Michigan church criticized over "Porn Weekend"

SUMMIT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - Westwinds Community Church has run into criticism for a widely publicized "Porn Weekend" to promote an anti-pornography campaign.

Church spokesman Randy Shafer told The Jackson Citizen Patriot that Porn Weekend would educate the community on the effects of the sex trade in magazines, movies, TV and the Internet and offer help for those caught up in it.

Shafer said "pornography is such a huge issue and usually is not discussed in church." He said Westwinds sought to "hit it head-on and get people talking about it."

The program included talks by Craig Gross of the anti-pornography www.xxxchurch.com and showing of an R-rated documentary on the industry the church said wasn't suitable for children.

The church first created a stir by renting three billboards to promote the event. The billboards later came down. Angela Kitchen of Family and Minor Empowerment said the intention was good but the billboards went too far.