I understand that this is the official catholic position, and I do not wish to argue against it - if that position is based only on religious grounds. You believe what you believe. It is no skin off my nose. Just keep your opinion to yourself. An example would be: the religious person believes that those practices endanger the practitioner’s “immortal soul”. Even in that case they are not welcome to give that opinion unless specifically asked for it.
What did you expect on a Catholic web forum? Only the Catholic view is going to be supported. Any opposition will be put out in flames, pun intended
As to giving one’s opinion where it’s not wanted, it is my observation IRL that people don’t stand for it. So you really don’t have to worry about it IRL. Unless of course, you’re witnessing the same behavior in real life…is that the case? Because I have not. Sure there’s some inappropriate “two cents” given once in a while. But that’s true of someone of any culture, not just Catholic…and again, it’s usually nipped in the bud by someone who doesn’t welcome the intrusion.
The problematic part is when the posters wish to argue on secular, rational grounds. Even if such practices harmfully affect the practitoners - but only them! - that alleged harm is none of your business.
Remember that arguments are brought to the table by people who wish to discuss these matters on a Catholic online forum. Again, what do you expect in terms of response? Only what is taught from the Church is going to be favored. Anything else is not favored. I honestly don’t know why you would have thought a different outcome.
To be honest, I have no unearthly clue why anyone would bring important life senario questions to an online forum, when they have a diocese and a family priest at their disposal for such real-life counsel. This forum is a GREAT resource, but some things really should be brought to the family priest.
If they can show that such practices harmfully affect some third parties, in that case they can legitimately express their concern, even when not asked for it. But I have never seen a valid argument along those lines.
Don’t blame just the Catholics. Over time parents have told many “lies” to keep their kids in line.
When I see these “concerns” I am wondering just what society did these posters come from? Is it possible that they were born in some ideal world, where children never touched their own genitals to learn that it is a rather pleasant experience, where adolescents never masturbated, where everyone waited until their wedding night for their first experience, where there was no divorce, no adultery? When every act of sex was performed with being “open” to procreation? Which planet is that?
Surely it cannot be Earth, where people practised some type of contraception since times immemorial, where the “oldest profession” was sex for money, where the prototypes of those beautiful Greek statues practiced the highest form of brotherly love - called gay sex these days. Where adultery was rampant in every age, though not always admitted, where males kept mistresses, and women had fun with the gardeners and with each other (island of Lesbos, anyone?).
They didn’t come from any society different than your own. Real life is full of good and bad. The posters who claim they don’t know any of the above examples first hand (either in their homes or out) are just flat out lying. And we don’t see too much of that. We usually see complaining of witnessed debachery. However, again, this is a Catholic forum. Posters want to propagate good from the perspective of the Church, not propagate the negative influences of the outside world.
Face reality: sex is harmless when practised without coersion, when practised out of love, when practised with the desire to give and to receive. As such their practice does not concern you. Can you prove me wrong? Can you show that the natural practice of sex is somehow harmful to you? After all you are a memebr of the society, if it is harmful to you - personally, then maybe it is harmful to society as well. But if it is not harmful to you, you have no right or reason to complain and disparage they practice. It is simply none of your business.
According to the teachings of the Church, and again, remember you’re on a Catholic forum: every single deviance from the teachings of the Church affects everyone as a whole, being that we’re all connected. So Catholics are called upon by the Church to influence the actions of everyone else, either through their living example, through ‘fraternal correction’, through prayer, through lobbying, etc.
What they’re not supposed to do is (which is seen of the most diligent scrupulous persons) interject the teachings of the Church into every single exchange in real life, welcomed or not by an outside party. This is not what is taught by the Church and, as we’ve witnessed on this forum, leads to inappropriate social behaviors, which lead to (again as we’ve seen on this forum) some quite disturbing disfunctional behaviors. I’m not going to point out the posts, or the members, because that’s not fair. But suffice it to say, such behavior leaves them with no friends and wondering why they’re so alone and lonely.
However, you Spock, have wandered on to a Catholic online forum, and your questions will have Catholic answers, and your arguments will be met with Catholic responses. And you really shouldn’t have expected any less.
, john …