedom to be found. You were made for so much more than this. pic.twitter.com/rDw1IF8oFd — The Papal Bull���� (@ShamelessPapist) July 29, 2019

Even a bishop has gotten in on the prayer initiative. Bishop Robert Reed, an auxiliary bishop in the archdiocese of Boston, tweeted Monday, "Offered my Rosary in the car for this intention, to #BreakTheChains of this addiction shackling so many."

Offered my Rosary in the car for this intention, to #BreakTheChains of this addiction shackling so many. Thanks to @TheHappyPriest for your inspiration. pic.twitter.com/SehVKcv223 — Bishop Robert Reed (@BpRobertReed) July 29, 2019

Pornography addiction is a rampant problem in the modern world, in part because the internet provides such easy access to porn.

For those working to overcome a habitual attachment to pornography and masturbation, it is often recommended that they commit themselves to prayer, spiritual reading and the sacraments, alongside combatting the addiction through psychological help, accountability and internet filters that block explicit content.

On the spiritual side, frequent confession is commonly recommended, as is daily Rosary. In the responses to Fr. Stinson's thread, multiple people recommended enrolling in the Angelic Warfare Confraternity.

Information on porn's harmful effects, porn-blocking internet filters and internet accountability systems are available through many organizations — Catholic and non-Catholic, religious and secular. Such organizations include Covenant Eyes, Fight the New Drug, Integrity Restored, The Porn Effect and Purity Is Possible.

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