October is Respect Life Month, so named by the Bishops of the United States since 1971. When we think of “Respect Life,” we usually think of “abortion,” and indeed abortion is most deadly and horrible.
Actually, though, it was the social acceptance of artificial contraception in the 1950s that spawned the social acceptance of abortion in the 1970s. Studies report that most women seeking abortions were using contraceptives in the month they became pregnant. Along with contraception came a long and depressing list of social failure: endemic sexual infidelity, sexually-transmitted diseases, divorce, fatherless children, and a wasteland of broken families that brings with it much suffering, particularly among minorities. Most of us have so lost our ability to think clearly that we can’t even see what is wrong with so-called same-sex “marriage.”
Solutions, anyone? In no sense does contraception solve any problem, but the government, the media, and higher education continue to deny social facts and insist that throwing more money and contraceptives at social dysfunction is the best we can do. We can do better. We can regain our reason, and we can rightly order our lives.
A sexual relationship can never be simply “casual” or free of obligations. No amount of denial on our part can change its power and consequences. Contraceptives give us an entirely false sense that “casual” sex is possible. Sexuality is dynamite, and anyone who plays with it will eventually get very hurt. Those who use its powers as nature and nature’s God intends, however, will be greatly ennobled.
Who bears the responsibility of speaking prophetically to the so-called “sexual revolution”? Parents, teachers, the President of the United States, the Supreme Court—we all do. But most of all, the Pope, the bishops, and your priests. And I am happy to say that, finally, some bishops are speaking prophetically on sexual issues. Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, US Conference of Bishops president , wrote a very clear letter to President Obama a few weeks ago in which he urges him to end his campaign against marriage. His open letter is printed on the back page of this bulletin. Let us pray that bishops and priests will, even in this eleventh hour, exercise our prophetic role with greater clarity and courage.
Actually, though, it was the social acceptance of artificial contraception in the 1950s that spawned the social acceptance of abortion in the 1970s. Studies report that most women seeking abortions were using contraceptives in the month they became pregnant. Along with contraception came a long and depressing list of social failure: endemic sexual infidelity, sexually-transmitted diseases, divorce, fatherless children, and a wasteland of broken families that brings with it much suffering, particularly among minorities. Most of us have so lost our ability to think clearly that we can’t even see what is wrong with so-called same-sex “marriage.”
Solutions, anyone? In no sense does contraception solve any problem, but the government, the media, and higher education continue to deny social facts and insist that throwing more money and contraceptives at social dysfunction is the best we can do. We can do better. We can regain our reason, and we can rightly order our lives.
A sexual relationship can never be simply “casual” or free of obligations. No amount of denial on our part can change its power and consequences. Contraceptives give us an entirely false sense that “casual” sex is possible. Sexuality is dynamite, and anyone who plays with it will eventually get very hurt. Those who use its powers as nature and nature’s God intends, however, will be greatly ennobled.
Who bears the responsibility of speaking prophetically to the so-called “sexual revolution”? Parents, teachers, the President of the United States, the Supreme Court—we all do. But most of all, the Pope, the bishops, and your priests. And I am happy to say that, finally, some bishops are speaking prophetically on sexual issues. Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, US Conference of Bishops president , wrote a very clear letter to President Obama a few weeks ago in which he urges him to end his campaign against marriage. His open letter is printed on the back page of this bulletin. Let us pray that bishops and priests will, even in this eleventh hour, exercise our prophetic role with greater clarity and courage.
RSS Feed