Legalized Prostitution? Give Me A Break!

[BeluvdLily]

I am so shocked right now. I frequent another message board which is for the wives of truckers. Over the last few days, a thread has begun about Lot Lizards (for those of you not in the know, they are prostitutes that frequent truck stops). I am just so shocked that several of the wives seemed to think they should legalize prostitution, make them have drug tests, AIDS tests and get permits and pay taxes. I’m just shaking my head. I think I may be staying away from that board. There were several that agreed with me that it is morally wrong and not to be legalized but were the rest of the wives thinking? It just seemed so crazy to me.

The thing is, the whole conversation just sent me running right back here to the Catholic Answers boards. While I am Protestant and considering conversion, I just love the morality and family values that are to be found here. As I was reading the whole discussion on the other board I could only think that it would never happen on these message boards and I’m so glad to have Catholic Answers to come to as it’s really strengthening my faith and hope that there are people out there with morals besides myself and my husband whom I’m so thankful for! I can see clearly that I need to be spending my time in a place of faith and values such as this.

Amie

 

[mumto5]

It finally got legalised here last year - followed quickly by gay ‘marriage’.

 

[Mike_Dye]

I just can’t believe that a wife could ever think it’s ok for her husband to be with a prostitute or for that matter any other woman. Beyond that why would a husband want to be with another woman? Don’t get me wrong… being a married male don’t think for one minute that I have never found another woman attractive or have had what could have been turned into oppurtunities to stray, but two things stop me… one is that on the next morning I would have to face my lord and savior Jesus and the next is even if my wife would never find out; I would know, I simply could not live the rest of my life holding that in. It just makes life a whole lot easier not to even go there…and trust me you are talking to a guy that likes things easy!
Mike

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Hate to say it, but I actually raised that issue here myself.

Don’t take it out on Catholics or this forum, though. Just me.

Alan

 

[BeluvdLily]

I don’t think they wanted their husbands to be with them. Just seemed to think that some men will always do it so why not legislate it. I just can’t see legalizing things that are morally wrong. That’s what I don’t get.

Amie

 

[AlanFromWichita]

BeluvdLily:

I don’t think they wanted their husbands to be with them. Just seemed to think that some men will always do it so why not legislate it. I just can’t see legalizing things that are morally wrong. That’s what I don’t get.

Amie

Although our laws are “based” in morals, the laws are not intended to instill morals in us, except to the extent that our behavior infringes on others’ freedom to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

For example, I think gay behavior is immoral, but I don’t want to pay a police officer to observe private behavior in others’ bedrooms. That’s why I was not bothered when the SCOTUS struck down anti-sodomy law here.

The government can only enforce its laws by threats of force. It cannot “give” away anything it hasn’t taken from somebody else. The Church hopefully calls us to love, more so than coerce us to obey through threats and promises to obey.

I don’t see the role of the government as making us moral. That’s what the Church is supposed to be doing. The government provides for common resources by taking money from each of us, and provides for defense against enemies domestic and abroad.

So when it comes to legislating morality, I can see that some might consider it the “general welfare” and within government scope, but I think more about legislating behavior limits that gives each of us the freedom to choose the path we take. If we believe in the Church, in cases of morality that path leads to life and death.

Besides, if everything immoral were illegal, then how would we ourselves even know whether we follow Christ because we want to or because somebody will hurt us if we don’t?

Alan

 

[Lorrie]

AlanFromWichita:

Although our laws are “based” in morals, the laws are not intended to instill morals in us, except to the extent that our behavior infringes on others’ freedom to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

For example, I think gay behavior is immoral, but I don’t want to pay a police officer to observe private behavior in others’ bedrooms. That’s why I was not bothered when the SCOTUS struck down anti-sodomy law here.

The government can only enforce its laws by threats of force. It cannot “give” away anything it hasn’t taken from somebody else. The Church hopefully calls us to love, more so than coerce us to obey through threats and promises to obey.

I don’t see the role of the government as making us moral. That’s what the Church is supposed to be doing. The government provides for common resources by taking money from each of us, and provides for defense against enemies domestic and abroad.

So when it comes to legislating morality, I can see that some might consider it the “general welfare” and within government scope, but I think more about legislating behavior limits that gives each of us the freedom to choose the path we take. If we believe in the Church, in cases of morality that path leads to life and death.

Besides, if everything immoral were illegal, then how would we ourselves even know whether we follow Christ because we want to or because somebody will hurt us if we don’t?

Alan

Perfectly said.