AB 1946 — Pastor Talking Points
Protecting Children from Online Sexual Abuse
For use in sermons, Bible studies, or small group settings
PASTORAL FRAMING
God calls us to be voices for those who cannot speak for themselves. Proverbs 31:8-9 says, "Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the poor and needy." Children whose images are being exploited online often don't even know the abuse is happening — and the church has always been called to stand up for the vulnerable.
TALKING POINTS
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Child sexual abuse material — images of real children being harmed — is circulating on social media platforms right now. This isn't hypothetical. It's happening, and California law hasn't done enough to stop it.
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Current law requires social media companies to let users report these images, but the system has real gaps. Reports can take up to 30 days to review, reporting buttons are buried where no one can find them, and often only the child victim can file a report — even if that child doesn't know the content exists.
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AB 1946 closes those gaps. It lets any user report suspected abuse material, requires platforms to make reporting buttons easy to find, and cuts response time from 30 days down to 48 hours. Every hour those images stay online compounds the trauma of a real child.
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Psalm 82:3-4 calls us to "give justice to the weak and fatherless... rescue the weak and the needy." Accountability for powerful technology companies is one practical way that call gets answered in our generation.
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This bill has unanimous, bipartisan support — it passed the Assembly with zero opposition votes. Protecting children from sexual exploitation is something people of every background can agree on, and Christians should be leading that conversation.
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Matthew 18:6 records Jesus saying that anyone who causes a little one to stumble would be better off at the bottom of the sea. God takes the exploitation of children with absolute seriousness — and so should we.
HOW TO PRAY
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For the children: Pray for healing and justice for every child whose image has been exploited online. Ask God to bring them into the care of people who will protect and restore them.
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For lawmakers: Pray that AB 1946 continues to move forward and that California's leaders act swiftly to protect the most vulnerable. Ask God to give them wisdom and moral courage.
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For the church: Pray that we would not look away from hard realities, but instead be the community that advocates, supports survivors, and holds powerful institutions accountable.
DISCUSSION QUESTION
For small groups: What does it look like practically for our church family to be a community that "speaks up for those who cannot speak for themselves"? Are there ways we could better support children and families in our community who are vulnerable to exploitation?
CALL TO ACTION
This bill still needs to pass the State Senate. Encourage your congregation to contact their California State Senator and ask them to vote yes on AB 1946. To find your Senator and send a message, visit californiafamily.org. It takes less than five minutes and it matters more than you know.