COMMENTARY
FLORIDA CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

Archdiocese of Miami + Diocese of St. Augustine + Diocese of St. Petersburg + Diocese of Orlando + Diocese of Pensacola/Tallahassee + Diocese of Palm Beach + Diocese of Venice

VOLUME 12, NUMBER 2 / November 1993

   In its sensitivity to teen sexuality issues in the 1990s, the Church is deeply concerned about the conflicting messages young people receive. Sexuality is one of God's greatest gifts and is an integral part of who we are as persons. We long to love and be loved, to understand and to be understood, to trust and to be trusted.

   Sexual intercourse is designed by God to be an act of total loving and self giving between husband and wife. Adolescents are not yet ready to live out the promise of life giving love that the act signifies. Powerful physiological and psychological urges are a part of our nature. However, learning to control these urges is essential and builds on the respect fundamentally due both males and females. It is, therefore, contradictory, misleading and immoral to promote condoms or other contraceptive distribution for use in short term relationships.

   Relationship building and life skills require time and are essential not only for personal growth and happiness but for the good of the entire society. When society, or any of its institutions, circumvents this formational process, it must bear the responsibility for the outcome, including legal liability. Individuals, families and society are best served by promoting the message of self-control, abstinence before marriage and monogamy within marriage as the achievable and desirable norm.

   We tell our youth to "say no to alcohol" and to "say no to drugs" because we recognize the adverse consequences of their use. We should do the same when it comes to sexual activity among school-aged children, which often leads to unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS, and other physical and emotional concerns.

   The distribution of condoms or other contraceptives in schools conveys the erroneous message that "safe sex" can be achieved. This is an unfair and dangerous misrepresentation to our children. Most contraceptives do nothing to prevent sexually transmitted diseases which place a person at higher risk for HIV infection. Failure rates for condoms are well documented. To suggest that the use of a condom in sexual intercourse with an HIV infected person serves as a sufficient safeguard is foolhardy. The element of risk is reduced but it is not eliminated. Condoms are not 100% effective against a disease that is 100% fatal. Schools send a strong message to our youth by the distribution of contraceptives. The message is that to have sex is okay and that if certain protections are taken, it is safe. Both of these messages are false and endanger our children.

   Current polls indicate that sexual intercourse among school-aged teens is alarmingly on the rise. Even so, many still choose to abstain. The distribution of contraceptives to students in schools implies that the adults in charge are expecting them to become sexually active. This, added to the already existing pressures on teens, has the effect of encouraging sexual activity and promiscuity.

   The stakes are higher today than ever before. Our schools should affirm and reaffirm that our youth should not be sexually active. If discipline, self-respect, abstinence and self-control are good for our youth, these values should be taught in our schools and should include sexual behavior. Some will be sexually active, but our schools must discourage this. A recurring message on the benefits of abstinence will help our children and society.

   Sexual intimacy is indeed wonderful and desirable, but physical relationships involve serious responsibilities and have profound meaning far beyond momentary pleasure. We need to insure that our children know and understand that the only way to live morally and to protect themselves from deadly disease of body, mind and spirit is to practice abstinence until they are ready to practice mutual fidelity in marriage for life.

NOTES:
1. "In the Image of God,"  A Pastoral Statement of the Catholic Bishops of Florida on Human Sexuality, November 1988.

2.  See "Surgeon General's Report to the American Public on HIV Infection and AIDS (1993)," CDC National AIDS Clearing House, Rockville, Maryland; also, "Preventing HIV/AIDS in Adolescents (1993)," National Commission on AIDS, Washington, D.C.

3.  See Florida Youth Risk Behavior Survey Report, Florida Department of Education, Tallahassee, Florida and Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia, February 1992.

The Florida Catholic Conference Task Force on Human Sexuality is comprised
of  the Chairperson for Human Sexuality in each of  the dioceses.  These members include:

Nancy Fisher, Director of Family Life, Diocese of St. Augustine
Father Patrick O'Neill, Chancellor's Office, Archdiocese of Miami
Sharon Iler, Respect Life Coordinator, Diocese of St. Petersburg
Elaine Henris, Director of Family Life, Diocese of Orlando
Patricia Cantieri, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Diocese of Palm Beach
Sister Regis Krusniewski, Director of Catechetical Formation, Diocese of Venice
D. Michael McCarron, Florida Catholic Conference