Morton A. Hill
Encyclopedia
Father Morton A. Hill, S.J.
(1917-1985) 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. Johnson
appointed Father Hill to the President's Commission on Obscenity and Pornography.
Believing that the Commission was stacked towards First Amendment
free speech advocates, Father Hill and another clergyman on the Commission, Dr. Winfrey C. Link, issued the Hill-Link Minority Report rebutting the conclusions of the majority report, which held that pornography should be decriminalized as there were no links between it and criminal behavior.
Issued in 1970, the majority report was rejected by both President Richard Nixon
and the United States Congress
. The Hill-Link Report, which recommended maintaining anti-obscenity statutes, was read into the record of both the United States Senate
and the United States House of Representatives
. It was cited by the Burger Court in its 1973 obscenity decisions, including Miller v. California
.
According to the Morality in Media site, Father Hill was influential in the Reagan Administration
's efforts against pornography. In March 1983, he headed a coalition of groups spearheading the anti-pornography movement
that met with President Reagan at the White House.
Father Hill and his allies recommended that the President appoint an anti-pornography czar to coordinate the federal government's efforts to crack down on porn. The Morality in Media site states, "As a result of this meeting, a White House Working Group on Pornography was formed in June of 1983, and in December, President Reagan addressed the nation's U.S. Attorneys and called for tighter enforcement of the laws."http://www.obscenitycrimes.org/hillbiog.cfm
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
(1917-1985) was a leader of the campaign against pornography
Anti-pornography movement
The term anti-pornography movement is used to describe those who argue that pornography has a variety of harmful effects, such as encouragement of human trafficking, desensitization, pedophilia, dehumanization, sexual exploitation, sexual dysfunction, and inability to maintain healthy sexual...
in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He was one of the founders of Morality in Media
Morality in Media
Morality in Media, Inc. 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...
, which was created in 1962 to fight pornography. So prominent was the Jesuit priest on the issue, President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon 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...
appointed Father Hill to the President's Commission on Obscenity and Pornography.
Believing that the Commission was stacked towards First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
free speech advocates, Father Hill and another clergyman on the Commission, Dr. Winfrey C. Link, issued the Hill-Link Minority Report rebutting the conclusions of the majority report, which held that pornography should be decriminalized as there were no links between it and criminal behavior.
Issued in 1970, the majority report was rejected by both President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
and the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. The Hill-Link Report, which recommended maintaining anti-obscenity statutes, was read into the record of both the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. It was cited by the Burger Court in its 1973 obscenity decisions, including Miller v. California
Miller v. California
Miller v. California, was an important United States Supreme Court case involving what constitutes unprotected obscenity for First Amendment purposes...
.
According to the Morality in Media site, Father Hill was influential in the Reagan Administration
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
's efforts against pornography. In March 1983, he headed a coalition of groups spearheading the anti-pornography movement
Anti-pornography movement
The term anti-pornography movement is used to describe those who argue that pornography has a variety of harmful effects, such as encouragement of human trafficking, desensitization, pedophilia, dehumanization, sexual exploitation, sexual dysfunction, and inability to maintain healthy sexual...
that met with President Reagan at the White House.
Father Hill and his allies recommended that the President appoint an anti-pornography czar to coordinate the federal government's efforts to crack down on porn. The Morality in Media site states, "As a result of this meeting, a White House Working Group on Pornography was formed in June of 1983, and in December, President Reagan addressed the nation's U.S. Attorneys and called for tighter enforcement of the laws."http://www.obscenitycrimes.org/hillbiog.cfm
Sources
- Obscenity.crimes.org, "FR. MORTON A. HILL, S.J.: Defender of the Public Decencies"