SEXUAL REVOLUTION :SEXUAL REVOLUTION AND COUNTER REVOLUTION Bukit Tiram House, 16th November 2008


Slide 2:Purity and chastity: habits that clean our hearts “Blessed are the pure in spirit for they shall see God”


Dignity of human person :Dignity of human person CCC 357 Being in the image of God the human individual possesses the dignity of a person, who is not just something, but someone. CREATED IN THE IMAGE & LIKENESS OF GOD. 1. self‑knowledge (intelligence) 2. freely giving himself (will) and entering into communion with other persons.


Human person is FREE :Human person is FREE Author and master of own acts (not slaves) Not just following instincts Need to make good use of freedom Self-control and self-giving to others Develop self commitment


Fashion self through actions :Fashion self through actions Inner fight for Good / Evil


Virtue ofHOLY PURITY :Virtue ofHOLY PURITY Virtue makes person a more complete person Virtue lead to true freedom: self dominion (not a slave of passions) Enables self-giving and loving more completely Enriches person, confirms inclination towards God (you shall see God)


Slide 7:The Virtue of Chastity Integrity Self-Mastery: Love and Charity n Not enslaved by passions Temperance Chastity: in celibacy; in matrimony


Slide 8:Male and Female He Created Them In God's image: capacity for love and communion Difference (man & woman) and complementarity Who is “more”: man or woman? Equal dignity


Man and woman :Man and woman Different characteristics are physiological - not through education or environment. Different affectivity. Way body is made affects spirit Gender moulds emotional and intellectual life of man and woman Feel, perceive reality, seek solutions to problems in different way


Feelings and will :Feelings and will How to practice purity? Balanced interaction between reason, will, passions Daily struggle Help of sacraments and spiritual guidance Enabled to act according to principles and values Be a person who determines the tone of his/her environment (fashion, conversations, etc). He /she does not follow what the majority do, but WHAT IS GOOD.


Areas of struggle :Areas of struggle Temperance and discipline in food and drink Rejection of material that is superficial, provocative or pornographic Reject material that fosters immoral lifestyles Overcome excessive concern about dress or figure Modesty in dress (both in public and in private)


Areas of struggle :Areas of struggle Dealing with boys (at school, parties, dates etc Decency in gestures (walking, sitting, standing, dancing?) Decency in conversations and jokes Courtship: prudence Danger of same sex attraction


ModestyProtect inner life :ModestyProtect inner life Sensations, thoughts, decisions and desires contribute to our inner life Refers not just to soul, but also to body Dress not just to serve needs of body, but also to help keep body private Modesty and sense of physical shame protect our inner life


Modesty: Preserve personal dignity :Modesty: Preserve personal dignity Involves clothes, care of appearance, gestures, conversations Taking good care of personal privacy, enriches Enriches own dignity Enriches dignity of others Fosters stability of families Promotes other goods that are signs of civilisation


Loss of sense of shame :Loss of sense of shame A clear sign of decadence in society Manifested by eroticism, pornography and permissiveness Devil: roaring lion


Slide 16:Evil brings unhappiness / Purity brings hapiness


Evil use of freedomsexual revolution :Evil use of freedomsexual revolution Original sin led to profound disorder / lack of harmony in each person Faculties of soul don’t easily direct and dominate lower faculties Feelings and passions are in disorder. Today we witness a sexual revolution, accelerated in the late 1960’s. Exaltation of “freedom” (licentiousness = do whatever you like)


Slide 18:Offences Against Chastity 1)Lust - disordered desire for or inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure 2)Masturbation - deliberate stimulation of genital organs to derive sexual pleasure 3)Fornication - carnal union between unmarried man and an unmarried woman 4)Pornography 5)Prostitution 6)Rape 7)Homosexual acts


VOCATION TO MARRIAGE :VOCATION TO MARRIAGE Marriage = love = self-donation = sacrifice


Complementarity for those called to a vocation in marriage :Complementarity for those called to a vocation in marriage Creating the human race in his own image . . .. God inscribed in the humanity of man and woman the vocation, and thus the capacity and responsibility, of love and communion”. “God created man in his own image . . . male and female he created them”; He blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply”; CCC 2331 Chastity also in marriage


PERSON: Body and Soul :PERSON: Body and Soul Soul and body form the unity of person


Offences against Marriage :Offences against Marriage Adultery - Offends two commandments: the commandment of justice and that of chastity. Divorce and separation Polygamy Incest Abuse of minors Free unions, homosexual unions and trial marriages


Early Predictions :Early Predictions Control the population crisis Reduce the number of unwed pregnancies and abortions Improve marriages


Evil use of freedom :Evil use of freedom Quiz (check one) Q: What has contributed the most good to our culture in the XX century? contraceptives cars computers T.V.s and V.C.R.s Contraception Contribution?


Catholics and Contraception :Catholics and Contraception Catholics 1960:66% did NOT contracept 66% 80% Catholics 1995:80% contracept 34% did contracept


Evil use of freedom :Evil use of freedom Casual, Recreational Sex


Evil use of freedom :Evil use of freedom SOME CONSEQUENCES OF THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION: More contraception More abortions and abortifacients More children born outside marriage More sexual activity among teenagers (more vulnerable). More STD among teenagers More divorces


Slide 28:Teen Sexual Activity in US


Out of Wedlock Births :Out of Wedlock Births Percentage of out of wedlock births Source: William J. Bennett, The Index of Leading Cultural Indicators


Contraception ->Abortions :Contraception ->Abortions


Cohabitation and Divorce :Cohabitation and Divorce Couples now live together before marriage and split up after marriage!


Divorce Rates :Divorce Rates Divorces (per 1,000 married women)


Single Parent Families :Single Parent Families Percentage of All Families with Children


Reasons to condemn Contraception :Reasons to condemn Contraception a violation of the good of a woman’s physical and psychological health an impediment to the total self-giving of spousal love a rejection of God as Creator of new life


Impediment to Total Self-Giving :Impediment to Total Self-Giving


God Creates Every Human Soul :God Creates Every Human Soul


Contraceptive Thwarts God’s Life-Giving power :Contraceptive Thwarts God’s Life-Giving power


Counter-revolutionHoly Purity :Counter-revolutionHoly Purity Chastity represents an eminently personal task Need of a counter-revolution today it also involves a cultural effort, for there is “an interdependence between personal betterment and the improvement of society”. CCC 2344


Conclusion :Conclusion Need for conviction that purity is possible Don’t go with the crowd – set your own agenda Clarify problems and doubts through guidance: ask what you do not know… Gospel teaching: purity is necessary to see and love God Rely on supernatural supports


Conclusion :Conclusion Rely on supernatural supports sacraments piety love for the Blessed Virgin Mary mortification sincerity humility Avoid idleness