By Daniel Tay
SINGAPORE - An eight-session "Theology of the Body" workshop is being held as a follow-up to the series of articles on pornography in CatholicNews and to the "Porn Stars @ CANA" forums on the same subject.
The first session began on Saturday Jun 2 at 3.30pm at CAEC, (2, Highland Road, St. Matthew's Room). The second session will be held on Saturday Jun 9, at CAEC (2, Highland Road, St. John's Room). Anyone who is interested in being involved in addressing the problem of pornography is welcome.
Discussions among participants at the "Porn Stars @ CANA" forums led to several individuals taking the initiative to work toward the formation of support groups for men who are addicted to pornography and for their wives.
The eight-session workshop on "Theology of the Body" is a tangible outcome of their initiative.
At the end of the workshop, the group will decide what further measures to take to address the problem of pornography among Singaporean Catholics. While these individuals are not "experts" on the matter, they have a shown a willingness to do what they can and let God do the rest, one observer noted.
Discussions, so far, have revealed four main areas of need:
1. Increase awareness of the problem.
2. Support groups for affected men and women.
3. Education for parents and teenagers.
4. Prayer for this anti-pornography effort.
This problem has not been adequately addressed in Singapore because not many people see the wrong or risk in pornography. This seems to be the case even within the Catholic Church here.
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The focus on this topic in CatholicNews and at the forums have however led to the realization that there is indeed a problem among Catholics in the diocese, particularly among youth, many of whom consider pornography "normal" or even "healthy". Parents and teachers at the forums shared their helplessness in providing answers to their youths' questions about the morality of pornography. They came away from the forums with more knowledge of the issues, but there are still many who remain ignorant of the problem or who deny it.
The forums helped participants understand that the problem of pornography usually begins in the teenage years, frequently continues on into the adult years, and often follows into marriage, and forged a consensus that a proper Catholic education on the meaning of sex be given to Catholic youths. This education must take place in the parishes, and more importantly, through the schools.
In addition, the discussions have shown that there is a need for Catholic parents and educators to realize the existence of this problem and to take steps towards its prevention through Internet safety measures, and through education on sex and the human body.
According to Pope John Paul II, "It is an illusion to think that we can build a true culture of human life if we do not help the young to accept and experience sexuality and love and the whole of life according to their true meaning and in their close interconnection… The trivialization of sexuality is among the principal factors which have led to contempt for new life." (Evangelium Vitae, n. 97)
When sex is trivialized, marital love and family are also trivialized. This leads to more broken marriages and families, as we see happening in Singapore today, even among Catholics.
There is, therefore, a need for Catholics to reclaim for themselves the meaning of sex and love, and rediscover the meaning of themselves as sexual beings.
A method to do this has been given to the church through the "Theology of the Body", a collection of 129 short talks that Pope John Paul II delivered on the meaning of the human body, sex, and marital love.
An understanding of "Theology of the Body" provides answers to questions on matters relating to sex, such as marriage and celibacy, homosexuality, contraception and abortion, pornography, and so on. The workshop at CAEC will provide enlightenment on the subject. For enquiries, email g_angel82@hotmail.com.
CatholicNews will also soon be publishing articles on "Theology of the Body" by Christopher West. Mr West is a fellow of the Theology of the Body Institute in West Chester, Pa., and lectures worldwide on the subject.
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