The Tragedy of the Sexual Revolution
FREE Catholic Classes
By John Mallon
©Catholic Online 2004
The "Sexual Revolution" is a failure. But don't take my word for it, pick up a newspaper. Most of the great social problems of the day are the result of the abuse or misuse of sex: The worldwide pandemic of AIDS, dozens of other gruesome sexually transmitted diseases, abortion, abuse of women, sexual abuse of children, broken families, divorce... the list goes on.
A particularly sad story from the Associated Press, published in the Boston Globe on September 6, 2004, "Laconia woman denied morning after pill by pharmacist," illustrates this.
The story describes how a New Hampshire pharmacist refused to fill a prescription, on conscience grounds, for a young woman for the so-called "morning after pill" (also known as emergency contraception, and the brand name "Plan B") This caused the woman to become upset. According to the AP story she said, "I'm a single mother and I'm just trying to be responsible," then she said, "When I realized what he was saying, I pulled the car over in the parking lot and just cried."
Did it ever occur to her that in her life circumstances it was irresponsible to have sex? Did anyone ever teach her that? Had she ever met a man who respected her or loved her enough not to expect sex from her? What wen through her mind before putting herself in the position where she could become pregnant? We don't know. But it is sad.
The Catholic view always was and still is that sex is only intended for marriage. Yet this is a view that is widely mocked in today's world. I do not judge this woman, rather I see her as a victim of a culture that has lied to her. One wonders if she ever heard that sex outside of marriage was something to be avoided--not to mention sinful.
It is useless to argue about sin to those who do not believe. There is more than one generation that thinks talk of sin is just a "shame and blame" game, played by people who want to make others "feel guilty" or "control others."
What is lost is the notion that sin is something that harms us. The God-given moral law is something that warns us of danger. I like to think of the Ten Commandments as the "owner's manual" for our lives, and the roadmap of Reality--the Reality created by God.
Sexual sin especially has a way of damaging our emotions and our psyches. It can become an addiction which can destroy our capacity to love. Sexual intimacy, at its best, makes us vulnerable to another and that requires trust and a context of security and stability with another with whom it is safe to be vulnerable with; with whom we can build a home where it is safe to bring children into the world. This is why God gave us the sacrament of Matrimony.
Without this context sexual activity can leave us lonely, isolated, disoriented, cynical and afraid to trust. I could retire if I had a dollar for every woman of my generation--the generation that grew up with the sexual revolution-- I've heard say, "I have a problem trusting men."
The "Sexual Revolution" with its contraception and abortion has not liberated women at all, but enslaved them to chemicals that distort the natural functions of their bodies and grisly surgical procedures that can leave them scarred for life both physically and emotionally.
It has also eviscerated relations between the sexes leaving genuine romance and true love seem like an impossible dream for many lonely people.
A man of character will marry a women he truly loves without pushing her into bed. He will care for her without blackmailing her into sex with the threat of loneliness.
The stupidly named, dangerous, "Plan B" morning after pill would not be "necessary" if Plan A were self-respect and keeping one's pants on. Unfortunately, an entire generation of young women has not been learned that. As for men, the "Sexual Revolution" has produced a generation of full-grown babies who whine and manipulate when they don't get sex on demand when they want it.
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
There was a great outcry when Pope Paul VI issued his great Encyclical Humanae Vitae which upheld the Church's prohibition on birth control. The Sexual Revolution was just beginning and many Catholics expected the Church to get on the bandwagon. But Pope Paul predicted what would happen if birth control became widespread and what he describes is exactly what we see around us in the world today. If you have never read this document do so. It was a clear word of prophecy to the Church and world.
As sin, birth control is harmful to us.
For example, the Population Research Institute of Front Royal, Virginia details the many dangers of the morning after pill on its website at www.pop.org, Weekly Briefings, March 5 & 12, 2004.
Proponents of the drug say it is safe, but that is simply a lie. Nevertheless, there has been a virtual media blackout on the dangers of this drug because these facts are not "politically correct."
The health risks of emergency contraception to women are considerable. The website of the Population Research Institute of Front Royal, VA (PRI), lists dangers of "emergency contraception": significant weight gain, ovarian cyst enlargement, gallbladder disease, high blood pressure and respiratory disorders.
Common side effects among teenagers could result in increased rates of bulimia, anorexia, or clinical depression. An increased risk of ectopic pregnancy is also possible with emergency contraception.
What kind of "feminism" believes women can only be equal to men by attacking the uniqueness and life-giving faculties of their own bodies, either with chemical birth control, or devices that look like they belong in a chamber of horrors museum, or the great violence of abortion.
Furthermore, as I said in another Reality Check article (A New Big Fat Lie,) the "morning after pill," when it does work, does so by causing the abortion of the tiny, newly conceived human life. The drug's promoters try to say that "pregnancy begins at implantation" to deceive those who don't realize that life begins at conception.
The Sexual Revolution has gone a long way to destroying true love, romance and driving a wedge between the sexes. When Jesus spoke of the future saying "Through the increase of evil, the love of many will grow cold" (Matt. 24:12) I wonder if He was thinking of our times.
___________________________
-- John Mallon is contributing editor for Inside the Vatican magazine
-- An Archive of some of Mallon's articles may be found at:
http://www.petersvoice.com/mallon/index.html
And his Blog, Mallon's Media Watch may be found at: http://mallonsmedia.blogspot.com
Contact
Mallon Consulting
http://mallonsmedia.blogspot.com/
OK, US
John Mallon - Columnist, 405 720-2575
johnmallon@cox.net
Keywords
Mallon, Sexual Revolution, sexual morality
More Catholic PRWire
Showing 1 - 50 of 4,716
A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain
Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul
A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell
My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz
Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell
Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online
Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online
Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online
State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online
Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online
2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online
Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online
Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online
Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online
Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online
Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online
Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online
Full Circle
Robert Gieb
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite
Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony
Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell
World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online
Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA
Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online
A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe
Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly
Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard
The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely
Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow
A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow
Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea
Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard
Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol
Edging God Out
Paul Sposite
Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow
George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online
Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell
Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey
Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite
Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol
Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol
Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online
Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online
Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online
Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online
Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online
Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online
Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol