The Joy of Sexual Values
JOHN LEO Support for legal abortion is slipping in the U.S. It also appears that the high divorce rate and liberated lifestyles of the boomer generation may now be producing more cautious, conservative attitudes among the young. Generation X-ers basically believe the baby boomers went too far with their lifestyle, taking it to the brink. […]
The Immorality of Sterilization
FR. WILLIAM SAUNDERS Why does the Church teach that sterilization is wrong? Before addressing the morality of sterilization, we must first remember that each person is a precious human being made in God’s image and likeness with both a body and a soul. Vatican II’s Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World asserted, “Man, though […]
The How and Why of Natural Family Planning
MARY SHIVANANDAN What is natural family planning, how does it work, and how easy is it to learn and practice? “Natural family planning.” No, it’s not the old calendar “rhythm” method just being peddled under a new name. It ordinarily does not require long periods of sexual abstinence. And it’s not “Vatican Roulette,” the nickname […]
The Greatest Misconception
Dr. RICHARD WETZEL, M.D. Healthy sexual relationships are the result of healthy choices, which must be based on reality. Problems arise when people base their attitudes on falsehoods and distortions. Therefore, while we will ultimately take a very positive look at human sexuality, we must begin somewhat negatively: we must investigate and clear away the […]
The Clarifying Light of Humanae Vitae
MARY CLAIRE KENDALL Twelve years ago this summer, Tina Turner belted out her song about “love,” asking, What’s love got to do, got to do with it? What’s love but a sweet old-fashioned notion? Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?” Her question is a fitting commentary on the current state of […]
The Christian View of Sex: A Time for Apologetics, not Apologies
JANET SMITH Few Christians have not been deeply affected by the saturation of modern culture with a view of sexuality radically opposed to the Christian view and many have begun to lose sight of the understanding of sexuality advanced by their own tradition. This article is a brilliant apologetic for the Christian view of sex […]
“The Church Becomes the Basis of Our Hope”
Bishop Jean Laffitte, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Address to Couple to Couple League. August 2010. Introduction It is apt and proper to acknowledge with gratitude at the beginning of this talk the great initiative of the Couple to Couple League to make its members more aware of the duties of the Pontifical Council for the Family. […]
Talking Frankly about Ecological Breastfeeding
Kate Wicker I’m reading books to my older girls when my 16 month old starts opening and closing her chubby hands (the sign for “milk”; lest you be too impressed, she knows about four signs: “book,” “more,” “milk,” and “please,” all the important things in life). “Maa! Maa!” (her word for milk) she says emphatically, hands […]
Talk to Kids about Sex, Love, and Character
THOMAS LICKONA As parents and educators, we worry about many areas of our children’s decision-making — sex, drugs, drinking, drinking and driving — where the wrong choices can carry a high cost. But we sense that they are most vulnerable, most at risk emotionally as well as physically, in the sexual area of their lives. […]
Supporting Parents, the Primary Educators and Protectors of Their Children
Edmund P. Adamus Many parents find providing formation for their children in the area of Christian sexuality understandably challenging, but it need not be so daunting. Thanks to an ever increasing awareness of Blessed John Paul II’s catechesis of Human Love in the Divine Plan (more popularly referred to as theology of the body) more and […]