Church pulls Porn Weekend signs

Porn Weekend is still on, but the controversial billboards promoting it are down.

Westwinds Community Church of Summit Township created a stir last week when it placed three billboards around Jackson for “Porn Weekend” on Saturday and Sunday. They were rented through Monday.

They were stripped off and replaced early this week.

The advertisements — and a story in Saturday’s Citizen Patriot — created buzz, both for and against the unusual approach to draw people to an anti-pornography program.

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions,” said Angela Kitchen, a Jackson mother who said the church’s intent is admirable, but its tactic was misguided.

She is among residents scheduled to be interviewed by the “Current Affair” TV show, which picked up on the Citizen Patriot’s story.

Officials and members of the church at 1000 Robinson Road defend the billboards and this weekend’s program, citing the growth of pornography in magazines, movies, on TV and over the Internet.

The weekend events include presentations by Craig Gross, a founder of the Web site xxxchurch.com — billed as an anti-porn organization.

The church also will screen an R-rated documentary on the pornography industry, “Missionary Positions.” The documentary was filmed at a pornography convention, and is not suitable for children, officials said.

Children, instead, can watch “The Incredibles” at the church. Both movies are free.

The anti-porn message is the first in a four-week series designed to help people fight addictions to behavior that clashes with Christian beliefs.

Church spokesman Randy Shafer said earlier that Porn Weekend is meant to educate the community on the impact of the sex trade and to offer help for those caught up in it.

A schedule of events and information about the church are on westwinds.org, with links to xxxchurch.com.

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