Central Indiana Church Takes Part In 'Porn Sunday'

FISHERS, Ind. -- Pornography and church are two subjects not normally put together, but prominent church leaders contend that porn is a growing problem with churchgoers.

The Crux, a Fishers church, joined a nationwide movement Sunday to address the issue, a day they called "Porn Sunday," 6News' Cheryl Jackson reported.

Across the U.S., hundreds of churches talked about what some call America's dirty little secret. An estimated 40 million people visit porn sites daily, generating an estimated $6.2 billion for porn purveyors in the U.S. alone, according to Porn Sunday's organizers.

Porn Sunday is a movement started by two pastors from California who formed a church called xxxchurch.com, dubbed a Christian porn site.

"I know the Web site kind of throws some people off. My buddy, his neighbor was like, 'You teaching about porn in church or something?'" said Tony Williams.

The Crux's lead pastor, Daron Earlewine, said he wants to bring a subject often in the dark and put it out in the light.

"We're talking about pornography in church because it's a real life issue for real people, and that is what we are," Earlewine said.

Despite being the son of a pastor, Donny Paulding grew tired of what he called judgment and got swept up into porn addiction.

"When I was growing up in church, it was pretty judgmental and condescending. I grew to hate Christians," Paulding said. "Part of the reason I went into porn was to rub it in the faces of the people of my past."

Paulding eventually got involved with a church-sponsored recovery program and now speaks to church groups.

Organizers of Porn Sunday stressed that the pornography issue is not a struggle focused on Christian or non-Christian, but is something that affects all of humanity.

"It's something that everybody struggles with at some level," said Nicole Suter, who attends The Crux.

More than 200 churches all over the U.S. took part in Porn Sunday.