Pastors Who Look at Porn: Should They Be Fired or Forced to Resign? Shocking Survey Results Spark Major Questions.

Among the findings in a landmark pornography study released this week was the notion that 41 percent of adult Christians surveyed believe that preachers should be asked to resign or fired if they look at porn.

The study, titled, “The Porn Phenomenon” and commissioned by Josh McDowell Ministry, found that 21 percent of youth pastors and 14 percent of pastors involved in the study are currently struggling with porn use.

Perhaps more startling, 12 percent of youth pastors believe they are addicted, as do five percent of pastors.

Barna Group/Josh McDowell Ministry

Overall, 36 percent of youth pastors said that they have not struggled with porn, but 64 percent said that it was either a past (43 percent) or a current (21 percent) struggle.

Likewise, 44 percent of pastors said that they have not struggled with the issue, though 57 percent said that it was either a past (43 percent) or a current (14 percent) struggle.

In the end, most pastors report a negative impact on their ministry as a result of porn consumption.

"The vast majority of faith leaders who struggle with porn say this has significantly affected their ministry in a negative manner," the report read. "It is not clear why, but youth pastors are twice as likely as pastors to report this kind of unfavorable impact."

It's also worth noting that there's a big difference among pastors and adult Christians who are not church leaders when it comes to how preachers who struggle with porn use should be handled. While four-in-10 Christian adults want them to resign or be fired, only eight percent of pastors feel the same.

Instead, faith leaders believe that Christian pastors who face this struggle should seek counseling and accountability, according to the results.

Barna Group/Josh McDowell Ministry

As TheBlaze previously reported, the sweeping porn study found other troubling trends as well.

Nearly half of young people are actively seeking pornography weekly or more frequently — and more than one-in-four individuals between the ages of 25 and 30 first viewed smut before hitting puberty. 

Read the entire study here and learn more about McDowell’s four-day “Set Free Summit” that will address the issue of porn in April.

What do you think? Should pastors be fired or forced to resign if they are found to be using porn? Take the poll:

(H/T: Christian Post)

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Front page image via Shutterstock.com.