Sexuality - God's gift to humanity

On Friday the 29th of May - LIFT organised LIFT - "The Gathering 5". This activity was addressed by Fr Mark Montebello and the topic was about "Sexuality". The speaker gave a very good overview of Sexuality and the audience participated thoroughly - This activity was a follow up activity of LIFT - "The Gathering 4"- that was addressed by Fr Ray Francalanza (earlier in Feb 2009).

Hereunder please find points prepared by Fr Mark himself about this topic.


Concepts of sexuality

1. Concepts of sexuality and norms of sexuality, though logically distinguishable, are mutually related and influence each other.

2. Our moral evaluations of sexual activity are bound to be affected by what we view the nature of the sexual impulse, or of sexual desire, to be in human beings.

3. The particular sort of metaphysics of sex one believes in will influence one’s subsequent judgments about the value and role of sexuality in the good or virtuous life and about what sexual activities are morally wrong and which ones are morally permissible:

• Metaphysical pessimists think that sexuality, unless it is rigorously constrained by social norms that have become internalized, will tend to be governed by vulgar Eros.
• Metaphysical optimists think that sexuality, by itself, does not lead to or become vulgar, that by its nature it can easily be and often is heavenly.

The Catholic view

4. The Catholic view of sexuality is seen in the light of Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical, Deus caritas est (2006), where he makes the following main points:

• Erotic love and altruistic love are two sides of the same coin, i.e. of authentic love.
• From the erotic aspect, all authentic love involves possession and passion.
• From the altruistic aspect, all authentic love involves donation and sacrifice.
• All authentic love begins on the erotic level but then matures and is fulfilled on the altruistic level.

_________________________________________________

Whilst thanking Fr Mark Montebello for his support to LIFT and participation on our Blog, we would like to invite you to send your comments and ideas about the topic.


LIFT invites you to continue the discussion on this blog by sending comments to this post and share your views about subject itself and this activity.