The Catholic Church's opposition to abortion, homosexuality and masturbation is complex.
From a free-thinking point of view, one can simply write it off as out of step with the times.
From another point of view, the Church's apparently anachronistic viewpoints serve a
purpose. One might well pause and reflect on the many issues of emotion, meaning and
values before going ahead with an abortion. If there is a feeling of concern about
masturbation, wouldn't it make sense to give a hearing to the inhibition rather than slide past
those feelings because of an ideology of open-mindedness? If our response to the Church
is reactionary liberalism, then we are playing the fool by being the mirror opposite to what
we criticize. We remain part of the problem. Better to speak for the subtleties, complexities
and paradoxes in these life mysteries.
I do think the Church is insensitive on all these issues, especially in its
authoritarianism, sexism and general anti-sexual attitudes. If the Church wanted to give
moral leadership, in my view it would be more effective by first shedding its Roman
imperialism and pyramid authority-structure, getting over its extremely detrimental sexism,
and lead by wise counsel and example rather than by edict and punishment.
The Church would certainly change if it decided to be sexual rather than anti-
sexual. But this change would give it life. From what I can see at this point, the Church is
quickly becoming fossilized. It has lost the holy sense of mystery that once made it truly
religious. Now it seems to be more interested in moralism and psychology than in serving
the great mysteries. Sex is one of those mysteries, and by helping to keep deep human
values in our sexuality, the Church could make an invaluable contribution. But by merely
countering the excesses of a materialistic culture in a negative way, it doesn't offer the
positive leadership we need.
Our complacent, materialistic society — for which medical researchers are the new
priests and brightly lighted machines the new objects of ritual — needs to be stunned by
happy celibates and long marriages and cloistered mystics and close-knit families. We have
to rediscover the joys of sexual purity and modesty and restraint. The problem with our
sexuality is that often it doesn't have a soul. Even pornography can have a soul. Who but the
churches will turn this situation around? Not pop psychologists. The problem is not
therapeutic, the problem is spiritual.
I would recommend that if you are a Catholic, live your own values and vision. Be
guided by the Church traditions and the great saints and rituals that are the real core of the
religion. Be fully sexual, in the way that seems best at this moment in time. If you are
confused by celibates who don't seem to be neurotic, then maybe your views on sexuality
are limited. Become a complex person in your Catholicism, and don't give Catholicism away
to a leadership that seems always to speak from anxiety.
Kissling responds
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