Book Review: Delivered by Matt Fradd
During one of my Lenten parish missions, the pastor of the parish gave me a copy of this book. Delivered is an excellent book which shares nine testimonies of men and women who have been delivered from sexual addiction, in particular, addiction to pornography. Sometimes, a person is handed a tome or something that resembles a textbook — the material in the book might be excellent, but many people will never read it because it is daunting to try to read a textbook on a difficult subject. But a book of testimonies, stories, is different. We can all read stories. Many Catholics (and non-Catholics) have gained great spiritual fruit through reading books like Surprised by Truth (and its sequels) by Patrick Madrid, and Prodigal Daughters, by Donna Steichen. This little book by Matt Fradd is similar, but maybe on a much more important topic: The Possibility of Freedom from Addiction to Pornography.
In America today, there are literally MILLIONS of men and women, adults, teenagers, and, yes, even young children, who have been exposed to a dreadful spiritual poison. This poison of pornography makes it difficult for them to relate in healthy ways with other persons, and can lead to the breakdown of marriages and other family relationships. Pornography may be one of the most common grave sins (that is, mortal sins, when done with full knowledge and full consent of the will, when one understands the gravity of the evil involved) committed in America today — and maybe in much of the rest of the world as well. What to do about it? How can a person break free of this very addictive substance? Matt Fradd and his contributors address these very questions — through their own powerful stories of addiction and the quest, and long journey, to freedom. Not only do they tell their stories, but they tell us the means that they used — God’s grace, prayer and a strong sacramental life are central, but not the only means — to finally break free from their addiction. This book is a book of hope: you are NOT ALONE in this struggle. Freedom and Peace is possible. Here are the keys to freedom and peace.
I would like to highly recommend this little book to anyone who is, or has struggled in the past, with pornography addiction. It can truly be a life-changing read!
— Fr. Ben J. Cameron, C.P.M.