Homilies about sex

[Mirror_Mirror]

I have often wondered and even heard Fr. Larry Richards ask this in one of his homilies…since we are a world that is so saturated with sex (oral sex, masturbation, premarital sex, extramarital sex) why do the leaders of our church not discuss this in their homilies? Sure you can say that it is due to little children, but I think that this can be discussed tactfully. I cannot recall anytime that I have ever heard a talk about masturbation from a priest in a homily.

It just seems like this is a topic that is brushed under the rug, we know that it is there, but we would like to avoid it at all costs.

Has anyone heard a homily like this? Are there priests with the courage to talk about this on Sunday? I have heard Fr. Larry talk about it during his mission, but other than that I have never heard a priest discuss this.

Just something to talk about.

 

[Island_Oak]

I would so agree with your desire to receive some instruction from the pulpit–but also have rarely experienced it. We are BOMBARDED with (name removed by moderator)ut from the media and almost none of it is supportive of the Christian/Catholic values which surround sexuality. I agree that a message can be delivered so as not to shock or unnecessarily violate the innocence of the children present. Terms like “solitary sin,” “fornication,” “marital chastity,” “abstinence,” “natural family planning” describe very mature concepts which most likely would fly over the heads of the young and innocent. I second your wish that our priests will have the courage and insight to embrace their unique role of leadership and education!

 

[Vatican2Rocks]

I think its a topic that would cause a lot of emotional turmoil due to the variety in the audience. sex is usually a hot button issue.it is a battlefield even within the home let alone in the media. if you study the media you will notice the sex war being waged between men and women that alone is a source of immediate anger and rage…so to discuss in church on sunday during mass would require delicacy and tact. perhaps it could be discussed on the higher level of christ and the church…and how the man and woman when they come into union sexually as man and wife are displaying the sacramental meal of eucharist.

but bottomline i really believe it to be a hot button issue that cannot be fairly treated with such a wide ranging audience due to the age range and variety of cultures and even more so the variety of home life background.

 

[Vatican2Rocks]

Just so you know Pope John Paul 2 talked about sex in his wednesday audiences for the first 5 years of his pontificate. you may do a search for the material by googling theology of the body.

he has also written books and encycicals about sex and sex education. he is for sex education by the way.

one book is called love and responsibility and one of the encyclicals is entitled guidance on human sexual education or something like that.

I am under the impression that some priests are being taught the material by jp2 but it is just beginning and we probably won’t hear much about it for another 5 years or so.

 

[dulcissima]

That is probably because they are homilies and not sermons. The priest can’t just get up and talk about anything on his mind. His homily has to be relevant to the readings.

 

[Vatican2Rocks]

dulcissima:

That is probably because they are homilies and not sermons. The priest can’t just get up and talk about anything on his mind. His homily has to be relevant to the readings.

Tha’ts true. I have to agree with that.

so to the op, if you go to daily mass, which is most likely when the onan reading will occur, then you will hear a homily on sex.

the pope used the readings from genesis about adam and eve to start his talks on sex. he also used ephesians, colossians and some others. i think he even referred to the onan story.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

I’m not entirely sure about the homily thing, since there ARE children present usually. I think it would be better done through catechesis (our pastor does a lot of chatechesis through our very long bulletin), bible studies, etc. I actually wish the Church would start adult Sunday School programs, like the Protestants do (one good thing about Protestantism!).