To Grow up with Proper Understanding of Sexuality

The following comes from a March 9 report from Vatican Information Service
This morning in the Vatican Benedict XVI received a group of prelates from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, who have recently competed their “ad limina” visit. Extracts of his English-language remarks to them are given below:

“In this talk I would like to discuss … the contemporary crisis of marriage and the family, and, more generally, of the Christian vision of human sexuality. It is in fact increasingly evident that a weakened appreciation of the indissolubility of the marriage covenant, and the widespread rejection of a responsible, mature sexual ethic grounded in the practice of chastity, have led to grave societal problems bearing an immense human and economic cost.”

“In this regard, particular mention must be made of the powerful political and cultural currents seeking to alter the legal definition of marriage. The Church’s conscientious effort to resist this pressure calls for a reasoned defense of marriage as a natural institution consisting of a specific communion of persons, essentially rooted in the complementarity of the sexes and oriented to procreation.

“Sexual differences cannot be dismissed as irrelevant to the definition of marriage. Defending the institution of marriage as a social reality is ultimately a question of justice, since it entails safeguarding the good of the entire human community and the rights of parents and children alike.

“In our conversations, some of you have pointed with concern to the growing difficulties encountered in communicating the Church’s teaching on marriage and the family in its integrity, and to a decrease in the number of young people who approach the Sacrament of Matrimony.

“Certainly we must acknowledge deficiencies in the catechesis of recent decades, which failed at times to communicate the rich heritage of Catholic teaching on marriage as a natural institution elevated by Christ to the dignity of a Sacrament, the vocation of Christian spouses in society and in the Church, and the practice of marital chastity.

“On the practical level, marriage preparation programs must be carefully reviewed to ensure that there is greater concentration on their catechetical component and their presentation of the social and ecclesial responsibilities entailed by Christian marriage. In this context we cannot overlook the serious pastoral problem presented by the widespread practice of cohabitation, often by couples who seem unaware that it is gravely sinful, not to mention damaging to the stability of society.

“I encourage your efforts to develop clear pastoral and liturgical norms for the worthy celebration of matrimony which embody an unambiguous witness to the objective demands of Christian morality, while showing sensitivity and concern for young couples.”

“In this great pastoral effort there is an urgent need for the entire Christian community to recover an appreciation of the virtue of chastity. … It is not merely a question of presenting arguments, but of appealing to an integrated, consistent and uplifting vision of human sexuality.

“The richness of this vision is more sound and appealing than the permissive ideologies exalted in some quarters; these in fact constitute a powerful and destructive form of counter-catechesis for the young. … Chastity, as the Catechism reminds us, involves an ongoing “apprenticeship in self-mastery which is a training in human freedom.

“In a society which increasingly tends to misunderstand and even ridicule this essential dimension of Christian teaching, young people need to be reassured that if we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, absolutely nothing, of what makes life free, beautiful and great.

“Let me conclude by recalling that all our efforts in this area are ultimately concerned with the good of children, who have a fundamental right to grow up with a healthy understanding of sexuality and its proper place in human relationships.

“Children are the greatest treasure and the future of every society: truly caring for them means recognizing our responsibility to teach, defend and live the moral virtues which are the key to human fulfillment.

“It is my hope that the Church in the United States, however chastened by the events of the past decade, will persevere in its historic mission of educating the young and thus contribute to the consolidation of that sound family life which is the surest guarantee of intergenerational solidarity and the health of society as a whole.”

READER COMMENTS

Posted Monday, March 12, 2012 4:18 AM By NANCY
The lack of catechesis throughout much of the US is the reason why parents do not know their duty. Bishops need to promote the reading of the CCC. Also Federal and State Governments want to be god – forcing themselves on families to promote the religion of the Government – called Social Engineering. MUCH more emphasis needs to be placed on the Church teaching of “SUBSIDIARITY” – CCC #1883, 1885, 1894, 2209. Families in the USA have abdicated their responsibilities to those in power – sexually, socialized medicine, etc.

Posted Monday, March 12, 2012 7:04 AM By JMJ
It is way past the time for all of the Bishops to clean house and remove all of those that are living (and teaching) in ways that go against the Ten Commandments. That Barbara Johnson that caused such a stir at her mother’s funeral, is such an example. Not only is she living in mortal sin, but, she claims to be a Buddhist and has a job teaching art at a “catholic” school. At Boston College they have a lesbian, that happens to be Jewish, that “married” sex partner and she makes sure that everyone knows it. How many stories have you had on your site, telling us what is going on in so-called “catholic” schools, churches, etc.? The Bishops don’t seem to realize just what is being taught in the public and unfortunately, in their own Catholic schools. How many of the people that are employed by the Church are in agreement with the Church? With so many “catholics” out there that don’t know or care to know what the truth is and somehow all of us have to awaken our fellow brothers and sisters to the dangers that are facing them when they take their last breath. God does everything for a reason, which is why He allowed Obama to get into office and, if I read yesterday about what Obama believes on what sin is, we are in very deep trouble. He claims that sin is what goes against his beliefs, not, mind you, against what God commands us. Have mercy on us dear Jesus and let the Holy Spirit come into all of our hearts. +JMJ+

Posted Monday, March 12, 2012 7:32 AM By MacDonald
Amen! Even after childhood, many of our young adults see absolutely nothing wrong with cohabitation (with sex of course), and are SHOCKED when the priest brings this up to them in pre-marriage counseling. They act like he’s from Mars, according to a friend of mine. Some very Catholic cultures from other countries even have the wide-spread PRACTICE of getting married civilly, having gobs of children, and only way down the line getting a sacramental marriage, when they “finally have the money for a big ceremony.” So much for their religious formation. For this reason, some parishes in the Archdiocese of San Francisco are trying to help couples get married in the Church, telling them it’s not about money, but FAITH. In some cases, the parish even has several couples exchange their wedding vows together (rather like Confirmation), so they can get right with the Church and not worry about having a huge expensive party.

Posted Monday, March 12, 2012 8:40 AM By dan
“”In our conversations, some of you have pointed with concern to the growing difficulties encountered in communicating the Church’s teaching on marriage and the family in its integrity, and to a decrease in the number of young people who approach the Sacrament of Matrimony.” Indeed; and suspending the faculties of Fr.Guarnizo sends a loud message that our youth will not hear a clear message about marriage. While Benedict teaches, cowards in the Episocpacy knuckle under to the homosexual juggernaut.