Bishops give guidance to publishers on Human Sexuality

In a vote of 212-3, with one abstention, the bishops adopted "Catechetical Formation in Chaste Living: Guidelines for Curriculum and Publication Design."

BALTIMORE (CNS) - With no public discussion, the U.S. Catholic bishops Nov. 14 adopted a document offering guidance to publishers of textbooks on human sexuality for grades kindergarten through 12.

In a vote of 212-3, with one abstention, the bishops adopted "Catechetical Formation in Chaste Living: Guidelines for Curriculum and Publication Design."

Since 2003 the Committee on Catechesis has been working to provide resource to publishers that focuses on Catholic faith and morals as well as virtues for chaste living.

The introduction notes that the document follows the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the publication of the General Directory for Catechesis, the National Directory for Catechesis and the U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults.

The 21-pages of guidelines are divided into such areas as:

-- The received teaching of the church on creation, sin and virtues, especially chastity.

-- Church teaching on special issues of concern including pornography, sexual abuse, contraception, premarital and extramarital sex, cohabitation, sexual abuse, homosexual activity and same-sex unions, and reproductive technology.

-- The role of pastors as educators.

-- The role of parents and guardians as primary educators about sexuality and chaste living.

-- The role of teachers and catechists as educators and their relationship to parents.

-- The role of publishers in translating doctrinal principles into texts and other materials.

"All of catechesis on chaste living takes place within the faith community that is the church," says the introduction to the guidelines.

"Parents, in particular, are responsible for catechizing their children in faith and morals, and thus have a special obligation to thoroughly understand the teachings of the church," it says.

A curriculum or other education materials in Catholic schools and parish religious education classes should be available to assist them in forming their children "for chaste living," it says.

By issuing the guidelines, the bishops seek "to call each baptized person to reflect upon and cherish his or her dignity and that of other persons as made in the image and likeness of God," and to help them "embrace joyfully" the call "to love and live chastely either as a married or celibate person," the document says.

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Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops