Make a case for chastity, with help from the facts
The harmful effects of early sexual activity are well-documented. Why is it then that instead of placing value on chastity, our culture bombards teens with sexually charged messages and images on television and in movies, music, magazines and video games? Many young people have hardly heard the word “chastity,” much less know what it means or how to live it.
Teens typically believe that they are invincible and society’s message to them on sexual activity has fostered that dangerous myth. Recent studies by the Medical Institute on Sexual Health and the Alan Guttmacher Institute show that teens who engage in sexual activity are at high risk for harmful life-changing consequences. Highlights from these reports calls attention to the toxic sexual environment our children face.
- One out of four sexually active teens contracts a sexually transmitted disease each year.
- Almost 20% of sexually active teenage girls become pregnant each year (over 800,000/year).
- In New Jersey, six out of 10 teen pregnancies ends in abortion.
- Sexually active teens are two to three times more likely to be depressed than teens who are not.
- Sexually active girls are nearly three times more likely to attempt suicide and boys are eight times more likely to attempt suicide than those who are not.
Chastity, which is sexual abstinence before marriage and faithfulness in marriage, implies that every human being is unique and special: so much so that sharing oneself in sex is one of the highest gifts of self. As concerned adults we need to acknowledge the importance and value of chastity by teaching and encouraging it. As the mother of four teenage children, I know all too well how difficult it can be to have discussions with them about sexual behavior and relationships. Often times, as parents and teachers, we want to keep our kids safe and healthy but we feel helpless and unable to combat the undermining influences of society.
While the Church affirms the primary role of parents in teaching chastity, programs such as the Diocesan Teen Outreach Event — “Because I’m Worth It!”are being developed and offered to support and assist parents in this task.The “Because I’m Worth It!” program strives to provide teens with some of the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to make sexual abstinence work empowering them to make positive decisions that will enhance their self-esteem.
Unlike secular programs which convey the expectation that teens will be sexually active by focusing on the use of contraceptives, this program challenges them to respond to their call to chastity and holiness.
If we present the facts about the emotional and physical risks that come with being sexually active, teens will be equipped to make informed choices about their sexual behavior. Choosing to wait until marriage will allow teens to pursue their dreams and reach their goals whereas being sexually active means these dreams may have to be put on hold indefinitely because of an unplanned pregnancy, a sexually transmitted disease or wounded heart.
God created our sexuality and He wants it to be a source of joy, not a weapon that wounds us. We owe it to our children to affirm their ability, with God’s grace, to choose to be chaste. We need to fight for the purity and health of our teenagers by presenting them with the truth. By placing value on chastity we are setting a higher standard. People, given the right support, will rise to meet high expectations. As a faith community, let’s work together and raise the bar.
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law