Relevant to the last post...

Here is an article on BustedHalo.com that talks about Sex, Dating, and Catholicism.

I was bothered by something in this article though... The author, Dr. Christine B. Whelan, says that people are confused on the Church's teaching on chastity and sex; people think that the Church is more for living a "chaste" (or rather, a life of celibacy) and might be "anti-marriage." Whelan says "Chastity, however, is something that is valued by the Church as the way we guard our sexuality before marriage." No, sorry, you're wrong. I think she is a bit confused... The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines chastity as "the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man and his bodily and spiritual being" (CCC 2337). It doesn't say anything about how this limits chastity. A person is to live a chaste life no matter what vocation they are being called to. Yes, chastity can certainly be celibacy, that is, if you are not married. But a married couple should also be seeking to live out the virtue of chastity. It means not using the other for one's pleasure and giving completely of yourself. Chastity means so much, yet people know so little!