Exxxotica event includes religious lesson

MIAMI BEACH, Fla., April 20 (UPI) -- This year's Exxxotica adult-entertainment event in Miami Beach, Fla., was a perfect site to fight against online pornography, a former youth pastor said.

Craig Gross, a youth minister from Southern California, said he and several volunteers used this weekend's event to spread information about the spread of pornography on the Internet, The Miami Herald reported Sunday.

"It's a little light in a dark room," the 32-year-old said. "I feel like we're planting a lot of seeds."

Gross, who has earned the nickname the Porn Pastor in certain circles, has been spearheading the fight against online pornography across the United States.

In addition to appearances at events such as Saturday's Exxxotica convention, Gross engages in scheduled debates with noted porn star Ron Jeremy at U.S. colleges.

The former pastor said he decided to actively fight against the increased mainstream growth of pornography after he recognized how little traditional religion was doing to stem such growth.

'"They've never gotten on the field,'' Gross told the Herald about his fellow religious leaders. "Shouldn't we go where the problem's at?''