In 1926, G. K. Chesterton prophesied the next heresy when he wrote: “For the next great heresy is going to be simply an attack on morality: and especially on sexual morality. And it is coming, not from a few Socialists surviving from the Fabian Society, but from the living exultant energy of the rich, resolved to enjoy themselves at last, with neither Popery nor Puritanism nor Socialism to hold them back.”

Sadly, the prophecy of this remarkable man has been proved right. Who could have envisaged almost 90 years ago how, thanks to the media, cinema and the internet, the trivialisation of sex and marital fidelity, coupled with the exponential proliferation of pornography, would have corrupted society? This hedonistic, amoral culture is poisoning so many of our youth. Malta has not been spared.

Instead of taking stock of the decadent state we are heading to, we are lumbered with politicians who only want to pander to the mood of the times and outbid each other in being more liberal and progressive. This is also highlighted by the fact that no leaders seem to be aware of the far-reaching consequences of the so-called sex education that successive governments are hell bent on foisting on our children.

On October 31, I had the opportunity to attend a seminar for Church school teachers on the topic of sex education. It seems that our government educators have taken it as inevitable that many young people will be promiscuous and even resort to forms of sexual perversion.

In a free society, it is not the duty of the State to produce virtuous citizens, or to enforce virtue. It can, however, refrain from the active promotion of vice. In the talk, teachers were told to encourage their students to visit the Malta government website on sexual health. Its content should have alerted educators and parents as to what material is being peddled in the name of education. Even abortion, which so far is still illegal, is listed as a means of contraception.

Irresponsible sexual activity is not just a question of risking unwanted pregnancies, sterility and debilitating sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). It also impacts negatively on our young people’s psychological and moral development, rendering it all the more difficult for them to build sound relationships and stable families that are the bedrock of a healthy society.

No leaders seem to be aware of the far-reaching consequences of the so-called sex education that successive governments are hell bent on foisting on our children

It is true that trained teachers may spare the embarrassment of parents in explaining certain sensitive and delicate issues. Yet, this must be done in full co-operation with the parents.

Education is about character building, encouraging virtue and fostering what the Fr Paul Galea, one of the speakers, termed the culture of ‘delayed gratification’. Success, health and well-being are only achieved by self-mastery and positive effort. This applies to all spheres of life, be it sport, work or building relationships.

Also, a government that imposes this sort of ‘sex education’ is usurping the rights of parents. This is spelled out clearly in the ‘Charter of the Rights of the Family’, published by the Holy See on October 22, 1983, which categorically states that:

“Parents have the right to ensure that their children are not compelled to attend classes which are not in agreement with their own moral and religious convictions. In particular, sex education is a basic right of parents and must always be carried out under their close supervision, whether at home or in educational centres chosen and controlled by them.”

In a nutshell, teachers should be fulfilling their roles in loco parentis (teaching in the name of the parents) and not in loco civitatis (in the name of the State). This principle applies to all children, irrespective of whether they are taught in State, Church or private schools. It is an abuse of power for the State to usurp parental rights and responsibilities.

Finally, education implies the transmission of values, especially on such a crucial topic as human sexuality. I hope that parents and the Church authorities will make themselves aware of their responsibilities and live up to them.

After all, we reap what we sow.

klausvb@gmail.com