Kevin Papagiorcopulo, Communications officer, Archdiocese of Malta, Floriana
National sexual health policy
With regard to the report 'Malta burying head in sand on sexual health' (The Sunday Times, November 29), I would like to make the following comments.
At just 24 hours' notice, WHO adviser John Richens asked to meet the Archbishop for a private visit. Time was made in the Archbishop's tight schedule for a 30-minute meeting at 7.45 a.m. Dr Richens was accompanied by an official from the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Department.
During the conversation, the Archbishop asked Dr Richens regarding a sexual activity questionnaire given to schoolchildren: "Does the Catholic Church, and for that matter, any other organisation, have a right to its own ethos when educating children of parents who freely opt to send their children to Catholic schools?"
The Church and Health Department representatives have reached an agreement about this questionnaire.
As regards 'prevention' campaigns, the Archbishop asked Dr Richens about results of similar campaigns that have already been carried out in other countries. Referring to results in the UK, Dr Richens said the campaign had not been successful and that both sexually-transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancies were on the increase.
Dr Richens mentioned the Netherlands as an example where the campaign was deemed successful with regard to teenage pregnancies.
Actual percentages were not mentioned, but the Archbishop asked whether teenage abortions were also taken into account when presenting percentages on teenage pregnancies. Dr Richens promised he would send information on this issue.
The Archbishop said that the Church has been, and would continue, providing support to alleviate this problem through its teachings, and by campaigning against promiscuity and in favour of marital faithfulness and a holistic commitment in sexual relationships.
The Archbishop mentioned that, unfortunately, youngsters have to try to implement these values despite being continuously bombarded by completely different ideas and messages on sexuality and sexual activity.
The Archbishop apologised for the shortness of the meeting and told Dr Richens he would be only too glad to meet for another, longer meeting when Dr Richens was back on the island.
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Bill Khan
Dec 6th 2009, 22:26
Religon or no religon it is precsely the getting together of ten of 'strange' bed fellows for sex which has given rise to sexually transmitted diseases every where. In particular the UK where despite the sex education the increase has been ten folds over the last 15 years and rising. The question is who will foot the bill for medical treatment of these strange bed fellows and their free sexual activities? May be the incumbents can give declaraton they would pay for their own treatment. Because the cost surely is going o be quite high both in physical and mental terms.
jane camilleri haber
Dec 6th 2009, 20:50
the church looks upon its schools as a tool for transmitting its social teachings. the church does not double for the state in educaton just for kicks, it does so because it has a mission. if parents judge church schools as giving better results it is due to the priority the church attaches to the intrinsic value of each indiviual which is the basis of its social teaching. prospective parents are invited tro sign a document prior to their children being enrolled in church schools where they agree to the above agenda should they find difficulty they can opt out! secondly : who says that sex is taboo for the church and who said that sexuality is not something beautiful to be shared without shame or guilt? . it becomes shameful and dirty only if instead of exercising it as an exclusive offer of love between two committed heteroisexual individuals which is the natural inclination for human beings to do, it is prostitued to render satisfaction to the lust which we share with all the animal kingdom. about limbo. please consult the teachings of the catholic church and dont remain in limbo !
Charles Sammut
Dec 6th 2009, 13:31
"Does the Catholic Church, and for that matter, any other organisation, have a right to its own ethos when educating children of parents who freely opt to send their children to Catholic schools?"
I think that the word "freely" here is being used rather freely.
Many parents send their children to church schools because they are considered better than government schools and not because they want their children to be influenced by the unnatural beliefs and teachings of Catholicism.
The concept of sex being taboo is a sad attribute of Christianity inherited from Judaism from which it is descended. This is also shared by Islam which is the third strange bedfellow to Judaism and Christianity. Other religions leave the matter of sex to the individual and others still exalt it as something beautiful and to be shared without shame or guilt. But then their followers are not born with the curse of Original Sin, like Christians are, with newborn babies being condemned to languish in limbo if they die before getting baptised.
Now before someone pipes up that limbo has been abolished, how can someone enter heaven with the blot of original sin?