Sex and Abortion

We, as humans, often exaggerate or tell 'little white lies' with the best of intentions. We tell children if they play with matches they will burn the house down; or we, wisely, say not to talk to 'strangers' becuase they may harm you; we use to tell young boys if they 'played with themselves' they would go blind. And a thousand other examples could be given.

Now they Church as a very long and undisputed history of considering sex a 'bad' or dangerous thing. I am reading a biography of Thomas More, and this acclaimed and intelligent man thought sexual desires and practices were a very strong deterrent to loving God.

I believe the Church has never changed its anti-sex outlook, and as the guarrdian of peoples' morals still regards sex as bad, EXCEPT for the procreation of children. Yes in the last decades it has added the "unitive" principle, but this principle is ONLY active when the possibility of procreation is there. This, of course, involves the Church in some problems: What about the aged, what about the impotent, what about the infertile. And, most important what about the obvious desire of so many humans for the pleasure of sex. Well this can be covered through special arguments, family planning, for example, but the Church places before mankind the very clear dictum that all sex MUST have at least some possibility of producing a offspring. And so we find Aquinas saying that corsorting with a prostitute is superior to masturbation because at least procreation is possible.

It is very clear to me and others that the "right to life movement" is at base a "sex is dangerous" movement, a movement whose end result is to curb sexual activity. And this leads to such fallacies as the basic purpose of all sex is fertilization. Any orgasm outside the vagina is sinful. Indeed any sexual thought must be avoided, if possible. Any sperm penetrating an egg is to create a person.

I think the Church's ultimate goal and position is quite clear. Again, sex is bad outside its procreative aspect. And this is most clearly seen in the fact that ALL decision makers in the Church must be totally devoid of sexual activity and even sexual thoughts, if possible.

The argument put forth is that only by a total rejection of all sexual activity and thought makes one eligible for the closest contact with God.

This standard is not held in any other area of human life. Celibate doctors are no more devoted to their patients than married doctors, and so on through all human activites.

I have written many times about the Church's interest in celibacy. I do back away from one impression I may have made. The Church MAY be sincere in its view that the sexual drive is most dangerous. The celibate idea MAY NOT be simply self-serving to the all celibate masters of the Church.

The issue of abortion is very important. But to use it as a screen to hide a overwhelming belief in the dangers of sex is not acceptable to almost all, including Catholics, and keeps us from making the real case for sexual restraint and responsibility.