Sex education for our youth

We are already in the 21st century and still, we are debating whether to teach sex education in our schools? Why?

The Church officials should make their arguments very clear to all. Understandably, they want to guarantee that teaching about sex will not lead to wanton disregard for the sacredness of sex for procreation. Are we reading the core of their objection to public sex education correctly?

If handled very carefully, educating our youth about sex, its beauty, its sacredness even can lead to a more informed, better prepared, more responsible citizens and even children of God for the present and the future.

Taught within the proper context and for the proper objectives, sex education may yet be one of the most important lessons that our youth can learn while in school, for their lifetime even.

Sex is not merely biological and physical but it has to be taught as well within this context. Learning about the role of sex within a biology or science class can be done in the same objective manner that the anatomy of the body has been taught in earlier physical education and science classes.

Sex education, however, can and must go beyond just the biological or physical explanation of sex. It can be taught within the wider context of gender, within human relationships, within divine perspective even. It can even be taught within religion classes.

Sex education can also be taught beyond the personal, to its social setting, the role of proper knowledge about the role of sex in building families and nations. It can also be discussed within its wider global context to see how similar or dissimilar cultures and societies define and response to sex.

Sex education can be discussed within its historical context, how from the start of time, sex has played and continues to play a vital role for the propagation of the human race and of societies.

Within the proper context and for the right reasons, sex education can bring out the beauty of this gift that the Lord has shared with His creatures. Commercialism takes out the beauty and retains and propagates the baser and uglier side of sex. Proper sex education can challenge this debasement and commercialization of sex by putting the topic within its wider and proper contexts and perspectives.

Sex education does not translate automatically to irresponsible sex behavior and unwanted pregnancies as many, especially in the Church, are wont to misunderstand.

Knowledge is power. Admittedly, knowing about sex may lead some to remain at the debased, contaminated version of sex. However, handled professionally and holistically, sex education can lead the youth to a more responsible, more informed, and even, more empowered level than generations before them. Knowledge will allow them more choice, more room to decide and discern the beauty of responsible and of genuine sex, and of the Creator who shared this gift to all humanity.

We pray the Church realizes how much it is losing to the propaganda war of those who are spreading the commercial, ugly version of sex among the youth. Whether the Church likes it or not, the youth is daily surrounded and bombarded with so much unsolicited yet ubiquitous sex education from all forms of media at present.

Would the Church rather have sex education taught to the youth by irresponsible and greedy profit-oriented commercial practitioners or would they rather join the ranks of those who genuinely wish the youth to fully understand sex education within its total, holistic and beautiful human and divine contexts?

The Church has to make explicit its stand on truth as well as on sex education. It cannot merely say impeachment is not the way to the truth nor can the Church say sex education should not be taught in schools. The Church has to clarify the way to the truth and to proper sex education for its constituents. The Church has to strongly emphasize that there can be no compromise about truth, that all have to practice truth in their words, thoughts and deeds. Similarly for sex education. The Church has to state clearly its position with regards to sex and its proper and necessary dissemination to the youth within this very, very troubled, commercialized world.

* * *

Please send your email to [email protected]