Much Confusion about Sex, Part 1

We have entered a new phase in the culture wars. The battle of identity wages fiercely among those who profess to self-identify in their faith of narcissism and those who argue from rationality in near desperation for keeping objectivity alive. Some wonder, like David Byrne of Talking Heads fame: How did we get here?

The Church has had the weapons necessary to defend against the idolatry of gender identity.  Most importantly she has the medicine to cure all the illnesses that plague our society. Unfortunately too many within the Church have defected to cultures of earthly delights, instead of transforming our world for the sake of the kingdom. And that is where I believe a great scandal has occurred. There is much confusion about sex.

Consider the distinction between celibacy and chastity. Too many confuse the two, which has aided and abetted the sexual revolution. Celibacy is not a virtue, but does require virtuous living. Celibacy is simply not being married. But marriage today is a mess. If we adequately understood the nature of marriage and lived out its authenticity, then we would not be caught in our current quagmire. And celibacy would be honored and elevated to the sacrificial noble life known by Scripture. Again, celibacy is not a virtue. Chastity is.

Marriage, and every vocational state of life, requires chastity. But most people are confused about chastity too. Chastity is a virtue. Chastity is not about being celibate. Being celibate requires chaste living. Yet being married also requires chaste living. In fact, every human being in every vocational state of living needs to exercise chastity, like all virtues.

"Chastity means the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being. Sexuality, in which man's belonging to the bodily and biological world is expressed, becomes personal and truly human when it is integrated into the relationship of one person to another, in the complete and lifelong mutual gift of a man and a woman.

The virtue of chastity therefore involves the integrity of the person and the integrality of the gift."

--CCC 2337

"Chastity represents an eminently personal task; it also involves a cultural effort, for there is 'an interdependence between personal betterment and the improvement of society.'¹³¹ Chastity presupposes respect for the rights of the person, in particular the right to receive information and an education that respect the moral and spiritual dimensions of human life."

---CCC 2344

To live chastely means a person has integrity. To seek chaste living means I am honoring the person whom God created as well as honoring others whom God has placed in my life. This is not easy. Like all aspects of virtuous living, I need God's grace. 

We are waging these battles in our culture war because we do not honor others, we do not honor ourselves, and we do not honor God. Our weapon, be that offensive or defensive, must never be contrary to the integrity of the person. In fact those who profess to self-identify are seeking a personal integrity, however, they are looking through a distorted mirror and then gazing into our relativistic society. We in the Church must boldly proclaim the Gospel in and through our bodies. We must "put on Christ" if we have any hope of defeating this evil one.

Saint Michael, defend us in battle.

The Catholic Lifestyle

One of the signs of a shrinking Christianity is when the Church conforms to society. This is the case more today than yesterday. Sadly the Church is becoming less relevant in the lives of individuals.

People seek faith because of what faith has that cannot be found amongst men.

The Church must always exist in both worlds, that of belief and non-belief, else the Church can never be found by those who seek to believe.

Yet we in the Church must realize that those who find faith have sought what they couldn't find elsewhere. So we must not conform to what is elsewhere, but remain in the beyond, ever vigilant to the Spirit, and always abiding in the divine.

This is what having a Catholic lifestyle entails. Living in both worlds so we engage both the realm of believers and non-believers, else how are we to share the joy of the Gospel? We do not become non-believers, nor even appear to be like them in any meaningful way. Yes, we may have our dark nights and questions, but in those moments the light of faith must still shine brightly, though we might not see it. So we must live distinct lives from them.

Our way of life must invite by seeming familiar while also intriguing the non-believer to not just pass by but stay awhile. Our lives must be so compelling that others do find it hard to believe, BUT not impossible. Compelling because of grace (God's presence), not impossible because of merit (our virtuous efforts). We must be examples of the "unbelievable reality" that is the Catholic Church.