| 11/5/2008 6:31:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| On Oct. 25 in Beltsville protestors (from left to right) Ann Brodeur and Ty Roach, both members of Maryland Coalition Against Pornography (MCAP), and Peggy Cairns, the president of MCAP, stand outside of an adult video and lingerie store to promote the dangers of pornography. Last week, MCAP observed the annual White Ribbons Against Pornography week. |
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Protesters rally to close adult book store and denounce pornography
LAURA JAMISON
Catholic Standard staff
About 30 protesters stood in the cold and rain on Oct. 25 to denounce pornography and rally for the closure of the Wholesale Lingerie and Gift Center on Route 1 in Beltsville.
The protesters gathered on the sidewalk across from the store on the first day of the annual White Ribbons Against Pornography week held from Oct. 25 to Nov. 1. Peggy Cairns, president of the Maryland Coalition Against Pornography, said she hoped the protest will promote awareness about the harmful effects the store has on the local community.
Cairns said she believes the store is in violation of a Prince George's County statute that regulates how long such an establishment may be open for business each day.
Complaints aginst the store also include an allegation that it violates a zoning ordinance requiring it be at least 1,000 feet from any property in a residential zone.
Prince George's Councilman Thomas Dernoga (D-Laurel) told the local media that in the past the council has unsuccessfully tried to enforce the ordinance. In 1995 the Supreme Court upheld a Fourth Circuit Court ruling that the ordinance is in violation of free speech and the first amendment, he said. The ordinance has not been revised since this ruling.
Leda Rose Rodriguez, a Beltsville resident who participated in the protest, said she loves her community, but the adult store is "an embarrassment" and a danger to children.
"By turning a blind eye I feel like we are condoning it. Rise up and do something about it," she said.
Protesters from The King's Men, a Catholic men's ministry operating in Pennsylvania that promotes Godly male leadership, attended the protest.
Damian Wargo, The King's Men director of operations and one of the organization's founding members, said pornography does not help "build up these men as true leaders and providers."
"We have grown up in a culture that treats women as sexual objects ... and God made men so visually interested. Many Church men struggle with it (pornography)," he said. "It is hard for them to be in intimate and loving relationships because no woman wants to be with a man who is looking at pornography."
Cairns said pornography can cause increased marital stress.
"It gives men unrealistic expectations about what relationships ought to be," she said.
Wargo said within 15 minutes after the protesters arrived at the store the full parking lot had emptied out. He said Christians need to step out of their "comfort zone" and stand up for decency. Women are "exploited, abused and used," because of pornography, he noted.
Some Christians "feel like they will be judging, but we are inviting them to something better. ... we are asking them to hear us in charity and love," he said.
Cairns said "I hope we get the message out there to speak up. People have resigned to things like this, and they don't think it's important to talk anymore."
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