As I read this article provided by the New York Times, I thought this would either be a great blog post for my readers or it would potentially ruin me for every future post. Then I remembered the purpose of this blog. To be open, honest, truthful and blunt. To save all of you from embarrassment, I’ll give you the chance now to leave the page. Go ahead… if you’re CHICKEN!
Just kidding. So here’s how it went. Yesterday, the Vatican’s doctrinal office denounced an American nuns book for same-sex relationships, masturbation and remarriage after divorce. I know! You’re thinking what I’m thinking. What the HELL is a Catholic nun doing writing about anything having to do with sex? From what I remember of Catholic school, those are the crazy nuts that told me holding hands with a boy would get me pregnant. Sister Margaret A. Farley, award winning scholar said in a statement, “I can only clarify that the book was not intended to be an expression of current official Catholic teaching, nor was it aimed specifically against this teaching. It is of a different genre altogether.” The title of this supposed disgraceful book is “Just Love: A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics.” She went on further to say that the book offers “contemporary interpretations” of justice and fairness in human sexual relations, moving away from a “taboo morality” and drawing on “present-day scientific, philosophical, theological, and biblical resources.”
Before I go on to say what all the Vatican had a problem with, let me point out a few more quotes from the book that are important to this denouncement. In regards to same-sex marriage she writes that same-sex marriage “can also be important in transforming the hatred, rejection, and stigmatization of gays and lesbians.” She continues, “same-sex relationships and activities can be justified according to the same sexual ethic as heterosexual relationships and activities.” In regards to female masturbation she writes that female masturbation “usually does not raise any moral questions at all.” She adds that “many women” have found “great good in self-pleasuring — perhaps especially in the discovery of their own possibilities for pleasure — something many had not experienced or even known about in their ordinary sexual relations with husbands or lovers.”
Now we can move on to what the Vatican had to say. In regards to the same-sex marriage statements they responded with, “This opinion is not acceptable.” Homosexual acts are “acts of grave depravity” that are “intrinsically disordered” and “contrary to the natural law.” In regards to her opinion on divorce being a reasonable option for couples who have grown apart, the Vatican said that this statement contradicted church teaching on the “indissolubility of marriage.” In regards to female masturbation the Vatican stated that this assessment contradicted church teachings that “the deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose.”
My Final Say: IT’S ABOUT TIME SOMEONE IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ACKNOWLEDGED THE FACT THAT SEX HAPPENS! Being a member of the Catholic faith, you would think that I’m biased on the subject but to be quite frank, the church should be grateful that for once, there is a nun that’s not beating around the bush (no pun intended) about sexuality. I only wish there were more nuns like Sister Farley that were comfortable enough with their sexuality to help those Catholics that are completely lost on the subject. It’s about time the Vatican realize that this is a new generation, a new era where all the old tricks don’t work anymore. They need to stop living in the past and start looking to the future where SEX isn’t just whispered under your breathe and giggled at.
MetronomeLive 