Homily on sexual morality

[FrDavid96]

Fair enough. We do teach children about “adultery” in an age appropriate way (i.e. being pure of heart). I don’t know that “fornication” comes up in the lectionary. But answering questions about what adultery means in the context of the 10 Commandments is not quite the same thing as explaining what Father means when he says “Don’t masturbate while watching pornography on the internet.” It’s a bit hard to explain that one in an age appropriate way.

But, again, I’m not opposed to him addressing such concepts using more veiled terminology. You can say something “watching impure things on the internet.” The adults will all understand what you mean. And the children will interpret it at their own level.

As I see it, that’s exactly why he gave warnings before the fact. He wanted people to know that if they came to that particular Mass they were going to get an adult message in the homily.

 

[ChunkMonk]

Wouldn’t this ‘problem’ have a very simply solution then?

Little Johnny: “Mommy, what’s ponograsy?”
Mother: “Sometimes people do very bad things and that is a very bad thing.”
Little Johnny: “Is that why Father was mad today?”
Mother: “Father X wants to help us all and he gets very upset when people do bad things. He wants us to go to Heaven.”

Done. Problem solved. When I was a little boy and I asked what something was that was beyond my understanding, my parents explained it to me in gentle, broad terms and redirected the conversation. I highly doubt the homily in question included charts and graphs explaining what porn and homosexuality are.

As for the ‘tone’ well I see that no one has answered this question:

Is the soul of the gentle, moderate, hopeful priest stained by all the lost souls of people who leave the Church to go find fire and brimstone?