Morality in Media
Encyclopedia
Morality in Media, Inc. (MIM) is an American
non-profit organization that was established in New York
in 1962. MIM seeks to raise awareness about the harms of pornography
and other forms of obscenity
on individuals, families and society. MIM also works through constitutional means to curb traffic in obscenity and uphold standards of decency in media. The president is Patrick A. Trueman.
, Rabbi Julius Neumann, and Rev. Robert Wiltenburg (a Lutheran pastor) as a neighborhood organization under the name Operation Yorkville. They were soon joined by Rev. Constantine Volaitis of the Greek Orthodox Church
.
. A report was submitted in 1970 that said all "adult" obscenity laws should be repealed. Fr. Hill co-authored a minority report describing the Commission's report as a "Magna Carta
for the pornographers"http://www.illinoisfamily.org/archives/contentview.asp?c=29569 with another Commission member, Dr. Winfrey Link. The U.S. Supreme Court recognized the Hill-Link minority report in upholding obscenity laws in 1973.
funded MIM's review of citizen-generated obscenity complaints submitted to MIM's ObscenityCrimes.org website. 67,000 of the complaints deemed legitimate under the program had resulted in no obscenity prosecutions as of August 2007. The grants were created by Congressional earmarks
by U.S. Representative Frank Wolf of Virginia, and awarded through the DOJ's Bureau of Justice Assistance
, Office of Justice Programs
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
non-profit organization that was established in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1962. MIM seeks to raise awareness about the harms of pornography
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
and other forms of obscenity
Obscenity
An obscenity is any statement or act which strongly offends the prevalent morality of the time, is a profanity, or is otherwise taboo, indecent, abhorrent, or disgusting, or is especially inauspicious...
on individuals, families and society. MIM also works through constitutional means to curb traffic in obscenity and uphold standards of decency in media. The president is Patrick A. Trueman.
Founding
MIM was launched by an interfaith group of clergy in the Upper Eastside of Manhattan (NYC) in 1962 after grade school children were caught with hardcore pornography. MIM was first formed by Father Morton A. HillMorton A. Hill
Father Morton A. Hill, S.J. was a leader of the campaign against pornography in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He was one of the founders of Morality in Media, which was created in 1962 to fight pornography. So prominent was the Jesuit priest on the issue, President Lyndon B...
, Rabbi Julius Neumann, and Rev. Robert Wiltenburg (a Lutheran pastor) as a neighborhood organization under the name Operation Yorkville. They were soon joined by Rev. Constantine Volaitis of the Greek Orthodox Church
Greek Orthodox Church
The Greek Orthodox Church is the body of several churches within the larger communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity sharing a common cultural tradition whose liturgy is also traditionally conducted in Koine Greek, the original language of the New Testament...
.
Hill-Link minority report
In 1968, Father Hill, a president of MIM until death in 1985, was appointed to serve on the President's Commission on Obscenity and Pornography by President Lyndon B. JohnsonLyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
. A report was submitted in 1970 that said all "adult" obscenity laws should be repealed. Fr. Hill co-authored a minority report describing the Commission's report as a "Magna Carta
Magna Carta
Magna Carta is an English charter, originally issued in the year 1215 and reissued later in the 13th century in modified versions, which included the most direct challenges to the monarch's authority to date. The charter first passed into law in 1225...
for the pornographers"http://www.illinoisfamily.org/archives/contentview.asp?c=29569 with another Commission member, Dr. Winfrey Link. The U.S. Supreme Court recognized the Hill-Link minority report in upholding obscenity laws in 1973.
Activities
MIM's current campaigns include:- The Coalition for the War on Illegal Pornography - a bi-partisan coalition of more than 115 national, state and local groups.
- Pornography Harms
- The Safe Library Project
- Close "The Playboy Club" on NBC
- Be Aware: PORN HARMS National Awareness Campaign
- White Ribbon Against Pornography week.
Funding
Annual U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) grants of $150,000 in the 2005 and 2006 federal budgetsUnited States federal budget
The Budget of the United States Government is the President's proposal to the U.S. Congress which recommends funding levels for the next fiscal year, beginning October 1. Congressional decisions are governed by rules and legislation regarding the federal budget process...
funded MIM's review of citizen-generated obscenity complaints submitted to MIM's ObscenityCrimes.org website. 67,000 of the complaints deemed legitimate under the program had resulted in no obscenity prosecutions as of August 2007. The grants were created by Congressional earmarks
Earmark (politics)
In United States politics, an earmark is a legislative provision that directs approved funds to be spent on specific projects, or that directs specific exemptions from taxes or mandated fees...
by U.S. Representative Frank Wolf of Virginia, and awarded through the DOJ's Bureau of Justice Assistance
Bureau of Justice Assistance
The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, within the United States Department of Justice.On Monday, December 13, 2010, President Barack Obama sent to the U.S. Senate the nomination of Denise Ellen O'Donnell, of New York, to be the Director of the Bureau, in...
, Office of Justice Programs
Office of Justice Programs
The Office of Justice Programs is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that focuses on crime prevention through research and development, assistance to state and local law enforcement and criminal justice agencies through grants, and assistance to crime victims.The major bureaus...
.