It is Time for a Real Sexual ‘Counter-Revolution’ Comments
It's time for a sexual counter-revolution which liberates men and women, honors marriage and reaffirms the dignity of human love. Continue Reading
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I believe that a powerful ancillary point to this discussion, given that we all understand that babies are a gift from God from the first instant, is this simple powerful phrase.
"The only people in favour of abortion, are already born."
The child is there based on the actions of the parents as a organic being, but as a being ensouled he is brought into existence by God. I did particularly like this phrase in the above article though,which struck me as being a very excellent way of defining one of the central difficulties in this matter,
Our real freedom and power lies in that very first choice: to have sex or not. Why are women only free and empowered if they have the “right” to kill their babies?
This phrase shows the shameful conflating that people allow to creep into their world view on these issues.
BTW this is my first visit to the site, and I think I will enjoy looking around it, thanks
Bravo!! Sex is sacred because life is sacred, -I think that sums up everything.
We live in an age where feel-good compassionism is the rule of the day. Don't worry about the consequences or the damages you cause to other people, as long as it makes you happy.
Problem is, this lackadaisical hedonism isn't making us happy. At this point in our nation's history, depression rates are skyrocketing in every state except for one: Utah. Why would that be? Maybe it's because of the predominant religiousness of the people who live there and their dedication to the morals of their faith. Something to think about.
Personally, I think that society has fragmented people so much. We've been sifted and sorted according to our various demographics of age, income, physical characteristics, education, and whatever else, -from preschool. We're grouped in these arbitrary categories with very complex social rules that constantly change, often from one year to the next. And forget family! We're taught that family is an obstacle to be overcome, -it's your peer group that really matters. We're told that these "peers" are the only ones who will ever truly "understand" us, -which is patently false. Given all these lines drawn, I sometimes wonder how anyone manages to make connections with anyone else. And obviously people are craving those connections, craving closeness and intimacy with someone else, regardless of what standard deviation they fall under. We long to be whole.
With all this nonsensical mishmash governing our social emotions and actions, it's no wonder people are turning to sex to find some semblance of unity. Unfortunately, that's not what sex is for, and it's leaving them empty, -a vulnerable target for addiction or other destructive elements.
If only these fragmented souls could see that the greatest unity comes from God, and by extension, the family as His agent. And thereby the real use for the gift of sex, -a gift from God to the family for its expansion and overall well-being as peacemaker between man and wife. If we abuse it, we risk destroying ourselves and one another.
How do you reconcile this statement from your article: "[sex] is also the ultimate expression of love and selflessness" with this statement of Our Lord: "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends."?
Thank you for this article; it is very enlightening.
Meanwhile, i will like to ask few questions,
1. Is it not wrong for one to deny herself and husband of lovemaking in a bid to avoid children. Can we not trust that if it leads to pregnancy then it is the will of God?
2. Mrs. Hartline, you said 'even married couples are called to abstain when they have serious reasons for not conceiving a child' kindly explain what you mean by serious reasons, are they serious for not wanting what the bible says are gifts from God?
utahagen no offense and God Bless.
Aren't we in the time of a contraceptive mentality?
The Lord didnt say we could council on such as this.
Being uncharitable and telling people what kind of society we are creating are two different things.
No one is judging but lets not sweep it under the carpet.
We do have one.
I was raised in the 70's, 80 and heard about abortion and I saw contraception and condoms were widespread.
This is our so called answer to the problems today?
We have to rethink the abortion/contraceptive mentality and hope to find safer and church approved methods for the future.
I believe one of our NFP people got a grant to study the issue and I hope that he or she finds some intersting discoveries and improvements as opposed to the pill and other forms of artificial contraception.
In other words I hope we get better and more moral at our understanding of sexuality in the most healthiest terms.
I support NFP. I dont judge those that make mistake but I do hope we all learn from them.
I hope I got this acrossed in a peaceful and educated manner in laywomen's terms. God Bless.
Did I miss the sacrament of marriage as a prerequiste to to sex? That is the most important thing between a man and a women in all it's traditional catholic meaning
Excellent article and long overdue. Hopefully the clergy and the hierarchy will take heed and implement your suggestion to formulate a sexual counter-revolution.
These issues are all "symptoms" (or the fruit of) the one deeper core issue: selfishness.
Things might fall into place in these areas when we have a culture that practices self restraint, self mastery, self sacrificing and self surrender to God. (In general)The last few generations did not have to do hard things; hungry? we shoved a binky or cookie in their mouths. Bored and in need to excitement? We bought the latest toys and videos. Couldn't sit still in church? We brought crayons and cheerios. We made their beds, did their homework for them and paid for their cars.When they rebelled against su, the therapists said they needed to express themselves. etc etc. They donp;t need to confes stheir sins to a priest or attend Mass every week. They can do what they want when they want. They have their rights.
The virtues required to live a chaste life BEGIN at home at a very early age. If a young person came to me for advice on how to be pure, I would start with telling the to make their bed every morning when they arise, no excuses. To stop eating all day long whenever they want. To wait in line patiently, obey the speeding laws, and pay their taxes on time. We're seeing the ugly fruit of self-indulgence and disobedience in many other areas than our sexuality. If you're a parent today, please start maming your children do hard things so they can taste the sweet fruit of virtue.
Beautiful article!
Also, another consequence of Americans not wanting children is the demographic and cultural change that will eventually occur in our country. Many immigrants coming to America are from the East, and come from countries that are not in the Judeo-Christian tradition, or where democracy is not valued. We have to ask ourselves: Are we not risking losing our way of life and and freedom by not reproducing? Will these immigrants be able to assimilate and become "American."
Mrs. Hartline is correct in that it is now the time to repair the damage the self-centered and selfish people of the hippie generation brought about. It's not going to be easy, but if we educate the young in traditional morality, and practice what we preach, then I think we will start to see a cultural change towards goodness and decency.
Bob Luechtefeld, I wasn't taking issue with any church teachings or asserting that they are impossible to follow. I was arguing that people make mistakes and that even married women who are open to life can be distressed when they are pregnant unexpectedly. My point is that we have to deal realistically and compassionately with women who are tempted to have abortions, and saying to these women, "You shouldn't have had sex" is not helpful. If the woman is unmarried, it's obvious she shouldn't have had sex, but you can't turn back the clock; if the woman is married, she wasn't wrong to have sex and she's not wrong for FEELING upset about being pregnant. Feelings are right or wrong and women with several small children is not anti-life for feeling overwhelmed when she is pregnant for, say, the fifth time in five years. I'm not saying we should tell this woman to start using birth control! I'm just saying that lecturing a woman like this about having a contraceptive mentality would not be the appropriate or charitable response to her distress. I think Jesus in this situation would be consoling and encouraging.