Dear Anonymous Believer,

I think we have to clear up some misconceptions. None of this is your fault but rather a lack of proper Catholic teaching you were probably never given.

All men and women have been created with both:

• an appetite to eat, for survival, and
  
• an appetite for sex, to propagate the next generation of people.
  

These appetites, especially for sex, can be strong at a young age. Both appetites are good and normal, but the intent of our sexual appetite should always be seen:

• within the context of sacramental marriage between one man and one woman within the Church, and
  
• the conjugal embrace between one man and one woman that, God willing, brings forth new life.
  

Hence the purpose of sexual love between a man and woman is two fold:

1. for babies, and
2. bonding

For this reason, any sexual acts outside the sacrament of marriage are sinful.

As far as pornography goes, the Catechism tells us:

CCC 2354 Pornography perverts the conjugal act, the intimate giving of spouses to each other. It does grave injury to the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others. It immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world and is a grave offense. Civil authorities should prevent the production and distribution of pornographic materials.

Having now given you a Catholic context, it should be clear that pornography should not be something you should be looking forward to, in the sense of eligibility, but something you should stay away from.

St. Paul talks, in several places in the Scriptures, about how our bodies of flesh wage war against our souls, which have just received the Body of Christ we receive each Sunday at Mass. This war from within will be with us until we are six feet under the ground: dead : )

Baptism, by imparting the life of Christ's grace, erases original sin and turns a man back towards God, but consequences for man's nature still persist in him after Baptism. This weakened nature which is inclined to evil is called "concupiscence" and summons him to a spiritual battle.

The very good news is:

1. Jesus understands every single struggle you go through from the time you are age 7 to the day you pass to eternal life or death.
   • Why?
     Because He was a man like us in all things, but sin.
     
     
2. As Catholics, we have been blessed to receive from Our Lord the Sacrament of Confession. I personally think this sacrament is way under utilized by both, practicing and non-practicing, Catholics. In the sacrament of Confession, Jesus speaks through the priest and absolves us of all our sins.
   
   And the best part is: it's so easy! A priest is usually at your local parish every Saturday afternoon. Just share with him your sexual struggles and do the best you can to stay away from these temptations. I've answered several questions on this topic over the past ten years and I can't think of one time where I haven't ended my answer by saying:
   
   
   Just don't do dumb things like receiving Holy Communion on Sunday, without first confessing any sexual sins you have struggled with in the past week.

As an 8th grader, I'm not sure how much of this will make sense to you, but as I said on my introductory YouTube video:

You may not always like our answers, but you will at least understand the practical reasons, why the Church teaches, what She teaches.

I hope this helps,

Mike