I just checked my email and saw this in the “Hot Topics” section, so I thought I’d put in my “two cents”.
Most (if not all) men in my family aren’t circumcised – of course, since it’s not really talked about, I cannot vouch for everyone. I only know what I talked about with my mother. My father’s family came overseas from Serbia where the practice also isn’t commonplace.
To top that off, all of the men - all left intact - in my mother’s side (6 brothers) were born in the 30s-50s, where the practice was getting large here in the United States.
I am a male who has decided (provided that my future wife agrees) that my future sons (if any) will remain intact as well. I don’t see why she would disagree with me. The decision to circumcise in the United States legally lies with the mother - since, of course, the mother bears the child.
My logic I feel is simple - since God created man on God’s vision, isn’t every man built as God designed? I certainly wouldn’t want to feel as if I am questioning God’s vision. Of course, with my statement I’m not meaning to imply that those who read this that have already circumcised their sons have questioned God - but this is one of the reasons that I wouldn’t consider making the circumcision decision, ever.
Also, there is a mechanical function to the foreskin that shouldn’t be overlooked:
- It protects an infant’s “member” from fecal matter when they soil their diapers - because ALL infants soil their diapers.
- It protects a male’s “member” from abrasions against clothing.
- It maintains moisture to the “member” during intercourse - after marriage, of course - (I AM going to play the naive card here since this is a Catholic forum), which studies have shown provide better comfort for both the male and female partners.
I don’t feel like I am the one to make that call. I certainly will vaccinate my children, but I will not circumcise (or pierce) them.
Teach a child proper hygiene - mandate it as a parent - and there will be no problems. This isn’t the Vietnam era - we’re beyond that as a society – and – of all of the members of my family who were recently active in the military - hygiene isn’t nearly the issue now as it was then since there are showers provided.
Whenever I got dirty, I had to shower when I was a kid. Showering included cleaning ALL body parts. Let them know that the area “down there” had to be washed as well and - if you raised them well - they will obey as I did. I am not about to make a decision on their behalf that will affect them - irreversibly (naturally anyway) for their ENTIRE lives.
Others assert that the idea that circumcision has no health benefits is the myth, and put forward their own evidence supporting this. I think the most that can be conclusively said for the evidence at this time is that the evidence either for or against the health benefits of circumcision is inconclusive.